The Shanghai University Museum is the sole museum in China dedicated to Haipai culture, which refers to the avant-garde but unique "East Meets West" culture that emerged in Shanghai in the 20th century.

Shanghai University Museum. [Photo/j.eastday.com]

The museum opened in 2014, with a new building unveiled in 2019. It comprises the Haipai Culture Museum, the Shanghai Dialect Culture Exhibition and Experience Hall, the Shanghai University History Museum, the Qian Weichang Memorial Hall, and Suyuan, an outdoor exhibition area showcasing the legacy of old Shanghai University (1922-1927).

A view of Suyuan at the Shanghai University Museum. It is accessible year-round. [Photo/j.eastday.com]

With over 10,000 unique pieces, including rare wildlife specimens and Shanghai-style cheongsams, the museum emphasizes traditional and regional cultures.

Its permanent exhibitions include Boundless as the Sea and the Sky: Shanghai-style Culture in Modern China and Above the Sea Hangs the Bright Moon With the Wind Dances the Gentle Cheongsam: The Prominent Families and Shanghai-style Cheongsams of Jiangnan.

Highlights:

The cheongsams in the collection, worn by notable figures from the Rong family and celebrities from Shanghai and Hong Kong, span from the 1930s to the present day, showcasing the evolution of fabric choices over time.

Rare wildlife specimens, donated by the Behring Global Educational Foundation, are also on display. This includes 67 specimens from five continents, such as lions, giraffes, and zebras.

The museum has also published various books and catalogs based on its exhibitions.

On May 18, 2024, Shanghai University Museum was added to the country's list of "national first-grade museums", the highest classification for museums in China.

Shanghai University Museum

Address: No 333 Nanchen Road, Baoshan district

Open: Monday to Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Suyuan

Address: No 99 Shangda Road, Baoshan district

Open: Monday to Sunday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Website: museum.shu.edu.cn

Scan the QR code to follow its official WeChat account:

Sources: museum.shu.edu.cn, j.eastday.com, official WeChat account of Shanghai University Museum, xuexi.cn