HONG KONG – The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (“WKCDA” or “the Authority”) announced in Shanghai today details of WestK Shanghai Week 2025 (“WestK Shanghai Week”), a major cross-city cultural event scheduled for 18 to 22 June this year. Under the theme “Hong Kong and Shanghai: Connections through Arts and Culture”, WestK Shanghai Week will see the Authority collaborate with six renowned cultural institutions and venues in Shanghai to present seven of the best cultural and artistic programmes of West Kowloon Cultural District (“WestK” or “the District”) to Shanghai audiences. They include exhibitions organisedby M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum (“HKPM”), the highly acclaimed original Cantonese musical The Impossible Trial, xiqu, music and dance performances, and a series of brand promotions and cultural exchange activities. I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, co-organised by Power Station of Art (“PSA”) and M+, will be open to the public in Shanghai from 26 April as a prelude to WestK Shanghai Week, marking the start of a meaningful cultural dialogue between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

WestK Shanghai Week is the first cross-disciplinary showcase of cultural and creative programmes curated or co-organised by WestK outside of Hong Kong since WKCDA’s establishment in 2008, marking an important step in helping Hong Kong’s unique arts and cultural offerings to “go global”. Tickets for all WestK Shanghai Week programmes are now on sale*.

Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer of the WKCDA, emphasised the significance of WestK Shanghai Week, “Hong Kong and Shanghai are deeply connected on many levels and both serve as centres for East-meets-West cultural exchange. The two cities boast rich and diverse cultural heritage that have helped foster a thriving arts and creative industry, with audiences developing a strong desire for diverse cultural experiences. WestK Shanghai Week embodies the concept of ‘Connection through Arts and Culture’ in various forms while reflecting the importance of cultural innovation. Through the rich and diverse programmes presented by WestK and the exchange of artistic talent and cross-disciplinary collaboration, we aim to strengthen cultural ties between Hong Kong and Shanghai, ultimately enriching and diversifying the cultural landscape of both cities.”

I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture was initiated by M+ and first held in Hong Kong from June 2024 to January 2025. The exhibition in Shanghai is co-organised by PSA and M+ and will be held from 26 April to 27 July. The exhibition—seven years in the making—is the first full-scale retrospective of Chinese American architect Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), widely known as I. M. Pei, one of the most influential architects of the 20th and 21st centuries. Curated by Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+, and Aric Chen, General and Artistic Director, Nieuwe Instituut (New Institute), Rotterdam, and incoming Director, Zaha Hadid Foundation, London, I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture received more than 225,000 visitors when it was held at M+. The exhibition takes a close look at Pei’s life and work through six areas of focus that not only define his unique practice but also place his architectural projects in dialogue with social, cultural, and biographical trajectories, showing architecture and life to be inseparable. Organised with the support of the Estate of I. M. Pei and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, the architectural firm Pei cofounded, the retrospective features more than 400 objects, many of them exhibited for the first time in Mainland China.

During the WestK Shanghai Week, M+ and PSA will co-organise a free public talk on 19 June 2025, featuring architect Li Chung (Sandi) Pei, I. M. Pei’s son, partner and founder of PEI Architects, and artist Xu Bing. Moderated by Shirley Surya, the discussion will delve into I. M. Pei’s interest in the art of his time, his engagement with certain artistic practices, and his collaborations with artists on the designs of his buildings.

One of the highlights of WestK Shanghai Week will be the premiere of the original Cantonese musical The Impossible Trial at the Shanghai Culture Square. Commissioned by WestK and co-presented and co-produced with Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (“HKRep”), the musical has won widespread critical acclaim. The show will commence its mainland tour in 2025, with the 10 performances of the original Cantonese version at Shanghai Culture Square from 17 to 29 June 2025, marking the first performances outside of Hong Kong.

The musical features a top-notch creative team from Hong Kong, including composer and musical director Leon Ko, lyricist Chris Shum, playwright Cheung Fei Fan, director Fong Chun Kit, and main cast members Lau Shau Ching, Jordan Cheng and Tunes Ting.

