A Little Haven in Art, a Grand World in a Museum – A Glimpse of the Jingang Museum in Shanghai

📍 Shanghai · 👁 14 reads · ❤️ 26 likes

Museums are no longer the traditional places where you hold a ticket, enter, and gaze at distant, untouchable artifacts displayed in cabinets. In Shanghai, spending a weekend browsing museum exhibitions has long become a daily pastime. An increasing number of museums of various forms and themes are springing up across the city, catering to both mainstream and niche aesthetic tastes. According to incomplete statistics, Shanghai has a total of 131 museums, and each year's International Museum Day in May is a major citywide event that attracts unprecedented attention.

As a die-hard 'museum addict,' visiting museums is already my daily routine. The Jingang Museum is the 20th museum/exhibition hall/display hall/memorial I've visited this year, and it ranks among my top three because it completely upends our preconceived notion that going to a museum is solely about viewing exhibitions. Although the Jingang Museum is tucked away in a far-flung corner of Pudong, good wine needs no bush – it's well worth a special trip.

The plaque at the entrance reads 'Taihui Life,' and as part of the Taihui Life Culture Park, you can feel the deep, secluded atmosphere of high walls and spacious courtyards right at the gate. Taihui Life aims to lead a Chinese lifestyle and spread the value of Chinese civilization. It integrates art exhibitions, tea culture, ancient architecture and other elements to create a Chinese-style living experience space that blends tea, Zen, and art.

Occupying 20,000 square meters, the Jingang Museum is currently the largest private museum in Shanghai. Transformed from an old factory building, it has been reborn as a unique temple of art.

After entering the garden, the external buildings are all in the Huizhou style with white walls and black tiles, complemented by exquisite ancient and famous trees that clearly receive professional care. Here, the refined, understated, and natural lifestyle of ancient literati is presented to the public – a feast for the soul through art.

Even before stepping into the indoor exhibition areas, the outdoor space already offers a delightful view of a Jiangnan waterfront. The Jingang Museum has rescued and restored nearly 500 sets of Huizhou ancient buildings, six of which are now situated in a corner of the cultural park. With upturned eaves, overhanging corners, lush flowers and trees, tall horse-head walls, and a small wooden bridge winding over the water, you’ll miss the beauty of spring if you don’t enter the garden.

Many people don't know that the five large characters '金刚博物馆' in the calligraphy of Mr. Yu Qiuyu are also a highlight at the entrance.

As one of the biggest draws of the Taihui Life Culture Park, the Jingang Museum houses over 40,000 rare collectibles and exhibits, including antiques, calligraphy and paintings, sculptures, contemporary art, stone carvings, and ancient architecture. It comprises ten galleries, such as the Modern Masters Gallery, the Oil Painting Gallery, the Ancient Stone Carving Gallery, the Shanghai School Painting Gallery, the Sculpture Gallery, the Jadeite Gallery, the Premium Jadeite Gallery, the Scholar's Antiques Gallery, and the Glass Art Gallery, integrating exhibition, academic research, and collection.

The lobby where the visitor service center is located is as grand as a hotel lobby. It provides access to all the galleries, and here our journey of art appreciation begins.

The Shanghai School Painting Gallery is our first stop. The gallery displays classic works by masters of the Shanghai School from the late Qing Dynasty to the contemporary period, objectively reflecting the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese painting in Shanghai. The Shanghai School of painting is rooted in the Jiangnan Wu-Yue culture and incorporates Western painting techniques, presenting its unique cultural character. Although the Jingang Museum also has an Oil Painting Gallery and a Modern Masters Gallery, the Shanghai School Painting Gallery deserves its own space to highlight its uniqueness.

In the morning when the museum opens, the vast gallery has very few visitors, providing a quiet environment perfect for appreciating the artworks and delving into the stories behind them. The exhibition areas are spaciously divided, with plenty of blank space to focus visitors' attention entirely on the paintings in the display cases.

