Visit the Shanghai Museum

Striking Building Houses Major Shanghai Attraction

May 1, 2009 Paris Franz

Full to bursting with items from China's long history, Shanghai's museums don't come better than this.

The Shanghai Museum is widely considered to be the best museum in China. Home to a collection of some 120,000 pieces of Chinese art from the Neolithic period through to modern times – including exquisite examples of ceramics, painting, sculpture and bronzes – it repays repeat visits, and what’s more, it’s free.

The Shanghai Museum

Some say the Shanghai Museum building, erected in 1996, is a work of art in itself. A striking building, designed by Xin Tonghe of the Shanghai Architectural Institute, it resembles an ancient Chinese bronze vessel, an appropriate association given the comprehensive collection of bronzes housed within the museum. The symbolism is classically Chinese, with a round structure set on a square base, representing heaven and earth.

Fronted by immaculate lawns and flower beds, by fountains and ornate lamp posts, by crowds of people strolling, gossiping and flying kites, the Shanghai Museum is on Renmin Avenue, in the center of People’s Square.

Inside the Shanghai Museum

The Museum’s floors are arranged around a central atrium and grand staircase, which is lit by natural light coming through a glass roof. The museum’s eleven specialised halls display collections of ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, sculpture, painting, calligraphy, coins and furniture. There are three further temporary exhibition halls.

The Shanghai Museum is a popular place, and there is often a queue to get in. It usually moves fairly quickly, as visitors pass through airport-like security before finding themselves in the Museum’s airy atrium. It is possible to hire a comprehensive audio-guide before heading to the galleries.

The Shanghai Museum Galleries

The bronzes and sculpture galleries are on the first floor. Both are large collections. The bronzes are a testimony to the brilliance of China’s Bronze Age, which started in the 21st century BC, and lasted for around 2000 years. The sculpture collection shows the influence that the arrival of Buddhism in China had on the development of sculpture.

The ceramics galleries are on the second floor. The vast collection is fascinating, if a little overwhelming to the uninitiated. After a walk through these galleries there should be little doubt about the connection between China and porcelain.

The third floor is home to the painting, calligraphy and seal galleries. The proximity of painting and calligraphy comes as no surprise, as the two disciplines were closely linked.

The fourth floor houses the jade, furniture and coin galleries, as well as the colorful Minority Nationalities’ Art Gallery.

Shanghai Museum Amenities

The galleries are well provided with benches for the museum weary, while those with a thirst can head for the large and elegant tearoom on the second floor. The museum also has a restaurant, bookshop and souvenir shop.

The Shanghai Museum is open from 9am to 5pm.

How to Get to the Shanghai Museum

The Shanghai Museum is located at 201 Renmin Avenue in People’s Square. People’s Square is the nearest metro station. Exit 16 is the closest exit to Renmin Avenue.

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The Shanghai Museum