Recently Viral! Shanghai's Popular Cherry Blossom Viewing Spot Criticized: Impossible to Get Close for Photos! "Almost Every Tree Occupied by Commercial Photography," Park Has Clear Ban, Photographers Have "Ways Around It"

Spring is harmonious and bright, with cherry blossoms in full bloom. The 2026 Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival is being held at Gucun Park in Baoshan, attracting many cherry blossom viewers and becoming one of the hottest “check-in spots” in Shanghai recently.

While admiring the beauty of the cherry blossoms,

many citizens also voiced their complaints on

Jiefang Daily · Shangguan News

“Public Voice Express” column:

"Almost every tree is occupied by commercial photographers,

many visitors can only take a few photos facing the sky,

which greatly diminishes the park experience."

What is the actual situation on site? On the afternoon of March 16, reporters visited Gucun Park. Despite the gloomy sky and occasional rain, the park still had many visitors. Around 2 p.m., the reporter entered the park through Gate 3 and headed south, where a cherry blossom avenue came into view. At the entrance of the cherry blossom avenue, the reporter noticed several photographers with cameras and iPads wandering around. Seeing the reporter enter alone, a female photographer quickly approached to promote her services: “Miss, want to take photos? 30 yuan per shot, props included, professional editing available.” As she spoke, she showed the photos on her tablet: in the images, a girl in a uniform outfit was surrounded by cherry blossoms, with a fair complexion that complemented the pink flowers.

Refusing the photographer’s offer, the reporter continued along the cherry blossom avenue, and the scene ahead surprised him. Nearly every blooming cherry tree had commercial photographers working beneath, with various shooting props piled under the trees—fill lights, reflectors, footstools, foldable ladders, and more. Photographers held long lenses and shot nonstop at tourists standing on footstools, giving them guidance on poses. Most commercial photography teams consisted of two or three photographers serving one customer. During the walk, several photographers approached to introduce their packages, with prices around 30 yuan per shot. One photographer noticed the reporter wasn’t wearing makeup and offered a package including makeup services: “299 yuan, six retouched photos, all negatives included.”

△ Commercial photography teams are fully equipped, mostly carrying foldable ladders.

△ Customers climb ladders for photos, with teams gathered under trees.

At the scene, the photographer teams “occupied” the cherry trees and rarely moved. Several photographers said they could guarantee each customer at least 30 minutes of shooting. Even when not actively working, these teams would use ladders, lighting, and other large equipment to secure their spots, ready to shoot as soon as a customer appeared. As a result, ordinary visitors rarely get close to the cherry trees; they can only walk along the central avenue, taking a few distant photos. Aunt Li, a local citizen, sighed to the reporter: “The crowd of commercial photographers really affects the experience—most of the photos are just headshots of the photographers’ clients.” She questioned why the park couldn’t regulate this behavior.

△ Even without customers, photographers will “reserve” spots under the trees.

In fact, at the entrance of Gucun Park’s Gate 3, a “Civilized Park Visit Agreement” is displayed, stating that it is forbidden to bring high stools, foldable telescopic ladders, and similar equipment into the park, and that occupying shooting spots for a long time is not allowed as it affects others’ visits.

So,

why do these commercial photographers ignore the rules?

How do they get their equipment into the park?

△ The “Civilized Park Visit” pledge displayed at the park entrance states that high stools, foldable telescopic ladders, and long-term occupation of shooting spots are prohibited.

To find out, the reporter waited near Gate 3 for a while. From the entry situation, it was hard to spot any irregularities. However, once inside the park, foldable ladders, telescopic fill lights, professional cameras, and other equipment could be seen being taken out of camping vehicles. “The security personnel and volunteers at the entrance don’t check our camping vehicles,” a photographer on site told the reporter. “They hide inside the vehicles, covering them with clothes or other items, which makes it quite easy to bring equipment in.” However, he added that if security notices the equipment inside, “they will stop you,” but “after a while or if you change location, it’s fine.” Another photographer advised: “There’s a kind of foldable stool that can be extended and retracted, and it’s not easy to detect when entering.”

△ This retractable foldable stool is very compact when closed and easy to carry into the park.

It is understood that the 2026 Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival will last until April 9. In response to the above issues, many visitors on site suggested improvements. Some recommended that park management optimize entry checks and increase patrols within the park to curb the entry of illegal equipment. Others proposed establishing more specific regulations for commercial photography, such as designating fixed areas and time slots for commercial shoots, to ensure orderly conduct within the rules.