Shanghai Flowers is a sumptuous 30-episode drama directed by Wong Kar-wai and adapted from the novel by Jin Yucheng, set in Shanghai in the 1990s. The series was a cultural phenomenon and registered more than 3.6 billion views.
For viewers in 2025, there are now legitimate ways to watch it online freein North America and the United Kingdom (with English subtitles). But what about Australia, Canada, Africa and beyond?
Our full guide below explains where to look Shanghai Flowers online…
Where to watch Blossoms Shanghai for free
You can see the first two episodes for free on iQIYI (China) – complete with English subtitles. After that you can pay $1.99/month to sign up and watch 30 episodes now.
In the US and the UK, The Criterion Channel (7-day free trial) premieres the first three episodes at 8 pm ET, November 24. Three new episodes will be released every Monday until January 26, 2026.
How to watch Blossoms Shanghai from anywhere
The Criterion channel only shows Shanghai Flowers to the US and select territories.
Those traveling or working outside of the US/UK may need to use a VPN to access Criterion.
There are many VPNs, but NordVPN is the one you can trust to unlock Criterion and watch from anywhere in the world.
It’s super easy to use a VPN to watch Shanghai Flowers free.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we have said, NordVPN It’s our favorite.
2. Choose the location you want to connect to in the VPN app. For example, if you’re visiting Canada and want to watch your regular free stream, you’ll select “Canada.”
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to Criterion, log in, and watch Shanghai Flowers Free with 7-day trial.
What devices is The Criterion Channel available on?
You can use Criterion on all of the following devices and platforms:
Web browsers: via criterionchannel.com
roku (3rd generation and newer)
AppleTV (4th generation and newer)
Amazon Fire TV devices (Android 5.0+)
xbox one game consoles
Selected Samsung smart TVs (2018 or later, Tizen OS)
iPhone and iPad (iOS 12+)
Android devices (OS 5.0+) with Chromecast support
Blossoms Shanghai Season 1 Cast
Enormous as Ah Bao / Mr. Bao
ma yili as Ling Zi
Tiffany Tang (Tang Yan) as Miss Wang (Wang Mingzhu)
Xin Zhilei as Li-Li
Your Benchang as Uncle Ye/Ye Shu
Huang Jue as Mr. Qiang
Dong Yong as Mr. Fan
How popular is Blossoms Shanghai?
Blossoms Shanghai, which debuted on Chinese television in late 2023, is one of the most successful Chinese dramas of all time with more than 3.6 billion views on Weibo. On Douban, more than 190,000 viewers he rated it 8.4/10. It won big at the 29th Shanghai Television Festival, including Best TV Series, Best Actor (Hu Ge), and Best Cinematography. Critics, such as those of Roger EbertThey have praised its “beautiful images”, its emotional depth, and how Wong captures the hopes and conflicts of a generation.
What has director Wong Kar Wei said about Blossoms Shanghai?
Wong Kar Wei: “At its core, Blossoms Shanghai is about universal human ascension: the quest for reinvention… I hope this series offers insight and connection, no matter where you look at it.”
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