Fresh coffee aromas wafted along the Huangpu River in Xuhui, Shanghai as the 3rd Shanghai Coffee Culture Week held its opening ceremony on May 20. This year's coffee celebration is expected to last half a month, during which various exciting events will be held, including the inaugural West Bank International Coffee and Lifestyle Festival, citywide free coffee tastings, "Coffee + Theater" performances, "Coffee + Sports," and more.

On the day of the opening ceremony, representatives from dozens of boutique coffee shops gathered at the International Media Port of China Media Group's headquarters in Shanghai. Together, they witnessed the announcing of the "Coffee Together" honor roll.

After the first round of recommendations from the 16 districts of Shanghai and over a month of online voting, 18 distinctive boutique coffee shops in Shanghai were awarded honors in four categories: "Most Popular Roastery Café," "Most Popular Specialty Coffee Shop," "Most Popular Ambience Coffee Shop," and "Most Popular Dessert Specialty Coffee Shop." Additionally, 12 coffee shops received a special honor for "Vibrant Energy Coffee Shop."

The theme song of the "Coffee Together" honor roll was premiered at the opening ceremony. The music video of the theme song showcases coffee moments and the coffee lifestyle at various iconic landmarks in Shanghai, reflecting the urban warmth and international image embodied by the city's distinct coffee culture.

The honor roll event was jointly organized by the Shanghai headquarters of the China Media Group (CMG), China Global Television Network (CGTN), and CMG's 5G streaming platform Yangshipin, with the aim of promoting coffee culture and bringing people together to share the joy of coffee.

Since its launch in late February this year, the honor roll has been deeply integrated with the 3rd Shanghai Coffee Culture Week in 2023, exploring the unique coffee cultures of the various districts of Shanghai.

From the "Walking Coffee Cup" urban art installation and artistically hand-drawn commemorative coffee cups, to the online fun of bespoke, coffee-themed emoticon packs, the citywide bonanza infuses the charm of coffee culture into every aspect of life. It showcases the boundless possibilities of "coffee" within the city of Shanghai, allowing residents to appreciate the vast prospects of the coffee industry and the vibrancy of this metropolis.