Repositioned as a museum, this arts and crafts institute displays traditional crafts such as embroidery, paper cutting, lacquer work, jade cutting and lantern making. Watch traditional crafts being performed live by craftspeople and admire the wonderfully wrought exhibits, from jade, to ivory to ink stones and beyond. The 1905 building itself is a highlight, once serving as the residence for Chen Yi, Shànghǎi’s first mayor after the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
After admiring the lovely garden, head up the steps to a host of splendid ivory and boxwood carvings on the first floor, where a host of divine (Guanyin) and semi-divine (Mao Zedong) beings are displayed; also look out for the exquisite ivory spider hanging from a web. Further displays include opera costumes and Shànghǎi dough modeling, while among the goods for sale, you can grab goldfish lanterns (¥30) or some intricate paper cuts (剪纸; jiǎnzhǐ ). A framed paper cut of the Great Wall will cost you ¥450.
