A car-shaped straw-weaving work. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
The 2025 Shanghai Auto Culture Festival has redefined automotive culture by blending racing heritage with intangible crafts and soft, cute designs.
At the festival's press conference on March 12, the winners of the "Love Cars, Love Jiading" competition were unveiled, featuring imaginative creations like "edible race cars" and "adorable trophies".
The BABYCAR series, comprising plush toys Susu, Panpan, and Beibei, delighted visitors with their anthropomorphic designs. Inspired by F1 race cars, steering wheels, and trophies, these toys are crafted from plush materials and come with identity cards detailing their origins and personalities.
"We aim to create the 'Jellycat' of the automotive world," said Chen Limin, deputy general manager of Shanghai International Automobile City Tourism Development Co Ltd. The series will be available from March 21 to 23 at the Shanghai International Circuit and Juss souvenir stores.
Stunning intangible heritage works will also be showcased. For example, Waigang town's automotive pendants transform qipao (the traditional Chinese dress for women) buttons into racing lines, while Huating town's automotive rice cakes offer a sweet treat for car enthusiasts. Table runners made of blue and white yaoban cloth combine tire tread patterns with tie-dye techniques, merging industry with tradition.
This showcase is part of Jiading's efforts to develop its automotive culture. The competition attracted 175 entries from universities, towns, cultural companies, and artisans, with 35 prizes handed out. Some winning works will be sold at popular locations across Jiading, bringing automotive culture to people's daily lives.
A car-shaped qipao button. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
Car-themed Qiaoling rice cakes. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]