Its architectural form inspired by a bronze age sacrificial vessel, the Shanghai Museum sits imposingly in downtown People’s Square district. Housed inside the galleries are some of China’s most precious treasures including ancient bronze pieces, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, jade and coins, Ming and Ching furniture, Buddhist sculptures, and art of the minority nationalities. There is also a gallery devoted to the quintessential Chinese invention – paper money. The Shanghai Museum is no place to hurry through, especially if you are a connoisseur of fine objets d’art. Be prepared to spend several fruitful hours just going through the permanent collection spread over 38,000 sq m of floor space, and more if there are themed exhibits put up in its three exhibition halls. The Shanghai Museum building with its upper half unmistakably inspired by a Shang dynasty bronze ritual vessel. A  masterpiece from the ceramics gallery with its vast collection covering simple N