Shanghai museums are free this Sunday to mark Intl Museum Day

Ancient Chinese art, modern art, contemporary art, famous foreign art and history — all can be found in Shanghai's museums.

For International Museum Day on Sunday (May 18), Shanghai Daily summarizes the city's museums, many of them open free to the public on that day. These museums are notable not only for their collections but also for their architecture. These include the Power Station of Art, a former electric power station; the crimson China Art Museum in the former China National Pavilion of the World Expo Shanghai 2010, and the Shanghai Museum in the shape of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called ding.

Shanghai Museum

This is often considered China's first world-class museum, and it's dedicated to ancient art. Located at the edge of People's Square, it is built of stone and shaped like a round bronze cooking vessel with handles, known as ding.

The shape echoes the Chinese philosophical concept that the sky is round and the earth is square.

Opened in 1996, it contains collections renowned for their range, depth and quality.

The collections cover ancient Chinese bronzes, sculpture, ceramics, jades, seals, calligraphy, coins and other currency, paintings, Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty furniture, and crafts of China's national minorities.

It regularly holds smaller shows and exhibitions including items from China and abroad.

Opening hours: 9am-5pm

Address: 201 People's Ave

Admission: Free