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A volunteer hands a cup of coffee to a traveler. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
The "First Cup of Coffee upon Arriving in Shanghai" event, held at the bustling Hongqiao Transportation Hub, offered a warm welcome to those returning to Shanghai on Lantern Festival on Feb 12.
"There are so many cafes in Shanghai, but I never expected to receive a free cup of coffee as soon as I arrived at the station!" said Mr Zhang from Nanjing, who moved to Shanghai last year. "This adds a nice cultural touch to Lantern Festival. Shanghai is even more inviting than I imagined."
Since the launch of the event in May 2023, over 5,000 cups of coffee have been given to travelers from all over the world at the Hongqiao International Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station. This initiative, part of the Hongqiao International Coffee Culture Festival, has become a beloved tradition, displaying Shanghai's hospitality.
This year's event also introduced the "New Year Special Coffee Competition", bringing together top-tier coffee shops from the Greater Hongqiao area to showcase their brewing skills and creative coffee concoctions.
Adding a cultural twist to the festive occasion, the organizers also set up a series of booths for lantern riddles, pitch pot games, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, and traditional Chinese music.
Shanghai boasts a vibrant coffee culture and a thriving coffee industry. The Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival, set to relaunch in May, promises an array of engaging activities, connecting global resources and making coffee a unique cultural symbol that bridges the world.
