Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( Shanghai Waitan Meishuguan;
www.rockbundartmuseum.org
;
20 Huqiu Rd;
20 adult ¥15; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun; East Nanjing Rd)
Housed in the
former Royal Asiatic Society building (1933), this private museum behind the
Bund focuses on contemporary art, with rotating exhibits year-round.
In addition to the art museum, there is a number of other architectural gems
in this area that are part of the project, including the
former British Consulate
Offline map
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, which can be accessed at the Bund's northern tip.
The most extensively renovated section is along
Yuanmingyuan Rd
, a mag-
net for the latest crop of high-profile restaurants and luxury brands to come to
Shanghai.
People's Square
Once the site of the Shanghai Racecourse, People's Sq is the modern city's
nerve centre. Overshadowed by the dramatic form of
Tomorrow Sq
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( Mingtian Guangchang; )
, the open space is peppered
with museums, performing arts venues and leafy People's Park.
SHANGHAI MUSEUM
( Shanghai Bowuguan;
www.shanghaimuseum.net
; 201 Renmin Ave; 201 ad-
mission free; 9am-5pm; People's Square)
Designed to resemble the
shape of an ancient Chinese
ding
vessel, the building is home to one of the
most impressive collections in China. Take your pick from the archaic green
patinas of the
Ancient Chinese Bronzes Gallery
through to the silent solem-
nity of the
Ancient Chinese Sculpture Gallery
, and from the exquisite
beauty of the porcelain and pottery in the
Ceramics Gallery
to the measured
and timeless flourishes captured in the
Chinese Calligraphy Gallery
.
Chinese painting, seals, jade, Ming and Qing furniture, coins and ethnic cos-
tumes are also on offer in this museum, intelligently displayed in well-lit galler-
ies.
The audio guide (available in eight languages) is well worth the ¥40 (deposit
¥400 or your passport). The excellent
museum shop
sells postcards, a rich
Museum
