Shanghai International Literary Festival

上海国际文学节

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Arts & CultureShanghai
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
DurationSpringEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsA restaurant-anchored literary festival
Language["zh-Hans"]Currency: CNY
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Shanghai International Literary Festival in Shanghai

Founded in 2003 as a sister event to the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, Shanghai's English-language literary festival was hosted for nearly two decades at the restaurant M on the Bund, drawing authors including Amy Tan and Gore Vidal at its 2006-2013 peak. M on the Bund's permanent closure in February 2022 removed the festival's long-standing venue, leaving its current organizing status uncertain.

Founded in 2003 as a sister event to the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, the Shanghai International Literary Festival grew into China's leading English-language literary event from modest beginnings, hosted for nearly two decades at M on the Bund and its associated Glamour Bar, the acclaimed Shanghai restaurant that closed permanently in February 2022 after 23 years of operation.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

A restaurant-anchored literary festival, hosted for close to twenty years at one specific fine-dining venue and its bar rather than a convention center or university campus, gave this event an unusually social, informal format built around wine, poetry readings, and literary lunches rather than trade-fair structure

02

The mystery stays covered

Its peak roster, exceeding 50 international authors across three weekends with audiences over 4,000, reflected genuine standing as China's leading English-language literary event during that period, a status built specifically on M on the Bund's reputation and physical setting overlooking the Huangpu River

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Symbols

Custom

Shanghai International Literary Festival is documented as a recurring arts-culture festival in the Eventisimus atlas.

Participation

Calendar

Some moments are open to visitors; others belong to local participants. Follow barriers, steward instructions, and local etiquette.

Place memory

Place

The strongest version of the event is the one tied to Shanghai, not a generic copy of the same category elsewhere.

The local code

Meaning

A restaurant-anchored literary festival, hosted for close to twenty years at one specific fine-dining venue and its bar rather than a convention...

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

For Shanghai International Literary Festival, plan transport around the exact Shanghai venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Historically, smart-casual to elegant dress suited the fine-dining restaurant setting at M on the Bund; any successor event's dress expectations would depend on whatever venue currently...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Shanghai International Literary Festival, stay near the part of Shanghai you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["zh-Hans"] · CNY

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map31.22 N, 121.46 EOpen in Google Maps

Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Nearest airportSHA — Shanghai Hongqiao
TransportFor Shanghai International Literary Festival, plan transport around the exact Shanghai venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Shanghai International Literary Festival, stay near the part of Shanghai you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Shanghai via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Shanghai, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearHistorically, smart-casual to elegant dress suited the fine-dining restaurant setting at M on the Bund; any successor event's dress expectations would depend on whatever venue currently hosts it, which was not confirmed in available sourcing.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for China and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Shanghai International Literary Festival?

Shanghai International Literary Festival is listed for March · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Shanghai International Literary Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Shanghai, China. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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