Shanghai Duolon Museum of Modern Art

The Shanghai Duolon Museum of Modern Art is Shanghai’s first state-owned space dedicated solely to modern art. It serves to facilitate the exchange of ideas between Chinese and international artists, making the results available to members of the public. Take an afternoon to wander through its galleries, peruse the art books in its store and enjoy a coffee on the 6th floor cafe of a remarkable museum.

The museum is found in a giant seven-story Bauhaus structure that wraps around a metal spiral staircase, and is worth visiting for the impressive building alone. The exhibits within change often are cutting-edge by Chinese standards. Recent years have seen examinations of gender issues, musical performances of Chinese electronica and electronic art from American artists. It’s often avant-garde, but always accessible.

The surrounding neighbourhood is also a delight. Duolon Road is famous for having been home to many of the most famous 20th century Chinese writers, including Lu Xun, who even had the nearby park named after him. The architecture along the road is an interesting hodgepodge of styles, with Chinese elements fused to Islamic, Jewish and French ones too. So be sure to factor in some time to amble down the road when you visit the Shanghai Duolon Museum of Modern Art.