The "2026 Bailian Global Gourmet Art Market," a key component of the major city-wide IP event "2026 Shanghai Global Food Festival," recently concluded successfully along the Suhe River waterfront in Jing'an District. This eight-day market offered more than just a temporary event; it served as a window into the evolving fabric of Shanghai's urban renewal. As a leading commercial enterprise deeply rooted in Shanghai, Bailian Group is using the Suhe River area as a testing ground to explore a new integrated development model combining commerce, culture, tourism, sports, and exhibitions.

Linking the Waterfront Living Circle with "Global Gourmet" As spring arrives along the banks of the Suzhou Creek, historic old warehouses, bearing the marks of time, are undergoing a fascinating transformation, blending with the rich aroma of coffee, cutting-edge visual arts, and refined global cuisine. Prominent international food and beverage brands such as LA BARAKA, RAGU, and BaDu gathered at the market, creating an aromatic and vibrant atmosphere. Beyond this pop-up event, savoring global gourmet food has become part of the daily life along this waterfront. In fact, several distinctive international restaurants and boutique cafes have already opened along the Suhe River banks. "The high ceilings of the old warehouse make the restaurant feel very spacious. Having the Suzhou Creek pedestrian path right outside the door offers a rare sense of waterfront relaxation in the city center. More importantly, the area's strong artistic ambiance and diverse commercial formats naturally attract a community of people who appreciate life, which aligns perfectly with our brand identity," shared the founder of the borderless restaurant Juniper, noting that the unique waterfront ecology and district atmosphere were key factors in choosing this location.

The growing concentration of international merchants underscores the success of Bailian Group's exploration of a "new model" in the Suhe River area. Previously, the renewal of historical buildings along the river was relatively isolated. Now, Bailian is focused on breaking down the physical barriers between sites like the Sihang Warehouse, Yanqing Li, and the Guang Er and Guang San Warehouses, integrating them into a unified operational framework using "gourmet food + art" as a catalyst. A regional linkage system combining "water, land, and air" elements is being advanced, gradually integrating previously scattered building sites into a cohesive and highly attractive waterfront living circle.

Activating Regional Consumption Momentum Through Spatial Openness The key to enabling historical buildings to better serve the city and its citizens lies in enhancing spatial accessibility. In the renewal of the Suhe River area, the strategy of "opening up the ground floors" has been widely applied. The Guang San Warehouse, adjacent to the market, is a prime example of this concept. It now houses the internationally renowned Fotografiska photography museum. This not only physically breaks the enclosed feeling of a traditional gallery—by seamlessly integrating dining and retail on the ground floor and connecting indoor and outdoor spaces with a rooftop terrace—but also makes it an excellent vehicle for the deep integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions. Leveraging its international platform, Fotografiska frequently hosts Asian and even global premieres of various visual art exhibitions. The synergy between high-caliber cultural exhibitions and composite leisure commerce is transforming the substantial historical building into a cultural and artistic landmark that attracts global attention.

Within the overall planning of the Bailian Suhe River area, this design philosophy of yielding space to the street and the public is becoming the consensus. Citizens can stroll leisurely along the waterfront and easily step inside the buildings lining the shore to experience diverse dining options, visit creative studios, or participate in various cultural exchanges. The natural connection between interior and exterior spaces not only creates a "urban living room" where people can linger but also effectively converts the foot traffic from riverside promenades into tangible consumer activity.

Cultivating a New Waterfront Landmark Within a Century-Old Fabric Moving west along Guangfu Road, the Guang Er Warehouse, which carries a century of memories from national industry and commerce, has matured into a hub for composite new business formats. Within its walls, which retain the Art-Deco facade and historic steel windows, a thriving ecosystem centered on "art + design + lifestyle" continues to flourish. It has attracted tenants such as the internationally renowned architecture firm BIG, Swiss furniture design brand VITRA, and high-end furniture collective store DOTDOZ. The presence of design firms turns office spaces into aesthetic showrooms, while the specialty restaurants and boutique shops on the ground floor naturally cater to the consumption needs of these creative professionals and visiting tourists. This ecological cycle of "creative design - brand display - consumption conversion" is not confined to a single building but is spreading along the entire "One River, One Creek" area. Whether savoring specialty cuisine, viewing art exhibitions, or moving between design studios and boutique shops, a diverse and symbiotic industrial community has taken shape.

Under the overarching brand positioning of "Bailian Suhe," Bailian Group is striving to create a pioneer demonstration zone for the deep integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions in waterfront spaces, benchmarking against the world's best waterfront district standards. The aim is to make the banks of the Suhe River a shining example of Shanghai's urban renewal.