Shanghai has launched over 200 cultural and tourism activities celebrating the upcoming Spring Festival, aiming to create a Chinese New Year atmosphere with metropolitan characteristics, according to a press conference held by the municipal government on Thursday.

More than 200 cultural museums and art venues in the city will launch over 70 high-quality exhibitions, including the already opened Entitled Pictures of China: Artworks by Lin Fengmian and Wu Guanzhong in the China Art Museum and Stars Over China: The Ancient Shu Civilization of Sanxingdui and Jinsha in Shanghai Museum East, which brought 363 cultural relics from 28 cultural and archaeological institutions across the country.

To encourage more expats to participate in cultural activities during the Spring Festival, the city will launch over 30 musicals and performances, especially the "Great Comet" of 1812 promoted by the Shanghai Grand Theatre. It has entered the sight of Asian musical audiences for the first time in the form of English singing.

Promoting consumption is also an indispensable theme of the Spring Festival every year.

This year, the city launched more than 400 related activities during the festival season, including the 20 million yuan ($ 2.82 million) coupons issued by short video giant Douyin to promote people purchasing goods for the Spring Festival.

Major commercial districts have established dragon-themed decorations and landscapes to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, such as the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Show, attracting a constant stream of visitors all day.

Festival markets and pop-up stores with rich Shanghai-style New Year features are also set up across the city. For example, the New Year's market in Disneytown offers various gifts to purchase.

To ensure the sports and fitness needs of citizens, nearly 800 public sports facilities will open during this year's Spring Festival, and more than 20 national fitness events will be organized.

The achievements of park construction throughout the city will also be presented during the Spring Festival period, with ten parks launching 12 Spring Festival activities from Feb 3 to 29.