A visit to the Shanghai Museum in People's Square is a great opportunity to see some of China's most fascinating ancient art. It has been designed to give a better understanding of ancient wisdom and philosophy, with even the building having symbolic value. The round dome and square base of the construction are said to represent the ancient principle of heaven and land respectively.

There are 11 galleries and three exhibition halls in total, displaying everything from bronze artefacts and ceramics to paintings and calligraphy, as well as coins and jade. The Shang, Zhou, and Tang dynasties are all represented, along with the Neolithic Age.

China was one of the first nations in the world to adopt currency and with no fewer than 7,000 pieces on display, it is interesting to see the history of money exhibited in this way. It also documents how China began to trade with other countries.