Shanghai Museum Highlights

Ranked among China's most illustrious cultural attractions, the Shanghai Museum is not just reserved for history buffs. With an impressive collection of relics and rare artefacts, the venue is home to more than 120,000 items from the annals of history. While its calligraphy showcases and ancient paintings are some of its prized possessions, here's a rundown of the special galleries that can be counted as the key highlights among the museum's extensive catalogue of relics.

Dynastic Ceramics

While ancient Chinese ceramics are part and parcel of countless museums all across the Chinese Republic, the Shanghai Museum contains one of the best collections of dynastic porcelains found in the country. Although the oldest ceramics on display at the museum belong to the Neolithic era, it's the celadon ceramics dating back to the Shang dynasty and the Zhou dynasty that are its finest pieces. Porcelains that were made between 475 and 221 BC, collectively called the Warring States period, are also on show at the museum which prides itself on its Tang dynasty pottery with its classic polychrome glaze. Fans of the Eastern Han dynasty, the Song and Jin dynasties will also find plenty of earthenware belonging to these periods while pottery made during the Liao dynasty is equally well preserved.

Bronze Beauties

If there's one gallery that the Shanghai Museum is famed for, it's undoubtedly the Bronze Gallery. Spread out across an expansive 1200m2, there are a whopping 400 stunning bronze relics in this corner of the museum. While the pieces themselves date back from the 18th century BC all the way to the 3rd century BC, the items vary greatly in shape, size and scale. It's no coincidence that the architecture of the Shanghai Museum also resembles a bronze cauldron of old with its square-shaped base and domed top. Bronze water jugs and weapons that date back to the Xia dynasty are some of the more useful items on display in this section which also features a host of ornamental bronzes resembling food and wine and musical instruments.

Paintings

The painting collection of the Shanghai Museum traces the evolution of Chinese art from the 13th century when the Yuan Dynasty was at the height of its power. One of the fascinating aspects of these ancient landscape and nature drawings is that instead of attempting to recreate the natural world on canvas, the painters of the era strove to be a part of the natural world by representing its light and dark elements.

Ancient Chinese Furnishings

Travellers occupying lyf by Ascott or any similar hotspots for shared living in Shanghai must also venture down to the Chinese Furniture gallery in the museum. This exhibition space resembles a resplendent Chinese mansion with its own garden as more than a hundred pieces from the Ming and Qing dynastic periods are found here. Although the lush wooden furnishings are the main draw for visitors, the enclave also contains wooden warrior sculptures that were discovered in archaeological excavations close to Shanghai.

Seals and Stamps

Official decrees and documents in ancient China were often stamped with special seals that were crafted from various materials including wood and precious blocks of jade. The museum's Seal Showroom houses over 500 seals that were used during the Qing and Zhou dynasties.

Minority Artworks

This deep dive into ethnic Chinese minorities and their artistic heritage is another must-visit exhibit of the Shanghai Museum. With more than 600 vibrant paintings on show, it is a testament to the creativity of diverse communities. The gallery also features dresses and attire worn by ancient tribes which includes exquisite embroidered pieces. Bamboo household items fashioned for everyday use are also part of the collection which also encompasses ceramics, statues and metal artwork.