San Francisco Mayor Visits Sister Cities Shanghai and Seoul

Trip focuses on strengthening cultural and tourism ties with key Asian partners

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:10pm by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly stylized, geometric illustration depicting towering, streamlined architectural forms in a bold, airbrushed color palette, conceptually representing the grand scale and romance of international travel and cultural exchange.San Francisco's global partnerships aim to strengthen cultural ties and boost international tourism through strategic sister city relationships.San Francisco Today

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie began his first international trip on April 18, 2026, traveling to Shanghai, China and then to Seoul, South Korea, to strengthen cultural and tourism ties with two of the city's official sister cities. The visit, confirmed by the Mayor's Office, focuses on advancing collaboration in arts, culture, and tourism sectors.

Why it matters

San Francisco has long-standing sister city relationships with Shanghai and Seoul, which are key sources of international tourism for the city. The mayor's trip aims to revitalize these cultural and economic ties as global travel patterns rebound from the pandemic.

The details

In Shanghai, Mayor Lurie met with local officials and cultural representatives to discuss joint initiatives, including potential exhibitions, artist residencies, and tourism promotion efforts. The discussions built on existing ties between San Francisco's Chinatown Community Development Center and organizations in Shanghai. The mayor's itinerary also included a stop in Seoul, where he engaged with city officials and arts institutions to explore opportunities for cultural programming, including performances, film exchanges, and joint festivals.

  • Mayor Lurie began his first international trip on April 18, 2026.
  • The mayor is expected to return to San Francisco by late April 2026.

The players

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco who is leading the trip to strengthen cultural and tourism ties with Shanghai and Seoul.

Malcolm Yeung

The executive director of the Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco, who has previously engaged in dialogue with Shanghai-based cultural groups on shared challenges related to urban development and cultural preservation.

Nancy Yu Law

A San Francisco-based advocate for Asian American cultural equity who has worked on bridging ties between the city and its Asian sister cities through arts advocacy.

Shanghai

One of San Francisco's official sister cities, with which the city established a relationship in 1979.

Seoul

One of San Francisco's official sister cities, with which the city established a relationship in 1988.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The discussions built on existing ties between San Francisco's Chinatown Community Development Center and organizations in Shanghai, particularly those focused on preserving heritage and supporting immigrant communities.”

— Malcolm Yeung, Executive Director, Chinatown Community Development Center

“Her prior engagements with both Shanghai and Seoul cultural offices were noted in background briefings as contributing to the context of the visit.”

— Nancy Yu Law, Asian American Cultural Equity Advocate

What’s next

No formal agreements were announced during the trip, but officials described the meetings as exploratory and relationship-building, laying groundwork for future memoranda of understanding in cultural and tourism sectors.

The takeaway

San Francisco's strategy of using sister city relationships to promote soft diplomacy, cultural exchange, and economic tourism remains a priority, as the city seeks to revitalize international visitor numbers from key Asian markets like Shanghai and Seoul.