Shanghai is a city rich in culture. Whether you prefer visual, auditory, or performance art, you can find it in spades here – and usually without too much of a commute. The art community in Shanghai is largely dedicated to the promotion and spread of art appreciation throughout the general population. Luckily, this means that you don’t have to be an art connoisseur or a theatre aficionado to realize the spectacular work that is being done in this city! Here are some of the best places to check out the latest offerings from the ever-changing landscape of the art community.

Shanghai Oriental Arts Center

For the performing arts, the most famous venue has got to be the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center in Pudong. You know that flat, bubbling building that looks like a flower (or a butterfly, as I’ve also heard)? Yeah, that’s the one. Its glass, steel, and wood frame has quickly established it as (another) Shanghai landmark. The architect, Paul Andreu, envisioned each of the five sections (petals? wings?) as separate spaces devoted to all things artsy – an entrance hall, performance hall, art and exhibition gallery, opera hall, and concert hall. Its size (40,000 square meters), and the fact that it houses so many different types of art under one roof, makes it a one-stop-shop for those interested in feeling cultured for a night. Oh, and its ceiling changes color according to the event going on inside – a nice touch.

The Shanghai Grand Theatre is the place to go when you want to catch the more famous English language productions that come to town, including some must-see Broadway hits (yes, they do come all the way to Shanghai!). Resembling a crystal palace (a 10-story crystal palace, no less), this theatre houses all things art, from ballet to classical music to dramatic performances. With a seating capacity of almost 4,000 people and its location right smack in the middle of People’s Square, the Shanghai Grand Theatre attracts a lot of important shows and even larger crowds. It’s the perfect place to impress the one you’re with.

The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center is also a good place to view some of the higher quality English language performances, including everyone’s (or maybe just my) favorite: Shakespeare. Be sure to also stop by when one of the many opera companies are touring – it’s truly an opera-lover’s dream come true. The halls themselves only span 15,000 square meters (impressive, but not nearly as intimidating as the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center or the Shanghai Grand Theatre), so the atmosphere is a bit cozier than those other venues.

Art Lab

But what if you’re not into performance art? Don’t worry. If you’re more of the visual art kind of person, or you are just in the mood to view some funky creations, head down to the Art Lab, located on the third floor of MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Shanghai. It’s a weird mix of food, art, cocktails and music that the creators like to call a “living” exhibition. Enjoy the view of People’s Square while you nosh, drink, and look your way through the MoCA artists’ more avant garde creations. They occasionally make the whole thing into a party, complete with guest DJ’s and space for a dance floor.

I couldn’t possibly create a guide to art centers and theatres without including something from Moganshan Lu. So I decided to mention the one place that those in the know recommend time and time again – the Shine Art Center. Mostly filled with contemporary Chinese art, the gallery will sometimes showcase an installation or two. Consisting of one huge room with a minimal amount of art, this place is nevertheless worth the trip because of its quality exhibits, if not so much its quantity.

For something a little less rural, I recommend Art Labor, a two-story gallery that recently popped up in the French Concession area within the last few years. Mostly showcasing painting and photography (although other forms of media can sometimes be found there) from both local and international contributors, each show typically only features one or two artists at a time. The exploration of national and cultural identity forms a large part of the artists’ exhibits, which make for an interesting viewing here in good ol’ traditional China.

Venue listings:
Shanghai Oriental Arts Center东方艺术中心 View In Map
Add: 425 Dingxiang Lu (Near Century Blvd), Pudong, Shanghai
地址: 上海浦东新区丁香路425号
Tel: 021 5109 5091

Shanghai Grand Theatre上海大剧院 View In Map
Add: 300 Renmin Dadao (Near Huangpi Bei Lu), Shanghai
地址: 上海人民大道300号, 近黄陂北路
Tel: 021 6386 8686

Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center 上海话剧艺术中心View In Map
Add: 288 Anfu Lu (Near Wukang Lu and the Subway Line 1 Changshu Lu stop), Shanghai
地址: 上海安福路288号 (近武康路, 地铁1号线常熟路站)
Tel: 021 6473 0123

Art Lab View In Map
Add: 231 Nanjing Xilu (Near Huangpi Lu or Xizhang Zhong Lu); 3rd floor of MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Shanghai, Shanghai
地址: 上海南京西路231号人民公园当代艺术馆3楼
Tel: 021 6327 0856

Shine Art Center升艺术空间 View In Map
Add: Block 9, 50 Moganshan Lu (Near Changhau Lu), Putuo District, Shanghai
地址: 上海市普陀区莫干山路50号9号楼
Tel: 021 6266 0605

Art LaborView In Map
Add: Building 10, 36 Yongjia Lu (Near Shanxi Nan Lu), Shanghai
地址: 上海永嘉路36号临10 (靠近陕西南路)
Tel: 021 6431 7782

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: Shanghai arts venues best Shanghai art centers best Shanghai theatres best places for arts Shanghai best pla Chinese to see performances Shanghai