Plenty to enjoy during cultural heritage season
Elegant artwork.
The 2024 Shanghai cultural heritage season was launched over the weekend, comprising six sections aimed at promoting public involvement in the protection, inheritance and development of cultural legacies.
Shanghai boasts splendid "red" (Communist-related), haipai (Shanghai-style), and Jiangnan (the southern part of the Yangtze River's lower reaches) cultures, and their intermingling reflects the unique cultural spirit of the city.
Comprising six sections – exhibition, fun travel, bazaar, aesthetic education, performance, and microfilm, the season will string key activities and major festivals of cultural heritage in the city. It will take the pubic to experience the beauty of Shanghai's resplendent cultural heritage through the end of June, according to the Shanghai Administration of Culture and Tourism.
The city has a unique culture.
Exhibition
Shanghai is developing into a a world-class "museum capital," and museums across the city will stage various exhibitions during the season, presenting a cultural feast to the public.
All That Glitters: Chinese Cloisonné as a Gift from Robert Chang's Collection
It features 46 pieces of cloisonné enamelware from collector Robert Chang. These pieces display a rich variety of types, including furnishings, daily necessities, and stationery items, spanning from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the late Qing (1644-1911) and Republic of China periods. These include vase, incense burner, table screens, and wine vessel.
Venue: Shanghai Museum
Date: 9am-5pm (close on Mondays)
Address: 201 People's Avenue 黃浦區人民大道201號
An Immersive Exhibition of Chinese Shadow Puppetry
Several thousand shadow play works were selected from the collection of the China (Shanghai) Folk Shadow Play Art Museum in Jinshan District and recreated digitally to present a feast of light and shadow to viewers, taking them on a journey through time to an ancient Chinese mythological world.
The exhibition drew inspiration from legends of ancient times and features characters from the "four great classical novels in China," as well as traditional Chinese elements such as folk art performances, traditional festivities, and juggling.
Venue: Shanghai World Expo Museum
Date: 9am-5pm, through October 31 (closed on Monday)
Address: 818 Mengzi Road, Huangpu District 黃浦區蒙自路818號
An Immersive Exhibition of Chinese Shadow Puppetry.
Performance
Shanghai plays an important role in the development of traditional Chinese operas. In June, a slew of performances will take audiences to savor the unique glamour of traditional Chinese operas.
A Dream of Red Mansions
In 1958, the Yueju Opera performance of A Dream of Red Mansions by Shanghai Yueju Opera House debuted in the city, which opened a new chapter of traditional Chinese opera art of the classic play in Shanghai. "A Dream of Red Mansions" is a stage adaptation of the classic novel by Cao Xueqin (1715-1763) and is among Shanghai Yueju Opera Company's four classic plays.
Date: 7:30pm, June 5
Venue: AIA Grand Theater
Address: 889 Dongdaming Road, Hongkou District 虹口區東大名路889號
Serial performance commemorating the 130th anniversary of Mei Lanfang's birth
To commemorate the 130th anniversary of the birth of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, a series of Peking Opera performances such as interpretations to classics "Mu Guiying Takes Command" and "Silang Visits His Mother" will be staged.
Date: June 7-10
Venue: Tianchan Yifu Theater
Address: 701 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District 黃浦區福州路701號
A serene setting.
Fun Travel
From dragon boat experiences to city walks and wood carving, various intangible cultural heritage activities will roll out in the city this month.
Luodian Dragon Boat Culture Festival
In 2007, the tradition of dragon boat rowing in Luodian Town, Baoshan District, was listed as the first batch of intangible cultural heritages of Shanghai. This year, the festival will display traditional dragon boat performances and a cultural heritage market, creating new consumer engagements and celebrating local heritage.
Date: June 7-10
Venue: Meilan Lake
Dragon boat rowing.
Aesthetic education
Salons, study tours and art experiences will be launched at cultural venues across the city to promote the gems of traditional Chinese culture and essence of Chinese civilization.
A total of 55 classes, guided tours, salons and livesteamings of traditional Chinese operas will be held in the Pudong New Area, as well as Xuhui, Jiading, Jing'an, Putuo and Changning districts in June, taking attendees to explore the history, technique and art forms of representative items of intangible cultural heritage of traditional Chinese operas.
A poster.
Bazaar
From Jiangnan sizhu (string and wind music) to coffee workshop, cultural bazaars will enlighten people's life with immersive experiences.
2024 Intangible Cultural Heritage and Chinese Opera Fair
At Shanghai Wanping Theater, an intangible cultural heritage bazaar with a blend of guochao (China-chic) handmade craft, Chinese opera salon and films, and coffee workshop will be held, offering a brand-new delightful Chinese Opera experience to visitors.
Date: June 8-9
Venue: Wanping Theater
Address: 859 Zhongshan No.2 Rd S., Xuhui District 中山南二路859號
A poster for the Wanping Theater.
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