The gallery's centerpiece is Feng Zikai's 'Amitayus Buddha.' I've seen Feng Zikai's cartoon exhibitions before, and this painting continues his unmistakable personal style. It was created at the request of his student Luo Liangneng as a birthday gift for the student's mother. The painting depicts the Amitayus Buddha seated cross-legged by a cliff, draped in a kasaya, holding a precious pearl, with a halo behind him. A gnarled pine branch stretches overhead, while clouds float below – a rigorously composed scene. The Buddha's face is serene and anthropomorphized, corresponding to the inscription 'Everlasting Childlike Visage,' symbolizing eternal youth.

Huang Shanshou's multi-panel 'Meticulous Figure Painting' is also a heavyweight exhibit. The composition is carefully balanced, with orderly structure, and the elegant ancient ladies, either smiling with lowered eyes or standing with a fan, are lifelike and vivid.

'Peaches of Longevity' in a basket, by the renowned Shanghai advertising artist Xie Zhiliang, captures form and spirit with just a few strokes.

These works, arranged by the artists' birth years from Zhao Shuru (born 1871) to Chen Qi (born 1958), span nearly a century. Famous painters such as Wu Changshuo, Lu Yanshao, Tang Yun, Xie Zhiliu, Cheng Shifa, He Tianjian, Chen Peiqiu, and later artists like Shi Dawei, Han Tianheng, and Han Min are all represented. These pieces objectively reflect the lineage of Chinese painting in Shanghai. The essence of a century of Shanghai School painting unfolds right before your eyes.

Tea culture is an integral part of the Jingang Museum, and the Mingyue Tea Museum is a heavyweight highlight that left the deepest impression on us. It is divided into tea ware and tea leaf exhibition areas, making it the most comprehensive and richly collected tea museum in Shanghai. Even if it stood alone outside the Jingang Museum, it would be more than impressive.

The first half of the exhibition hall introduces the evolution of tea culture in China, along with displays of tea sets and tea utensils. Looking across Chinese tea history, it was enlightened in the Three Kingdoms period, sprouted during the Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties, took shape in the Tang, flourished in the Song, and spread in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Song Dynasty book 'Mengliang Lu' records: 'Burning incense, whisking tea, hanging pictures, and arranging flowers – the four elegant pastimes, not burdensome for the household,' highlighting the four arts of refined living for Song literati and elevating daily tea drinking to an artistic realm.

The Song Dynasty was the golden age of tea culture, with its unique whisking method and the prevalence of tea competitions pushing Chinese tea culture to an unprecedented peak. The museum displays tools for Song-style tea whisking: tea whisk, tea ladle, tea caddy, and tea powder spoon. However, the complete set actually consists of 12 pieces, so here it's simplified.

It also houses iron and silver kettles from Japan and Taiwan, elegantly arranged in display cases, quietly showcasing the beauty of the objects. Some tea wares look distinctively textured and crystal-clear – they would surely be a boon for brewing tea.

There is also a Chinese wooden structure inside the Tea Museum, with upturned eaves and lifelike wood carvings, enhanced by lighting. The solemn and majestic Chinese aesthetics enrich the visual experience of the modern museum exhibition.

The museum's 'Tea Fairy' has participated in tea sessions at the China International Import Expo and the Sino-French Yu Garden tea event, serving tea to leaders and foreign dignitaries. Her attire, utensils, and tea cakes from that time are specially displayed here.

The latter part of the hall is an experience area, where seasonal tea gatherings and events are held, accommodating 100 to 280 people. On the walls are displays of a gene bank of 100 tea mountains from Yunnan and ten intangible cultural heritage handcrafted teas, presenting the profound and starry river of tea culture in a grand manner. From educational tours to hands-on experiences, visitors can fully appreciate the millennia-long heritage, development, reform, and innovation of Chinese tea culture.