The musical features a top-notch creative team from Hong Kong, including composer and musical director Leon Ko, lyricist Chris Shum, playwright Cheung Fei Fan, director Fong Chun Kit, and main cast members Lau Shau Ching, Jordan Cheng and Tunes Ting, as well as new faces from Hong Kong and the Mainland such as Leung Chung Hang, Sheena Chan, Ronny Yuen and more. Ticket sales for the upcoming performances have been brisk, with close to 80 per cent of tickets sold to date. The 2025 rerun of The Impossible Trial is proudly sponsored by HSBC Life and supported by the China National Arts Fund.

The HKPM will stage City Rhythms: Chinese Traditional Culture Reinterpreted exhibition at Shanghai’s ZHANGYUAN from 20 June to 31 July, offering a fresh reinterpretation of traditional Chinese gardens and landscapes while exploring the rich cultural narratives of both Hong Kong and Shanghai. The exhibition will present cross-disciplinary works by 16 Hong Kong artists featuring both emerging talents and seasoned creators in painting, video and multimedia art, including Kasing Lung, the visionary behind the iconic collectible Labubu, contemporary artist Stanley Wong, known as “anothermountainman”, composer Lam Fung, landscape painter Wong Chun Hei and more. Marking the museum’s inaugural exhibition outside Hong Kong, the exhibition will be staged at ZHANGYUAN, a historic garden built in 1882 and celebrated as the “Best Garden in Shanghai”. On 21 June, the HKPM and Jiefang Daily‧Shanghai Observer will co-organise a cultural salon at ZHANGYUAN, bringing together the HKPM’s Museum Director, exhibition curator and participating artists, along with industry experts and arts and culture enthusiasts from Shanghai, for an inspiring exchange.

During WestK Shanghai Week, WestK will organise jazz concerts WestK Performing Arts Presents: Live in Shanghai at one of the most iconic jazz clubs in Shanghai, JZ Club, for three consecutive nights, featuring performances by outstanding Hong Kong young musicians, including Hong Kong singer-songwriter Ashley Lin, international champion harmonicist Cy Leo (Ho Cheuk Yin), singer-songwriter Walter Kwan, and improvising pianist Daniel Chu. These talented musicians will perform their own musical selections. Ashley Lin will present a jazz rendition of classic pop songs and a more contemporary arrangement of standards; Cy Leo and his band will perform his original compositions and selected pieces in the language of jazz; Walter Kwan will bring a fresh wave of original modern music blending pop, gospel, soul and jazz with his quartet; and Daniel Chu will deliver two exciting performances centered on the themes of “Altogether” and “The Essence”, in the form of a jazz quartet and a solo act respectively.

On 20 and 21 June, the Xiqu Centre will work together with Wanping Theatre to present two performances of the acclaimed experimental Cantonese opera Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation). The first commissioned production from the Xiqu Centre, the performance combines traditional Cantonese opera techniques with contemporary stage and lighting design to delicately portray the relationship between Xiang Yu and Consort Yuji (Concubine Yu). This production won a lot of fans in the mainland’s experimental xiqu theatre scene and has been performed at arts festivals in several Asian cities. It has won numerous awards, including “The 40 Most Influential Experimental Theatre in Contemporary China” honour at the 2022 Beijing event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Chinese experimental theatre in China.

Also on 21 and 22 June, two contemporary dance performances will be staged at the Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, namely Chinese Dance ✕ Martial Arts – Convergence by Hong Kong Dance Company’s (HKDance) Artistic Director Yang Yuntao in partnership with WestK, and PHONATE (solo) – a piece created by Hong Kong choreographer Wayson Poon and commissioned and produced by WestK, co-presented by WestK and Shanghai International Dance Center Theater.

Convergence is the culmination of HKDance’s interdisciplinary study since 2018 exploring the essence and gestures of Chinese dance and Chinese martial arts, presenting the results of artistic research that bridges both traditional practices. This work was staged in 2020 and 2023, co-presented by WestK and HKDance, and has received multiple plaudits. Its excerpt Whispers of the Pines was won the 13th China Dance Lotus Award (for Contemporary Dance) in 2023 and and is supported by the China National Arts Fund. There will be two performances of Convergence during WestK Shanghai Week.

PHONATE (solo) is a new solo work adapted from Wayson Poon’s 2023 work, titled PHONATE, commissioned and produced by WestK, continuing the exploration of the body and spirit. The concept was conceived and developed by Poon during a residency exchange project, “Creative Meeting Point: Hong Kong x Finland”, from 2016 to 2018. It earned acclaim when it premiered in 2023 at WestK and will now be presented to Shanghai audiences alongside an interactive exhibition, PHONATE (un/taped), starting from 18 June, that will unveil the movement research and dance-making process, offering a new perspective to enhance the theatrical experience. 

