Cultural Shanghai – Exploring the City’s World-class Museums

Shanghai is the largest and most wealthy city in China with an impressive, ultra-modern skyline of architectural masterpieces, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants, sophisticated bars and upscale boutiques. However, there is more to this city beyond its cutting-edge appeal… There is a variety of museums to explore that showcase the best of the city’s fascinating culture, history, art and more. Brightsun Travel has an excellent range of cheap flights to Shanghai available all year round, so you can visit this enriching city in style and explore its immense museums. Below is a guide to some of the most popular and captivating museums in Shanghai.

Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

Housed in a former synagogue in Hongkou, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum pays tribute to the 30,000 Jewish refugees who settled in this region of the city which became a Jewish ghetto during World War II. This is an absolutely engrossing museum with permanent exhibits and exhibition space featuring ancient artefacts, photographs, stories and artwork from this era. Artefacts found at Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum include refugee passports and copies of old newspapers.

Location: Changyang Road, Hongkou Qu

Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre

The Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre is nestled away in a basement of a tower block, so it’s a real hidden gem of the city. This eye-opening museum offers a fascinating insight into China’s 20th century history, which included the communist eras of the Cultural Revolution and the People’s Republic of China. The underground museum features a private collection of over 5000 original propaganda posters, and there’s also a gift store selling original poster copies and artwork, as well as other mementos of China’s recent communist history.

Location: Changning District

Shanghai Museum

The name of this museum may not be that creative, but the treasures displayed inside certainly are. Shanghai Museum teaches visitors all about Shanghai and its long and rich history, mainly through art. The world-class museum is home to a large collection of Chinese art masterpieces, some dating as far back as the Neolithic Period. Some of the artwork displayed includes bronze, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy and sculptures. Shanghai Museum has some striking architecture with a shape resembling a bronze Ding sculpture, which is an ancient Chinese cooking vessel.

Location: People's Square, Huangpu District

Shanghai Museum of Glass

Housed in a former glass-making factory, the award-winning Shanghai Museum of Glass offers something different for tourists. The unique museum honours the history and construction of glass with a variety of interactive and educational displays, demonstrations and temporary exhibits. Shanghai Museum of Glass hosts daily glass blowing demonstrations and is home to plenty of glass art constructions including a stained glass chapel and intricate glass sculptures. Shanghai Museum of Glass features a very distinctive and captivating façade, with hundreds of inscribed glass tiles that illuminate at night.

Location: Changjiang West Road, Baoshan Qu

Flights

Brightsun Travel has a range of cheap tickets to Shanghai from the UK, taking you to the heart of this cultural city and its array of museums. Contact us now to find out about our latest flight offers.

Author Bio:

Brightsun Travel can arrange all of your travel needs, from flights, short haul to long haul holidays, world tours and memorable life adventures! For more information on tickets to Shanghai from UK, please visit us at brightsun.co.uk

Brightsun Travel has a wide range of cheap airfares to Far East so that you can take a city break with a difference this holiday.