The Crystal Art Gallery brings together exquisite carvings by renowned Chinese craftsmen, aiming to provide a grand crystal carving appreciation experience. The translucent crystals particularly appeal to young women; here, under the hands of famous carvers, the crystals’ spirit and charm come alive, as if possessing living souls, revealing their pure agility.

Although the gallery is not large, it values quality over quantity. Only here did I realize there are so many varieties of crystal: strawberry quartz, titanite, green phantom quartz, and more, each with its own shifting colors and textures. The Jingang Museum's collection features rare and precious materials, vividly natural figurative forms; a careful look reveals that most crystal carvings deal with religious themes, such as 'Dharma Assembly at the Vulture Peak' (pictured above).

'Nüwa Mending the Sky' is a strawberry quartz piece by master artisan Liu Lingfeng. Lifelike and exquisite, its color gradients create a beauty that even those unfamiliar with crystals find exceptionally enchanting.

Common religious themes such as the reclining Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, and the Thousand-Armed Guanyin are presented through crystal, perfectly interpreting Buddhism's concept of 'emptiness and purity.' Meticulously polishing a precious crystal stone is not about showcasing skill but about radiating the cosmic light that the crystal’s life embodies and engaging in a dialogue deep within the soul, achieving the ultimate realm of 'following the way of nature, uniting heaven and humanity.'

The Watercolor Gallery’s layout somewhat resembles that of the Shanghai School Painting Gallery. Though small, it is the most anticipated gallery for many before visiting the Jingang Museum.

Watercolor was the earliest Western painting medium introduced to China, widely popular and well-liked among intellectuals. Compared to oil painting, watercolors are smaller in size but have made historic contributions by leading trends and influencing the course of painting.

This gallery exhibits over 100 works by five professional watercolorists who dedicated their lives to the medium: Zhang Meisun, Li Yongsen, Pan Sitong, Lei Yu, and Ha Ding.

Watercolor is not only the easiest tool for popularizing painting knowledge but also a convenient medium for artists’ sketches and design drafts. As an independent art form, it has its own historical and aesthetic value. The works on display cover urban landscapes, rural scenes, production and construction sites, reflecting the face of an era and the historical trajectory of China’s development and transformation.

The image above shows Li Yongsen's 'Jiangnan Water Town.'

These five masters constitute China’s first generation of watercolor painters. The systematic and complete public display of their works provides precious physical evidence representing the development of Chinese watercolor in the 1940s to 1960s. It allows us to fully understand these pioneering artists' creative styles and better appreciate the value of their works.

The Sculpture Gallery presents over 80 works created by three generations of Chinese sculptors—older, middle-aged, and young—reflecting the development of modern Chinese sculpture, including pieces of realistic concern and abstract expression. The collection also mirrors the excellent works that have emerged in urban public spaces and contemporary art over the past half-century.

'Son of the Earth' features a vivid figure with a solemn and serene expression, perhaps capturing an ordinary moment from wartime, yet brought to life anew from the artist’s fresh perspective. Every life deserves reverence—the ultimate return to humanity.

A slightly modern sculptural technique and material application are used to depict three Qing dynasty palace ladies, achieving a unique artistic effect through the collision and reinterpretation of past and present.

One particularly eye-catching group of sculptures includes miniature furniture installations. The elders have varied postures but uniformly peaceful expressions—maybe a casual afternoon chat, awaiting children’s return, or just a snapshot of everyday village life. The simple, tranquil rural atmosphere reflects the artist’s contemplation of time and longing for a pure life.

Renowned sculptor Wei Xiaoming's work 'Pioneer' exudes masculine strength and vitality; its dynamic pose and body language subtly convey the theme.

This sculpture is fascinating: from a specific angle, no matter where you move, it's watching you...

Jadeite, also known as jade, is a type of jade. Chinese jade carving is dazzling and exquisite, renowned worldwide as the 'wonder of Eastern art.' The Jingang Museum’s Jadeite Gallery brings together classic works by today’s most influential master jade carvers. The exhibits mainly consist of high-end jadeite ornaments, featuring luxurious materials and ingenious craftsmanship, with a distinct contemporary feel and originality that represent the highest level of contemporary jade carving art.

