Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts
Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts
4
About
Museum displays traditional crafts of ivory, jade and wood carvings, textiles, painted snuff bottles and a variety of folk crafts. There are some studios where you can watch artisans at work, as well as a gift shop of high-quality goods (and prices).
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
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Neighbourhood: Former French Concession
While there are technical borders to the area formerly governed by the French in Shanghai, the "French Concession" of today is an amorphous neighborhood that is a favorite of the city's foreign residents. While it is mostly within the Xuhui district, residents will sometimes include parts of Jing'an and Luwan in their mental maps of the Former French Concession. The area seems frozen in time, characterized by quiet, tree-lined avenues, French-style villas, interesting boutiques, lively bars and quaint cafes that are not typical of China. All of these mix and mingle with local life as Chinese markets and lanehouse communities are peppered throughout. Denizens of the Former French Concession can spectate a mahjong game on the street or get their bike checked at a tiny bike repair store on the way to their refurbished apartment tucked away among Chinese family homes.
How to get there
- Changshu Road • 8 min walk
- South Shaanxi Road • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
88 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
45
Average
17
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Joanne H
London, UK964 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Definitely worth popping by if you're in the area, but bear in mind it closes between 11am and 1pm for lunch - so don't rock up at 12 noon as I did. The ground-floor displays are very nice, the rest of the place is little shops. Nice house too. I wasn't blown away, but I enjoyed the visit.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roving1044
Burlington, MA1 contribution
We visited this place in October 2003, not only is a museum that exhibits interesting pieces of local art but also shows artisans working on their pieces. At the same time you can buy art from some of the artists. In general we liked the quality of the pieces.
For payment we were able to pay with credit card after we got the pieces from the different artists.
We enjoyed the place.
For payment we were able to pay with credit card after we got the pieces from the different artists.
We enjoyed the place.
Written 20 September 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChromeCorgi
Shanghai, China112 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
This is one of Shanghai's lesser known attractions, taking up quiet residence in the heart of the Former French Concession. While it may not have the glam appeal of the Bund or Lujiazui, it is certainly worth a visit if you are interested in architecture, history and Chinese arts & crafts. The museum is housed in an early 20th Century French Villa that is more of less intact and has not fallen prey to demolition. The decor is faded and needs a bit of love, but the former elegance is still evident. I especially liked the Master Bathroom that is still in its original state complete with a remarkable showerstall, that more so resembles a cage that jets water onto its occupant. Arts & Crafts include jade carving, needlepoint and dough sculpting, with artisans actually working. All works are for sale. Staff are welcoming and more than willing to entertain questions about their craft and the museum. The entry fee is a mere ¥8.
Written 24 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina S
Seoul, South Korea30 contributions
Jan 2014 • Solo
I was expecting to see a wider variety of craftworks. It was mainly ivory and jade carvings and some needlework exhibits. Despite the underwhelming exhibit on the 2nd and 3rd floors, I do recommend visiting this museum if not only for the chance to browse the 1st floor, where you will find many rooms of artists working on various projects. Most of them selling their stuff at reasonable prices! I was actually quite shocked by the low prices. They were much cheaper than the Tianfuzang shops, and obviously more authentic. I bought a few hand-cut paper crafts, a necklace charm made from a piece of an antique teacup, and some handmade knives! It feels good to buy directly from the artist; to support their craft and for assurance that it's authentic!
Also, another good reason to visit this museum is checking out the neighborhood. It is located in a beautiful section of the Old French Concession. Look forward to nice tree-lined streets and independent cafés, restaurants and boutiques!
The price of admission to the museum is 8RMB ($1.30).
Line 1, Changshu Rd station, exit 2 or 4
Also, another good reason to visit this museum is checking out the neighborhood. It is located in a beautiful section of the Old French Concession. Look forward to nice tree-lined streets and independent cafés, restaurants and boutiques!
The price of admission to the museum is 8RMB ($1.30).
Line 1, Changshu Rd station, exit 2 or 4
Written 23 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tifster
Atlanta, GA154 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
The Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts was a nice hidden find for us. The building itself is historic and inside is a small collection of pretty amazing ivory sculptures, as well as other local crafts. On the lower level and 2nd level are rooms of artisans working. There was a room devoted to each of the highlighted traditional Chinese crafts and there were people in there working on that type of art. I particularly enjoyed the embroidery room and watching the ladies work on their embroidery projects.
