Shanghai Municipal Museum

The Shanghai Municipal Museum is a museum in central Shanghai with five floors displaying objects from various periods of Chinese history. The galleries contain bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy works arranged so visitors can follow how artistic styles developed over time.

The museum was established in 1952 and relocated to its current location at People's Square in 1996. The building design reflects traditional Chinese principles about the relationship between heaven and earth.

The collection reveals how artistic traditions changed across different periods of Chinese history and what craftsmanship meant to people in each era. You can see how artistic choices and techniques reflected the values of their time.

The layout with galleries arranged in chronological order makes it straightforward to follow how artistic styles developed over centuries. This organization helps visitors navigate without getting confused about what came first.

The collection includes life-sized terracotta figures from the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, featuring two warriors and a horse. These rare statues were taken directly from the archaeological excavation site.