As of this writing, the Power Station of Art is one of the few buildings on the 2010 Shanghai World Expo site that has been repurposed. According to information from the museum, the building was originally constructed in 1897 as the Nanshi Power Station. During the Expo, it served as the Pavilion of the Future of the World. Its 165m tall chimney now serves as a thermometer for the city that shows the temperature of the day.
The building reopened in October 2012 as a contemporary art museum and while it has no current permanent exhibits, it does host some interesting shows.
Visitor information
Chinese name:上海 当代 艺术 博物馆
Registration fee: general – free. Special exhibitions have entrance fees. Visit the PSA website for specific shows and admissions.
Hours of operation : Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry at 4 pm). Closed on Mondays except national holidays.
Address: 200 Huayuangang Lu, near Miaojiang Lu |花园 港 路 200 号, 近 苗 江 路
How to get there: it is complicated. Follow the shipping instructions on the PSA.
Facilities
- Rotating exhibitions
- Exclusive coffee shop on the ground floor
- 7F fine dining restaurant
- Activities for children (check with the museum for special hours)
- Gift shop
- Toilets
- Small Self-Service Storage Cabinets for Bags
- Escalators and elevators
- Parking and bike racks
Wheelchair / stroller friendly?
Yes, wheelchairs and strollers can reach all areas of the building and the museum offers complimentary wheelchairs on the ground floor. Consult at the information desk.
Guide Comments
The first time I visited the museum it was to see an Andy Warhol exhibit. We took our children (ages 3 and 8) and they both enjoyed the art and the space. There is plenty of open space for the kids to run around and if you’re lucky you might be there when the kids’ activity is active.
At the time of my visit, the museum had been open for less than a year and they could use a good permanent exhibition to attract more visitors. That said, the two shows that were featured were quite interesting.
We paid a visit to the cafeteria downstairs and enjoyed the experience. Unlike other museums in Shanghai, this cafe is quite exclusive, which means that the coffee is good (illy) and has good food and snacks.
All in all, with children in tow, we spent about an hour and a half in the museum and that was enough.
