Shanghai Attractions: Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum 上海博物館
Located in Shanghai's People's Park, the Shanghai Museum is well worth an afternoon. Devoted to ancient Chinese art, it also has wonderful exhibits of regional art and artifacts. The permanent collection consists of ancient Chinese bronzes, sculpture, ceramics, coins, jades, paintings, calligraphy, seals, stamps, furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and a large selection of crafts by ethnic "minorities" (i.e., non-Han). Perhaps the most interesting exhibits are of the the clothing and goods related to the many non-Han peoples who still live in China. From clothing to tools, handicrafts to boats, the well-laid out exhibit is a splash of color. The museum was established in 1952 and the present building was completed in 1996 with a design symbolizes "a round heaven on a square earth." The Shanghai Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions of works from other museums from around the world.
There is very little English explanation, beyond what the item is and where it is from, though free pamphlets in a number of languages are available in each room giving an overview and historical background to the collection. The Shanghai Museum though has worked hard to display the items in well-lit, elegant spaces. In addition, Shanghai Museum is easy to navigate. There are four floors that are built around a large central atrium. Guide in hand, you go up a floor, circle through the galleries, go up a floor, repeat.
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Shanghai Museum Access
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