Shanghai – Other areas

OTHER AREAS OF SHANGHAI

As one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities, there’s no other city like Shanghai. Rich in art and culture as well as international relations history, every corner of Shanghai has a story to tell. The city is also one of Asia’s earliest contemporary art hubs, attracting many international galleries and artists while domestically growing and developing its own institutions. Shanghai’s emphasis on culture has also seen the growth of some key districts such as the West Bund, with many other new projects currently in the making.

After you have finished exploring art in the main districts of Shanghai, why not venture into other less-explored areas of the city? Head deep into Pudong or visit the well-known M50 creative hub for a unique outing away from the city’s fast-paced hustle: there is a lot more for you to discover.

Long Museum Pudong 龙美术馆东岸馆浦东馆 (Huamu, Pudong District)

Established in 2015 and designed by Chinese architect Zhong Song, Long Museum Pudong’s minimalist building style with its emphasis on granite is heavily inspired by Chinese culture. Its interior space is dedicated to connecting historical artifacts and contemporary art to tell the narrative of Chinese history. Through educational channels such as a reading room and auditorium as well as multiple exhibition spaces, the museum hopes to bring together tradition and innovation. 

Shanghai Himalayas Museum 上海喜玛拉雅美术馆 (Huamu, Pudong District)

Founded in 2005, Shanghai Himalayas Museum was formally known as the Shanghai Zendai MoMA. It moved into its new space in 2012, into a building designed by Arata Isozaki, the Japanese RIBA Gold Medal and Pritzker Prize-winning architect. The museum plays an active role in promoting cultural and art developments, exploring new patterns for museums within the context of contemporary society, discovering new art forces, and promoting communication and collaboration between China and abroad.

Shanghai Museum of Glass 上海玻璃博物馆 (Baoshan District)

Glass manufacturing was a large part of Shanghai in the post-industrial era, and the Shanghai Museum of Glass both preserves and extends the cultural heritage. Originally the Shanghai Glassware Factory, its establishment in 2011 demonstrates the revival of a past era with the addition of modern aesthetics. Crowned as a must-see destination in Shanghai, the museum exhibits both traditional craft as well as contemporary art revolving around the theme of glass. 

Powerlong Museum 宝龙美术馆 (Minhang District)

With 10 different exhibition halls, Powerlong Museum was established in 2017 to showcase Chinese culture and Chinese contemporary art to the outside world. Besides fostering relations with international institutions, the museum showcases both permanent as well as thematic collections. The museum’s café and restaurant within the building further complement its holistic atmosphere of art.

M50 Art District M50 创意园 (Putuo District) 

Also known as 50 Moganshan Lu, M50 was renovated from a large-scale cotton mill in 2000. It is one of Shanghai’s most mature creative contemporary art communities. The creative park includes over 50 buildings from the 1930s-90s and offers a cross-section of emerging Shanghainese and Chinese artists working in a wide range of styles and mediums. Walking through the park, you will find creative spaces such as galleries, workshops, agencies, and design spaces, but also coffee shops after a long afternoon of exploring. 

island6 六岛 (M50, Putuo District)

Established in 2006, island6 is also known as Liu Dao (‘six islands’ in Mandarin). Probably one of the most unique and well-known art collectives in Shanghai, it is a must-visit at M50. Driven by innovation and interaction, the art presented here every three months always involves collaborations of in-house artists as well as outside invitees, resulting in original and intriguing shows. island6 intertwines the past, present and future of China, and challenges the boundaries of artistic mediums and innovation every time. 

Yuz Museum 余德耀美术馆  (Qingpu District)   

Founded in 2014 by late Chinese-Indonesian entrepreneur, art philanthropist and collector Budi Tek, Yuz Museum has become one of Shanghai’s central art museums since its opening. With its current exhibitions curated by the founder of the Centre for the Art of East Asia at the University of Chicago, Wu Hung, Yuz showcases a plethora of international contemporary art. This welcoming space was once the hangar of Shanghai’s Longhua Airport, and spans a total of 9,000 square metres, allowing for expansive exhibitions and state-of-the-art installations.

Adjacent to Zhujiajiao, renowned as the ‘Venice of Shanghai’, AAEF ART CENTER is housed in a spacious factory building with a garden and a public-accessible top floor that opened in late November 2023. Functioning as an experimental art base, AAEF Art Center is dedicated to exploring and researching Asian contemporary art, unravelling its cultural context. The centre extends its reach to the water towns, curating various activities such as music festivals and film festivals. With a vision to become a vibrant platform for exchange and convergence, AAEF Art Center aims to elevate Asian contemporary art.

Design Innovation Institute Shanghai (DIIS) (Hongkou District) 

Design Innovation Institute Shanghai, established in 2020, is situated in the historic North Bund building, once the home of the Henry Lester Institute of Technical Education. In collaboration with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, and Shanghai Hongkou District Government, this non-profit advanced research institution strives to generate design innovations of global significance. The institute focuses on creating real-world impact and is set to expand its academic mission with the construction of a phase 2 modern building in 2023.