Located in the middle of Songze Square in Shanghai's Qingpu district, the Shanghai Qingpu Museum is an exotic and ornate structure with five distinctive interlocking ovoid roofs, which to some eyes rather looks like a flying butterfly.

The building's unique architecture bears all the hallmarks of famous architect Xing Tonghe. Its appearance is supposed to symbolize Qingpu district's physical transformation in modern times – reminiscent of a caterpillar in nature emerging from its cocoon as a beautiful butterfly.

An aerial view of the Shanghai Qingpu Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaitourism]

Ancient Culture Exhibition Hall

In the Ancient Culture Exhibition Hall, visitors can explore the very origins of Shanghai which date back 6,000 years ago.

Arranged according to their eras, the jade, pottery and stone artifacts allow visitors to witness how the technologies and styles changed over time, experiencing the flow of thousand years within an hour.

The ancient exhibits occupy two floors, with the highlight of the first floor being a well-preserved skull that belonged to "the first man of Shanghai".

Unearthed from a tomb at the lower stratum of the Songze Site, the skull is said to be of profound importance to the study of the ancient settlers.

The second floor mainly exhibits the relics of Fuquanshan, a man-made mound known as "the Oriental Pyramid". The jade sacrificial vessels discovered there are engraved with enigmatic symbols and patterns, making people wonder what they meant in their ancient rituals.

A magnificent jade bracelet from the Fuquanshan Site. [Photo/museum.shqp.gov.cn]

River Culture Exhibition Hall

Its splendid rivers are the water pathways that keep the Qingpu district vibrant. Situated near the ocean, the local Qinglong town generated the largest amount of tax revenue among its counterparts around Taihu Lake in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

On the first floor of the River Culture Exhibition Hall, the prosperity of Qinglong town has been brought to life, with exquisite relics bearing witness to its booming economy over the centuries.

On the second floor, visitors can learn about its bridges, boats and gardens. The wonderful structures and ingenious designs will amaze visitors with the ingenuity and skills of the builders.

There are some quite fascinating models of bridges and boats to see in the Qingpu Museum. [Photo/museum.shqp.gov.cn]

Besides the two exhibition halls, the Shanghai Qingpu Museum also features a variety of special exhibitions, ready to regale visitors with the amazing treasures of history.

Address: No 1000 South Huaqing Road, Qingpu district

Open: 9 am - 4:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm); closed on Mondays

Sources: "shanghaitourism" WeChat account, museum.shqp.gov.cn