Situated in the center of Shanghai in People's Square, Shanghai Museum is a large museum of ancient Chinese art and one of the famous travel destination in Shanghai. It covers an area of 38,000 square meters. The exterior of the museum utilizes the shape of an ancient bronze ding, specifically a Chen ding, with its rather archaic flavor. The structure and materials of the entire building, however, are an accomplishment of the most modern technology.

At present, Shanghai Museum is divided into ten sections including ancient Chinese bronzes, calligraphy, ceramics, sculpture, jades, seals, coin and currency, paintings, Ming and Qing-dynasty furniture, and crafts of China's national minorities. In addition to these ten permanent exhibitions, the museum +often holds small-scale exhibitions and also exhibits articles from elsewhere on a short-term basis. The Museum also exhibits its material in museums both within China and abroad.

With a collection of over 120,000 pieces of cultural relics in twelve categories, Shanghai Museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics and paintings and calligraphy, in particular the bronzes, calligraphy, paintings, and Ming and Qing furniture.

Bronzes in China's Shang and Zhou-period are an important testimony to the ancient civilization of the country. Entering the Gallery of Ancient Bronzes, the presentation and atmosphere of the rooms expresses the cultural atmosphere of the Bronze Age. Some 400 exquisite bronze items are displayed including the bronze wine vessel, food vessel, musical instrument, water vessel, weapon and some other vessels from the Xia Dynasty to the Warring States Period (221 B.C.), perfectly reflecting the history of the development of China's ancient bronze arts.

The Calligraphy Hall includes works from many dynasties; in chronological order it displays the history of the marvelous genius of Chinese calligraphic arts. The aura of the hall is scholarly and elegant, assisted by automatic lighting in display cases that protects the art by shining only when the visitor is viewing a work. Among these works are a number of unique world treasures.

The Chinese Painting Hall of the Museum similarly has a touch of traditional architectural style to it, shows about 140 pieces of masterpiece paintings, ranging famous from original paintings in Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty to the masterpieces of Zhe School, Wumen School and Songjiang School in Ming Dynasty, four masters, four monks and Yangzhou School in the early period of Qing Dynasty and Haishang School at the end of Qing Dynasty. These works are displayed in the 1,200 square-meter exhibition space.

Chinese furniture creation reaches to its apex during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Walking into the Ming and Qing Furniture Hall is like walking back into the gardens and rooms of the Ming and Qing dynasty. Here displays over 100 pieces of various styles of Chinese Ming and Qing-dynasty furniture. Furniture made in Ming Dynasty is famous for simple modeling, gracious line and harmonious proportion; while furniture made in the Qing Dynasty is noted for their extravagant material, splendid decoration and are often made of thicker, heavier wood. In the gallery there is also a hall and a study room imitative of the style of that time.

Ancient Chinese Jades hall shows over 400 pieces of various jade wares and treasure. There are jade wares and treasure used on ceremonious occasions at Hongshan Culture and Liangzhu Culture during the Neolithic Age. The heyday of Chinese jade ware is Shang Dynasty. Jade ware made in Zhou Ages is the most elegant, its style had been modeled after till Han Dynasty. After Donghan Ages, the technique of jade ware making went downhill. In Tang and Song Dynasty, jades were more used in daily life, which is believed to be well accepted among the users.

Ancient Chinese Seals hall displays more than 500 pieces of seals that could be traced as far back as Zhou Dynasties and as late as Qing Dynasty. It is a fine selection of the 10,000 pieces of seals the museum houses. These differently styled signets reflect the long history of seals in China and embody profound cultural sophistication of the nation.

The underground part of the Shanghai Museum also has some courtyard gardens that imitate authentic Chinese traditions. Although these are hidden deeply underground, their architecture and environment seem light and airy.

 

As a Chinese saying goes, it is better to see for oneself than to hear many times. Shanghai Museum welcomes visitors to see and enjoy Chinese culture.