Nestled just north of the Jing’an district is Shanghai’s contemporary art hub, M50. Similar to Beijing’s 798 Art Zone, this art neighborhood promises visitors a sneak peek into the world of contemporary Chinese art that has grown exponentially in the past few years. Many of the works featured in M50 galleries end up in major exhibitions in Shanghai’s famous Rockbund Museum as well as in other contemporary art museums across the globe. [caption id="attachment_3217" align="alignleft" width="300"]

The graffiti wall leading up to M50.[/caption] Instead of taking a taxi straight to M50, ask your cab driver to drop you off at the intersection of Changhua Lu and Moganshan Lu (莫干山路, 近昌化路). From there you can take a scenic five-minute walk to M50 along its iconic graffiti wall. Illustrations range from the surreal to the lewd, and if you’re lucky, you might catch some artists painting it over with new graffiti. At the end of the wall, there’s an association of clustered warehouse buildings with a large sign on top that says M50 and a small entrance with an official plaque that declares M50 to be a AAAAA-rated scenic area (the highest ranking that the government gives to sites of major historical and cultural importance). This governmental recognition assures that the galleries lack controversial pieces of art, but it does not make the exhibited works any less avant-garde. [caption id="attachment_3218" align="alignright" width="200"]

A small shop in M50.[/caption] There are very few maps and guides for this area, so it’s best to just wander around and see what you discover. There are some excellent galleries near the entrance of M50, but also some kitschy art shops and restaurants that aren’t worth your time. Instead, explore and check out all of the floors of M50’s buildings. In addition to galleries, visitors can stumble upon artist studios, design stores, and intriguing abandoned spaces--a deserted photography darkroom, a forgotten tv still playing an on old film from a video installation on loop, rooms chock full of used art supplies stacked all the way up to ceiling. You’ll never know what you might see. Also, don’t miss the back end of M50, where some of the best galleries in the city as well as beautiful views of Suzhou Creek can be found. M50 is a good spot to visit on rainy days. Visitors can tuck in and out of closely-connected buildings and an umbrella isn’t really necessary. It also makes a great stop before a night out in Puxi. Every weekend, there are always a few galleries hosting opening receptions for exhibitions with free (yay!) food and drinks. With new art shows every week, M50 is a great place to come back to again and again.

Can't-Miss Galleries

Island6

ShanghART

LWH Gallery

Gallery55

Pantocrator

Vanguard Gallery

Eastlink

M97

Address & Directions

M50 Art District M50 艺术园区 50 Moganshan Rd 莫干山路50号 Metro Line 3 - Zhongtan Road 中潭路站

This article was written by Veronica Hernandez. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Nicole Chan