SHANGHAI, April 19 (CNS) — “Why does coffee, this tiny fruit, hold such profound cultural significance?” When Zhu Qi, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Science and Art Society, posed this question, it sparked a smile among those ‘in the know’ in the room. His answer was simple: coffee is resilient, inclusive, and constantly evolving through its “self-iterative” nature.
“From openness to innovation, these three qualities of coffee perfectly mirror the character of Shanghai,” Zhu remarked.
This conversation took place in the office of Chen Bai, the chief planner of the Lujiazui International Coffee Culture Festival. While skyscrapers tower outside the window in Pudong, Chen’s team is focused on their next milestone: Paris. This April, the festival—conceived and originated in Shanghai—will make its second international appearance, landing in the heart of France.
A Decade of Growth: From 24 Brands to a Global Capital
In 2016, when Chen Bai launched the first Lujiazui Coffee Festival, China’s specialty coffee market was still in its infancy. That inaugural event on the banks of the Huangpu River featured just 24 brands. “I wanted to create a social space where people could simply sit, chat, and enjoy a cup of coffee in the sunshine,” Chen recalled.
Ten years later, Shanghai has eclipsed every other city to become the world’s coffee capital. Leveraging Pudong’s institutional innovation and open economy, Lujiazui now boasts one of the highest densities of coffee shops globally, serving 300,000 white-collar workers and 14 million annual visitors. It has become the favoured “debut stage” for international brands entering the Chinese market.
Chen summarizes this decade in three stages: “Bringing in” (introducing global diversity to China), “Growing out” (the rise of local brands), and now, “Going global.”
London Debut: An Unexpected Hit
In 2025, the festival made its international debut in London. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Chen admitted. The result, however, was a sensation.
Long queues formed at the booths of Chinese brands. Baijing Coffee showcased Yunnan specialty beans roasted in Shanghai; Ningdu Coffee from Xizang introduced a unique blend infused with yak milk specialties; and Shanghai Niuniu Coffee displayed Chinese-manufactured grinders. The innovation was so compelling that a local cafe owner near King’s Cross Station placed an order on the spot, while CAYE, a Chinese coffee tech firm, secured an order worth over 10 million yuan.
“The most frequent feedback we heard was a simple ‘Very good!'” said Lu Yao, founder of Baijing Coffee, who grew his business from a small tricycle cart to a professional roasting factory.
Landing in Paris: Engaging with the “Spiritual Home”
This April, the festival will bring 10 selected Chinese brands to Paris. “While some call Paris the spiritual home of coffee culture, for us, it represents a crucial pole of the industry,” Chen said. “Going to Paris shows we have the confidence to be part of in high-level conversations.”
If London was a trial run, Paris is a deep dive into the European market. This confidence is fueled by the creative explosion in Chinese coffee: from Yunnan’s local flavors to bold “Coffee+” innovations like Shanxi aged vinegar coffee, Guangzhou claypot coffee, and Chengdu spicy coffee. “China’s diverse regional cultures are an inexhaustible competitive advantage,” Chen noted. “We are using coffee as a medium to showcase the rapid rise of Chinese culture.”
A Vision for the Future
In the festival’s Pudong headquarters, a ping-pong paddle signed by Olympic champion Xu Xin serves as a souvenir from the London trip. Zhu Qi sees the symbolism: just as ping-pong diplomacy opened doors in the 1970s, Chinese coffee is now writing a new chapter of cultural exchange.
“Coffee is more than a beverage; it’s a vehicle for stories,” Chen Bai concluded. “Currently, the Milan International Coffee Show sets the global trend. I hope that in ten years, that stage will be right here in Lujiazui, Shanghai.” （BY Li Shuzheng from CNS）