One thing I liked about this place was that you could buy art from each room. I bought an embroidered pin for my jacket for about $6USD. It's beautiful and I know it was made there.
We spent about 30 minutes here, and walked away with several unique Chinese souvenirs.
One thing I liked about this place was that you could buy art from each room. I bought an embroidered pin for my jacket for about $6USD. It's beautiful and I know it was made there.
We spent about 30 minutes here, and walked away with several unique Chinese souvenirs.
Written 5 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
foulaman
Kelowna, Canada310 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
This museum has some excellent examples of Chinese arts and crafts including work in paper, stone, pottery, china, jewellery and embroidery. Some fine examples from mostly the 20th century are on display in cases on the main level (check out the ink stones), while craftspeople work on contemporary pieces throughout the building. Much of the work is for sale, from hyper expensive to small items that make great souvenirs. Sales staff speak English and they accept credit cards for purchases. The building itself is from the French concession era and was the French Consulate with a lovely garden. So you get to absorb a bit of history as well. Allow about an hour to 90 mins.
Written 25 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Selin L
Melbourne, Australia68 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
It's a small space with lots of local artists doing there thing in small rooms. The Jade and Ivory work is unbelievably detailed and at 8RMB for entry you really can't go wrong.
Written 26 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zziwooone
Shanghai, China1 contribution
Sept 2016 • Friends
The main artwork placed by the gate of the museum showed a massive ivory carving which had charming details of sculpting and faultless designs. The portrait showing the entire panorama of a Chinese city emphasized on the details and clarity of the artwork, and that startled me the most.(By Carol Park)
The ancient bathroom is the only room left untouched by the renovations, it's shower rusted and sunlight shone through the dusty but colorfully mosaics window. The tiles glowing in shades of yellow, green, and red. (By Alysha Xie)
The ancient bathroom is the only room left untouched by the renovations, it's shower rusted and sunlight shone through the dusty but colorfully mosaics window. The tiles glowing in shades of yellow, green, and red. (By Alysha Xie)
Written 14 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Le_Gaumais_12
Vielsalm, Belgium131 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
This museum is a few minutes of walk from the station Changshu Road on line 1. It's quite cheap (8 RMB) and very intereting.
Outside, the museum is incredibly nice to look at. It's an old french mansion that was used for NATO or Russian friendship ambassy. It's now used as a museum.
Inside, you can see lots of scultpure in ivory, wood, jade,... You can also see some artists working ... but don't go there between 11h and 13h, there are eating ! You can also buy there stuff and you have a lot of possibilities (scarf and clothes, paper cut art, jade jewelry, snuff bottles, small sculpture,...) The prices didn't seem too high and are indicated.
Outside, the museum is incredibly nice to look at. It's an old french mansion that was used for NATO or Russian friendship ambassy. It's now used as a museum.
Inside, you can see lots of scultpure in ivory, wood, jade,... You can also see some artists working ... but don't go there between 11h and 13h, there are eating ! You can also buy there stuff and you have a lot of possibilities (scarf and clothes, paper cut art, jade jewelry, snuff bottles, small sculpture,...) The prices didn't seem too high and are indicated.
Written 20 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
midway42
Georgia3,423 contributions
Sept 2011 • Solo
I stopped by here almost as an afterthought during my day in the French Concession and was glad I did. The museum is a bit off the beaten path, located south of Fuxing Road. Admission was reasonable, I think maybe just 10Y. The museum is located in an impressive three-story French Renaissance mansion built in 1905. The collections encompass three floors and are quite extensive: Gu embroidery, theatrical costumes, dough modeling, jade/ivory/wood carving, etc. (among many others) are all on display here. There are even numerous examples of artists currently at work and, of course, a shop in the basement where you can purchase any of the above. Overall I was very impressed by the museum and I don’t even consider myself an “arts and crafts” kind of person. There was enough visually interesting material here (along with explanations in English) to make the visit worthwhile and it doubles as a good place for souvenir shopping. Recommended.
Written 13 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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