China Art Museum, Shanghai
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The China Art Museum, Shanghai, formerly the China Pavilion of Expo 2010, showcases modern and contemporary Chinese art in a building resembling an ancient crown.
Planning your visit
The China Art Museum occupies the China Pavilion from Expo 2010 — an enormous inverted red stepped structure, based on the dougong bracket system of traditional Chinese architecture, which was the most photographed building of the exposition and was retained afterwards.
Inside is the country's principal collection of modern and contemporary Chinese art, tracing the twentieth century: the introduction of Western oil painting technique, the guohua ink tradition's continuation and adaptation, the socialist realist period, and the post-1978 opening.
The most popular exhibit is a large animated version of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, the twelfth-century handscroll depicting Song dynasty city life, projected as a moving image with figures walking, boats passing and day turning to night — originally made for the Expo and permanently installed.
The building's scale means substantial walking.
Bookable options include tickets with English guided tours. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is China Art Museum, Shanghai?
China Art Museum, Shanghai is in Shanghai, China. The map on this page marks its exact location.
Do I need to book China Art Museum, Shanghai in advance?
Guided tours run to a fixed schedule and small group sizes, so they are usually booked ahead.