Times have changed, and jadeite is no longer an old-fashioned antique favored only by the elderly. Many young people also choose uniquely shaped and novel jadeite accessories to express their personality. So as we toured the Jadeite Gallery, apart from marveling at the opulence of the collection, we also browsed with personal interest and appreciation.

Like the Crystal Gallery, the exhibits here are dominated by religious Buddhist statues. The Lotus Guanyin has even coloring and a smooth texture. The elegantly posed goddess stands on a lotus, holding a large lotus leaf of fresh, vivid green—the perfect finishing touch.

A jadeite bowl, under spotlighting, appears translucent and plump, with an exceptionally alluring color. The jadeite exhibits are numerous, and due to time constraints, we couldn't savor each one; friends interested in jadeite could easily spend half a day just in this gallery.

The Oil Painting Gallery displays works by top Chinese oil painters from various periods, spanning modern to contemporary times, each piece a classic. Here you'll find impressionist-style works from the last century’s older generation, outstanding paintings by master Chen Yifei, fine works by the deans of China’s eight major art academies, solid contributions by art professors, and powerful pieces by young contemporary artists. Selected strictly according to the chronicle of Chinese art, the collection is highly academic, with contemporary works that are completely intact and well preserved. It’s one of the most captivating galleries in the Jingang Museum.

Compared to the Watercolor Gallery, the Oil Painting Gallery’s works are much larger, the space is more spacious and brighter, and the decor uses understated deep blue tones to draw viewers’ attention to the paintings. The image above shows one of the main paintings in the gallery.

These romantic historical figures, these emperors of the past—can you accurately identify them by their attire?

When we visited, the Oil Painting Gallery was hosting a 'Special Exhibition of Oil Paintings on Eventful Years,' so many works bore distinct marks of their era. Rereading history allows us to reflect on those tempestuous years and perceive the connection between past and present.

Regrettably, we didn't see Mr. Chen Yifei's 'Zhou Zhuang'—something to look forward to next time!

The Jingang Museum has several tea rooms of different styles and sizes. In addition to viewing exhibitions, enjoying a tea ceremony is an experience not to be missed. This is why I said earlier that the Jingang Museum offers visitors more than just exhibitions; it integrates art into daily life, refreshing our conventional perception of museums.

The tea room near the galleries overlooks the courtyard, perfect for a brief rest during your visit. Here, professionally trained Tea Fairies demonstrate in every move the essence distilled from China’s time-honored tea culture. In such an ambiance, tea becomes more than just tea.

Outside the tea room on the 4th floor, there is also a rooftop courtyard with a dry landscape garden. Anyone who has visited Japanese shrines and temples will be familiar with karesansui. The Zen thought that originated in China, after evolving in Japan, has profoundly influenced Japanese garden design. The dry landscape garden is a hallmark of Japanese gardens—immersed in it, you feel waves of Zen calm. Amid the hustle of modern city life, having such a small haven to quiet your mind, read, and sip tea is truly paradise. Hence, having this dry landscape outside the tea room is a dream come true for tea lovers.

After visiting several tea rooms, we finally settled down at Ruigong. This is an antique-style courtyard built in the Huizhou tradition, where a long tea table is placed in the courtyard’s open area with natural light from above. The tea room itself is a beautifully crafted replica of ancient architecture, with carved beams and painted rafters, as exquisite as the residence of a distinguished family.

The Tea Fairy’s performance flows seamlessly, each step and gesture practiced thousands of times until ingrained in her heart. Her tea ceremony is like clouds and flowing water, poised and natural, bringing the tea to its finest state. Guests sit in quiet reverence, moved by the harmonious atmosphere of 'Zen and tea as one.'

We tasted two teas. One was Wuyuanjian Rougui, a type of Wuyi rock tea from Fujian. Besides the typical fragrant, mellow flavor of rock tea, it had an added roasted aroma, rich fruity notes, and a bold fragrance—distinctive from the very first sip.