To coincide with WestK Shanghai Week, the Authority will launch a series of promotional campaigns and exchange activities in Shanghai. These include a collaboration with MANNER COFFEE, a well-known Shanghai coffee brand, to introduce a “WestK x MANNER” art collaboration. WestK has invited a renowned Hong Kong illustrator to create an exclusive artwork that seamlessly blends the iconic skyline of Victoria Harbour with the architectural beauty of WestK and symbolic representations of Hong Kong. The artwork will be featured on coffee cup sleeves, takeaway bags, and a limited-edition souvenir, which will be available at around 800 MANNER COFFEE stores across Shanghai in late June, bringing Hong Kong’s unique urban characteristics and cultural allure to the heart of Shanghai.

To enhance the interactive experience, selected MANNER coffee shops in key commercial areas of Shanghai will be transformed into WestK X MANNER photo spots, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the cultural charm of WestK. Customers can participate in a social media check-in activity to receive an exclusive souvenir, with more exciting events to be announced soon.

WestK Shanghai Week is supported by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism as well as the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). WKCDA’s Travel Partner Cathay is the Lead Sponsor for WestK Shanghai Week, while Shanghai United Media Group and Shanghai Media Group are the media partners. Among the co-organisers of WestK Shanghai Week are the Hong Kong Dance Company and several cultural institutions and venues in Shanghai, including PSA, Shanghai Culture Square, Shanghai International Dance Center​Theater, Wanping Theatre, Shanghai, and JZ Club.

Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM, said,“The Hong Kong Palace Museum is committed to promoting exceptional traditional Chinese culture through innovative approaches, connecting it to contemporary life and bridging the past and the present. The exhibition City Rhythms: Chinese Traditional Culture Reinterpreted features the work of 16 talented and innovative artists from Hong Kong, including seasoned and emerging artists whose works integrate dynamic elements and sound installations to create an interactive dialogue with the audience. Set in an immersive garden atmosphere that merges ancient and modern aesthetics, visitors will explore the artistry of traditional Chinese garden landscapes while appreciating the reinterpretation of traditional aesthetics from Shanghai and Hong Kong. Throughout the exhibition, we will engage with art and culture enthusiasts in Shanghai through cultural exchange activities, including artist demonstrations and discussions, inviting them to experience the rich heritage and innovative spirit of Chinese culture through the art of traditional garden landscape.”

Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director of M+, said,  “M+’s critically acclaimed exhibition I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture is the second Special Exhibition curated by the museum to embark on a world tour with the first stop as Shanghai, a city with a vibrant and dynamic arts and culture scene, characterised by a rich historical foundation interwoven with global cultures. Seven years in the making, the exhibition distils extensive research and profound insights, exemplifying M+’s curatorial expertise and vision. We are delighted to bring this retrospective and its public talk to a broad audience in Mainland China during the WestK Shanghai Week 2025, particularly in light of Pei’s formative years and architectural projects in China. As Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture, we are proud to initiate this meaningful cultural dialogue through the collaboration with Power Station of Art with the audiences in Shanghai.”

Paul Tam, Executive Director, Performing Arts of WKCDA, said,“Selecting from our rich and diverse offerings, WestK’s Performing Arts Division will showcase not one, but four of its acclaimed programmes that encompass musical, jazz, xiqu and contemporary dance. The highly anticipated premiere of the Cantonese musical ‘The Impossible Trial’ in Shanghai Culture Square will kick off its debut mainland tour, while three consecutive nights of jazz performances by Hong Kong’s brightest young musicians at JZ Club will show off the vibrancy of the city’s music scene. The curation also features ‘Farewell My Concubine’, an award-winning original experimental Cantonese opera of WestK at Wanping Theatre, as well as two innovative, exciting contemporary dance programmes at Shanghai International Dance Center, namely ‘Convergence’ in partnership with Hong Kong Dance Company, and ‘PHONATE’ by choreographer Wayson Poon.  Performing arts have always been a strong connective tissue between Shanghai and Hong Kong, bonding through artistic and cultural exchanges. This showcase by the Performing Arts Division further strengthens the close ties and opens up more opportunities for collaborations between the two cities.”

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