If you go

When: Through June 14 (closed on Mondays, except for national holidays)

Where: Temporary exhibition hall, 1F, WorldSkills Museum, No 1578 Yangshupu Road, Yangpu district

Admission: Free

The WorldSkills Museum is presenting Wooden Structures: Bridging Tradition and the Future, bringing together classic wooden architectural works and fine woodcraft from across China.

Organized into four sections, the exhibition traces the evolution of wooden structures from ancient tree dwellings to digital construction, and from intangible cultural heritage techniques to cutting-edge technologies, offering visitors a comprehensive journey through thousands of years of wooden architecture.

High-precision models of nine famous ancient buildings take center stage. Among them are Nanchan Temple Main Hall, the oldest surviving Tang Dynasty (618-907) wooden structure; Foguang Temple, one of the most important remaining wooden architectural jewels of Chinese civilization; and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the tallest wooden pagoda in the world.

Another highlight is a selection of pieces from the Architectural Model Museum, known as one of the hardest museums to book in Shanghai. Visitors can admire famous model works such as In Bamboo and Stage of Forest, all created by renowned designers.

The exhibition also explores the craft of wooden construction from multiple perspectives, including building systems, tool evolution, and mortise-and-tenon joints. Visitors can get a close look at ancient mortise-and-tenon components and try assembling different types of joints in the interactive area.

Traditional woodworking tools and decorative elements such as hanging fish and wooden brackets are also on display, revealing the names and functions behind these classic architectural features.

The final two sections focus on contemporary innovation and future possibilities. Visitors can explore more than 10 new types of eco-friendly building materials and learn about the low-carbon concept of using wood as a substitute for steel. Digital construction technologies such as AI optimization, robotic fabrication, and 3D printing are also presented through domestic and international case studies.

A series of public education activities, including hands-on workshops and themed lectures, will be offered during the exhibition.

Sources: WorldSkills Museum, Architectural Model Museum