Ancient China's wenfang, or scholar's study, was not just a place intellectuals read, wrote, painted or participated in other cultural activities, it was also a haven for enjoying solitude, where they could quiet inner worries, cultivate their minds and rise to a higher spiritual realm.

The Jiangnan Literati Space Exhibition at the Yunjian Arts Center in Shanghai, which runs until March 31, attempts to re-create the soothing wenfang atmosphere once enjoyed by the literati of Jiangnan, the region south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

On show are objects of art and craft that have long been considered essential ornaments for scholars, including Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Also on display are ceramics, guqin (Chinese zither), incense burners, stands for unusually shaped rocks, furniture fashioned in the classical style and other creative items that accentuate grace and serenity. The three salons showcase the beauty of the cultured lives led by the ancient literati, and events held during the exhibition will allow visitors to sample tea, try to play the guqin, make calligraphy rubbings and learn about the types of incense popular in the past.

Open: 8:30 am-6:30 pm, closed on Mondays.

Address: No 26 South Renmin Road, Songjiang district, Shanghai.