[Empty Valley Clear Sound] Labor Day May 5: Qingpu Museum + Qiuci Grotto Murals + Printing Museum + Fuquanshan Site + Nanhui Museum

Although the 2020 Labor Day holiday had five days off, out of caution, I just wandered around the nearby suburbs. On the 4th, I went to Dishui Lake and Nanhuizui Sea View Park. The crowds weren't shoulder-to-shoulder, but there were still quite a few visitors. On the way back, I dropped by the Nanhui Museum. I was mentally prepared: the Shanghai area was a vast ocean 3,000 years ago. Qingpu emerged much later, then Songjiang, then Chuansha, and finally Nanhui. So I didn't expect any significant relics. After going through a health QR code check, registering my name and phone number, and getting a forehead temperature measurement, I entered the museum. Standing in the fairly new exhibition hall, looking at the sparse collection, the only word that came to mind was 'shabby.'

The Nanhui area in Pudong New District was originally Nanhui District, and before that Nanhui County, with its seat in Huinan Town.

This is the main exhibition area...

I searched for quite a while before finally finding artifacts unearthed in Nanhui—it wasn't easy. About 98% of the rest were from Songze or Maqiao, the real cradles of early Shanghai civilization.

The Han jar was popular during the Southern Song and Yuan dynasties. Legend has it that the famous Southern Song general Han Shizhong's soldiers used it as a water vessel when fighting the Jin army. In fact, civilians also used the Han jar as a wine container. Long-shaped vessels with two loops are called 'jar-pots,' and those without loops are simply 'jars.' In porcelain classification, jars rank a notch above pots.

This bronze bell is like an old friend. I first saw it over twenty years ago in a garden called 'Ancient Bell Garden,' placed inside a pavilion. I never expected it to be moved here. After losing this ancient bell, what is the garden called now?

On the 5th, despite forecasts of short-term heavy rain and thunderstorms, I stuck to my plan to visit Qingpu District. The sky was overcast when I left, but luckily no rain yet. As I entered the Qingpu urban area, just two kilometers from the Qingpu Museum, a sudden downpour hit. A few minor difficulties are just little twists on the path of cultivation—ignore them.

I still had to go through a health QR code check, basic info registration, and temperature measurement before entering. The museum building is shaped like a butterfly; its total area might be on par with the Shanghai Museum. But this shape means the usable area isn't large, making exhibitions—especially larger special or temporary ones—hard to arrange.

This skull should belong to the Songze Museum. I'd never seen it there before; the display case only had a 'on loan' notice. This time, I finally saw it at the Qingpu Museum.

The Qingpu Museum has several 'Shanghai's firsts' and 'bests,' but unfortunately, some of those artifacts weren't on display, just described.

Fuquanshan is the birthplace of Shanghai civilization. The Qingpu Museum's exhibits mainly come from the Songze and Fuquanshan sites in Qingpu. The Songjiang Museum has more artifacts from Maqiao.

Quite a few jade cong were on display, from different parts of Qingpu.

Here begins the introduction on Qinglong Port. A special Qinglong Port exhibition was held at the Shanghai Museum last year.

Modern civilization begins. After this visit to the Qingpu Museum, I'll head to the Printing Museum.

A special exhibition, the Qiuci Grotto Mural Art Exhibition, was on. It was supposed to end in February, but due to the pandemic closure, the exhibition period was extended—a lucky find for me.

I used a flashlight to look at this replica of Cave 38.

The visit over, I walked to the main entrance. The rain had stopped—nice.

Qingpu Radio & Television Tower

About two kilometers away was the China Printing Museum, not on the main road but inside an industrial park, easy to miss. At the park gate, guards did routine safety checks. Walk about 150 meters inside, and you'll see it.

I felt like I was in a deserted place: not a single staff member in sight, the whole place to myself.

There were many mechanical devices, mostly imported. Industrialization still has a long way to go.

A huge typesetting camera

A microcosm of modern Shanghai industry

The Printing Museum exhibition area isn't large—around 800 square meters, I'd guess. I finished the visit quickly and set off again toward Fuquanshan Site in Chonggu Town, about 8 kilometers away. By now I'd left the Qingpu urban area; Chonggu is clearly a suburban market town, quiet yet not lacking in life.

The ticket office's hours were until 15:30. No wonder it looked so quiet—visits had already stopped. I arrived a bit late; some regrets remain, but they're also a reason to come back next time.

Behind that gate is a low earthen mound, where artifacts that represent Shanghai's early civilization were unearthed.

Well, since it wasn't raining, I headed back home.