The other was an ancient tree Pu'er tea from Yunnan, 'Xingwu,' the same tea served to leaders at the China International Import Expo tea session. Compared to ordinary Pu'er, its liquor is not dark but retains the honey and fruity aroma of ancient tea trees, with a lingering sweetness that lasts hours and greater endurance through multiple infusions.

While the lives of ancients cannot be replicated, the classical attitude to living flows in our blood. Tasting tea in this environment is also an immersion in Chinese culture.

Since this is a different kind of museum visit, besides tea, you should also enjoy the delicious food the museum has to offer. We had lunch at the Tai Hotel located within the Taihui Life Culture Park. The hotel’s restaurant surprised us with its culinary delights.

The table was laden with hearty dishes that brought together flavors from across the country: Shanghai-style braised pork, soy-marinated crab, and fish head tofu soup; Cantonese steamed prawns with garlic and vermicelli; Sichuan spicy boiled fish and numbing beef, among others. Every dish hit the mark, spanning multiple cuisines to satisfy foodies in one go.

The clay pot fish head tofu soup, rich and soul-warming, made a perfect ending to the meal.

If you want to spend a whole day at the museum without rushing home, you can stay overnight at the Tai Hotel behind the museum, also within the Taihui Life Culture Park. In other words, everything related to life—dining, accommodation, transportation, and sightseeing—is all here. Visiting a museum seamlessly blends into your everyday life.

The hotel features a modern Chinese style consistent with the museum’s aesthetic. Although it hasn’t been heavily promoted, the facilities are surprisingly good. The elegant, refined Chinese decor is sure to appeal to artsy young visitors.

Following the example of the Palace Museum’s cultural products, it seems museums everywhere are embracing cultural creative goods, and the Jingang Museum is no exception. Traveling usually means bringing home souvenirs, and a museum tour calls for unique cultural mementos! The museum’s cultural creative shop is located right next to the lobby on the ground floor; it’s sizable and rich in variety, well worth a browse for enthusiasts.

There are high-end porcelain and tea sets, as well as more affordable books, phone cases, refrigerator magnets, and badges. You can pick and choose according to your budget and preference. For instance, after experiencing the tea culture here, I became interested in the Tea Fairy book series.

The 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains' motif, beloved by many Chinese-style shops, has become a major IP in the cultural creative world; fans are the most common format. These edged round fans are perfect for decoration or personal use.

Japanese genuine silk, under lighting, is simply dazzling; I noticed it used as table runners in some of the museum’s tea rooms, wonderfully complementing the Chinese tea sets.

Address: 888 Yuanzhong Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai

Transportation: Take Metro Line 16 to Wild Animal Park Station, then transfer to Bus 1095 and alight at 'Yuanzhong Road Yuanshun Road' stop

Since the museum is in the suburbs, there is ample free parking, so self-driving is highly recommended. With enough time, you can also explore other nearby attractions.

Admission: 100 RMB (half-price for students, military personnel, seniors over 60; free for preschool children, seniors over 70, and people with disabilities)

Opening hours: 9:30–17:30 (ticket sales stop after 17:00)

Facilities: Free guided tours (every Saturday at 14:00), nursery room, baby stroller rental, wheelchair rental, etc.

Travelogue Contents

1. Museums and Daily Life

2. A Different Kind of New-style Jiangnan

3. Shanghai School Painting Gallery: Heritage on Paper

4. Mingyue Tea Museum: A Single Leaf, a Starry River

5. Crystal Art Gallery: The Translucent Heart of Unity with Nature

6. Watercolor Gallery: Recording Time with Transparent Colors

7. Sculpture Gallery: Frozen Life

8. Jadeite Gallery: Even Immortals Can't Judge, But Ingenious Craftsmanship Is Unmatched

9. Oil Painting Gallery: Recalling Eventful Years