All About Shanghai
Guide Sections
Considered China's most innovative and fashionable city approximately a century ago, today's Shanghai is rapidly regaining that title. Along with its economic progress, the city's vibrant rebirth in its arts and entertainment scene are progressing rapidly.
Art
All forms of art in Shanghai now enjoy a renaissance, with many galleries devoted to showing both contemporary and traditional Chinese works. ShangArt often exhibits avant-garde works by Chinese artists, while the Shanghai College of Fine Arts Art Institute features works from young, up-and-coming students. For more classic fare, the Chang'an Gallery shows traditional Chinese paintings.
Cinema
Shanghai's many large movie theaters screen both Chinese and Hollywood movies. Also, various organizations show foreign movies with English/Chinese subtitles. The Cine-Club de l'Alliance shows French films with Chinese subtitles, and the German Consulate Auditorium features German films. Judy's Too Movies and Shanghai Film Art Center often feature Hollywood blockbusters.
Dance
Several of the city's venues showcase dance performances. The Shanghai Grand Theater, a first-class international standard theater, often showcases international acts, while the Shanghai Stadium, Majestic Theater and Grand Theater also provide sites for both Asian and Western performances.
Museums
The Shanghai Museum, located at People's Square, claims title to the most popular museum in Shanghai. Designed to look like an ancient Chinese vessel, the museum's modern exterior stands out as a showpiece. However, the museum's interiors are also worth investigating. The museum features superbly displayed, first-class exhibits of ancient Chinese artifacts and archeological finds with Chinese and English explanations. The scientifically inclined may enjoy the Natural History Museum, which features a curious assortment of dinosaur bones and pickled human remains. On the other hand, the romantically inclined will find the somewhat unusual Exhibition for Chinese Ancient Sex Culture interesting. This rather liberal museum aims to educate visitors on the history of sex in China.
Music
The Shanghai Grand Theater, Majestic Theater and Grand Theater provide good places to enjoy classical music. Jing An Chamber Music offers weekly chamber music concerts every Sunday evening at the Jing An Hotel.
Rock/Pop/Jazz Music
Various clubs in the city offer live music. For blues and jazz, the long-running and popular Cotton Club proves the place to go for the best live blues music. Scintillating live jazz music tantalizes the ears nightly at the cozy and funky Hot Chocolate on Dong Ping Road. Some bars and nightclubs, such as M-Box and Full House I, feature live music ranging from rock to pop to jazz and performed by local bands.
Opera
Definitely not for everyone, traditional Chinese opera is mostly recognized for its high-pitched vocals (somewhat akin to caterwauling). However, the visual spectacle of a Chinese opera portrays a lavishly striking event. For a Chinese opera experience, try the Yi Fu Theater or the Great World Entertainment Center. Western operas perform at any of the major venues mentioned above, but usually only when an international operatic troupe tours through China.
Theater
The Shanghai Grand Theater and the Shanghai Theater Academy offer modern theater, but you must call for a schedule and show-time listings. Unfortunately, most of the plays are spoken in Chinese. While considered rather touristy, Chinese acrobatics reveal amazing feats, and Shanghai Circus World, the Great World Entertainment Center and Shanghai Center Theater afford interesting acrobatic shows.
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