Shanghai, China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of decorations, advertisements, products for sale at cinema
2. Various of baristas making coffee in cinema cafe
3. Various of moviegoers, cinema interior
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jimmy, Egyptian influencer and his partner (full name/name not given) (starting with shot 3/partially overlaid with shots 5-6):
"We're from Egypt. [Shanghai is] amazing, it's our favorite place. Every time there's something new. This is our first time to see the Bund from this area. We're China addicts, China fans!"
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5. Sign for 2026 Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival, visitors
6. Various of decorations
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7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Li Yingying, manager, Hoyts Cinema at Hall of the Sun Shanghai (partially overlaid with shot 8)
"We're focusing on 'Film + Coffee' and 'Film + Dining' crossovers. A single ticket now links the movie to offline spending. With over 70 commercial partners, we're turning a simple movie outing into a one-stop shop experience."
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8. Various of promotion poster, popcorn stall at cinema
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9. Aerial shot of stadium
10. Various of products, people in stadium shop
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Valerie, Russia visitor (full name not given) (ending with shots 12-15):
"We came from Russia. It's our first time here in the equestrian competition. I enjoyed the way how everything is organized here. Yesterday, we also did some shopping in the shops here."
12. Aerial shot of stadium
13. Products, people in stadium shop
14. Russian tourist showing newly-purchased cap
15. Child at desk receiving signature from equestrian rider
16. Aerial shots of stadium
17. Riders training
18. People at stadium
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Marco Pepe, equine surgeon (starting with shot 18/ending with shots 20-21):
"I come from Italy. Compared with last year, there are much more people. Shanghai is a very nice city. Wonderful show."
20. Advertisement at stadium entrance
21. Equestrian rider leaving stables on horse
22. Various of decorations, visitors in commercial street
23. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Fan Meichen, deputy general manager, Sinan Mansions (partially overlaid with shot 24):
"During the May Day holiday, we're hosting nearly 100 market stalls, featuring food, crafts, and art. We also have two indoor exhibitions, and two stages offering free musical performances every afternoon for everyone to enjoy the spring vibes."
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24. Various of visitor enjoying different cultural activities
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25. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Zhang Qinxiang, manager, Sinan Books (partially overlaid with shot 26):
"At Sinan Books, we've partnered with Shanghai Translation Publishing House for a 40 percent discount on English books. Our 'Eternal Summer' merchandise has been a huge hit, driving a major boost in sales."
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26. Various of books, cultural products, readers
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27. Various of cityscape at night
28. Various of moviegoer scanning phone, receiving ticket from self-service machine
29. Dancing performance on stage
30. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Zhang Chunxia, executive deputy general manager, JUCE Shanghai Center Theater (partially overlaid with shot 31):
"Uploading a ticket stub online unlocks future show discounts and promotions across Jing'an District. It extends a customer's time here, turning a single ticket into a portal that opens up a wider consumer experience."
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31. Dancing performance on stage
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32. Aerial shots of cityscape

Shanghai has been seeing a significant consumption boost during the ongoing May Day holiday thanks to the burgeoning "ticket-stub economy" which is turning a single event pass into a passport for a range of city-wide experiences and discounts.

What once may have been a simple piece of paper for proof of entry is now becoming a powerful economic tool across China, as the emergence of this new "ticket stub" consumption model gains traction and spurs spending.

The concept allows tickets from cultural events, sports matches or transportation services to be re-used to access discounts, redeem points or unlock other benefits in subsequent spending.

The imitative has proven particular fruitful during China's five-day May Day holiday which began Friday, encouraging broader spending and engagement among consumers across different sectors.

China's film industry is among the beneficiaries with the domestic box office enjoying a blockbuster start under this economic model, already grossing over 600 million yuan (about 83 million U.S. dollars) in the first four days of the holiday.

Now, special promotions such as the "Film plus Coffee" package at the Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival are serving up some new value for consumers, with foreign visitors also enjoying the activities.

"We're from Egypt. [Shanghai is] amazing, it's our favorite place. Every time there's something new. This is our first time to see the Bund from this area. We're China addicts, China fans!" said Jimmy, an Egyptian influencer, alongside his partner.

"We're focusing on 'Film + Coffee' and 'Film + Dining' crossovers. A single ticket now links the movie to offline spending. With over 70 commercial partners, we're turning a simple movie outing into a one-stop shop experience," said Li Yingying, manager of a Hoyts Cinema branch in Shanghai.

The model extends beyond the cinema, connecting with Shanghai's premier sporting events. A ticket to the 2026 Shanghai Longines Global Champions Tour -- a premier show-jumping event on the equestrian calendar -- offers more than just entry to the competition itself.

Every official ticket holder also gets a 60-yuan voucher to spend in designated shops, extending the excitement from the arena into the retail space, and allowing attendees to grab some memorabilia items.

"We came from Russia. It's our first time here in the equestrian competition. I enjoyed the way how everything is organized here. Yesterday, we also did some shopping in the shops here," said a Russian visitor named Valerie.

"I come from Italy. Compared with last year, there are much more people. Shanghai is a very nice city. Wonderful show," said Marco Pepe, an equine surgeon who was again attending the tour-level event.

At the Shanghai International Flower Show in the city's historic Sinan Mansions area, the beauty isn't just confined to the blooming flowers. Admission is already free, and it opens the door to a wide range of local discounts and entertainment offerings.

"During the May Day holiday, we're hosting nearly 100 market stalls, featuring food, crafts, and art. We also have two indoor exhibitions, and two stages offering free musical performances every afternoon for everyone to enjoy the spring vibes," said Fan Meichen, the deputy general manager of Sinan Mansions.

In the popular Sinan Books, one of the city's leading bookstores, readers are invited to take in the beauty of the season from the petal to the page.

"At Sinan Books, we've partnered with Shanghai Translation Publishing House for a 40 percent discount on English books. Our 'Eternal Summer' merchandise has been a huge hit, driving a major boost in sales," said Zhang Qinxiang, the store's manager.

Meanwhile, live performance venues across the city are also rolling out redemption benefits with local businesses. Many show tickets now encourage audiences to keep exploring the city long after the final encore. Highlighting the wide scope of these available promotions, a ticket to a major dance production like "Carmen" can even unlock online discounts for pet care services.

"Uploading a ticket stub online unlocks future show discounts and promotions across Jing'an District. It extends a customer's time here, turning a single ticket into a portal that opens up a wider consumer experience," said Zhang Chunxia, executive deputy general manager of the JUCE Shanghai Center Theater.