In the golden autumn, the Orsay exhibition at the Shanghai Pudong Art Museum and the "Greeks" special exhibition at the Shanghai World Expo Museum will be closing at the end of the month, and the Chen Yifei exhibition that lasted for nearly half a year will end next week.
Many major cultural relics exhibitions have opened one after another. Among them, the Palace Museum's "Hundred Years of Guardianship" special exhibition, which displays national treasures such as "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", and the "Han and Tang Art Exhibition" of the National Art Museum of China are certainly not to be missed. The newly opened "Golden Nine Provinces" exhibition of the Anhui Museum uses "top-tier" cultural relics such as Sanxingdui, Haihunhou, and Famen Temple to outline the context of China's gold and silver wares from their inception to their heyday. Nanchang's "Southern Frontier of the Empire" exhibition allows the cultural relics of the Kingdom of Nanyue and the Kingdom of Haihunhou to realize the first cross-temporal and spatial dialogue.
Shanghai
By chance! Fluxus! (Tickets required)
Exhibition period: September 26, 2025 - February 22, 2026
Location: West Bund Art Museum
The exhibition will present works by a number of textbook figures in modern art history, including Marcel Duchamp, John Cage, and George Brecht. Through 11 chapters and over 200 works from the Pompidou Centre's collection, the exhibition traces the development of Fluxus and extends it to contemporary reflections on issues such as the boundaries of art.
Red and Green Compete for Beauty: Exhibition of Treasures of Lacquerware from the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties
Exhibition period: September 26-November 23
Location: Shanghai Museum, People's Square
Co-organized with the Tokyo National Museum, this exhibition systematically explores the artistic achievements of Chinese lacquerware through 127 artifacts. Among these, 112 pieces are from Japanese collections, approximately half of which are rare Song and Yuan dynasty lacquerware treasures, a key attraction of the exhibition.
Creating Modernity: Art Treasures from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris (Ticket Required)
Exhibition period: June 19th - October 26th
Location: Pudong Art Museum
As the largest exhibition ever held by the Musee d'Orsay in China, it presents works including Van Gogh's "Bedroom in Arles" and "Self-Portrait", Millet's "The Gleaners", Gauguin's "Tahitian Women", Monet's "Haystacks, Late Summer", and Cézanne's "Portrait of Madame Cézanne".
Pearls Return to the Sea: Zhuang Wanli Family Donates to Liangtuxuan Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition (Free)
Exhibition time: August 20 - April 19, 2026
Location: 3rd Floor, People's Square, Shanghai Museum
The exhibition showcases the calligraphy and paintings from the "Liang Tu Xuan" collection donated by Mr. Zhuang Wanli, presenting the new look of the "Liang Tu Xuan" exhibition hall of the Shanghai Museum's People's Square branch after renovation and expansion of the exhibition line, including the Song Dynasty "Autumn Mountain and Quiet Temple Scroll" and nine scrolls of Dong Qichang's running script letters.
The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander (No Reservation Required)
Exhibition period: July 9-October 26, 2025
Location: World Expo Museum
This exhibition brings together 270 pieces (sets) of collections from 14 cultural and museum institutions in Greece, including gold, bronze, pottery, sculptures and other categories, spanning the time period from 5800 BC to the 1st century BC, systematically presenting the social and cultural features of ancient Greek civilization from prehistoric times to the Hellenistic era.
Colorful Liupan: Ningxia Guyuan Cultural Relics Exhibition (No appointment required)
Exhibition period: July 9 - November 17, 2025
Location: Shanghai Museum, East Building
The exhibition presents over 300 exquisite cultural relics from the foot of Liupan Mountain, including oracle bones unearthed from the Western Zhou Dynasty site at Yaoheyuan, murals unearthed from Li Xian's tomb, convex nail glass bowls, gilded silver pots, and murals from the Shi family tombs of the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Rodin: The Initiation of Modern Sculpture
Extension: Extended to March 26, 2026
Location: Shanghai Rodin Art Center (formerly the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo)
The exhibition displays 106 original works by Rodin, including "The Thinker", "The Age of Bronze", "Eve", "Balzac", "The Burghers of Calais" and other 6 treasures of the Rodin Museum in France.
A Gaze Across Time and Space: The Millennial Echo of Maijishan Grottoes Art
Exhibition period: July 22nd - October 26th
Location: Shanghai Powerlong Art Museum
The exhibition presents a total of 137 exquisite pieces of Maijishan Grottoes, including 62 precious cultural relics (including 12 first-class cultural relics) and 75 copies, covering a variety of types such as clay Buddha statues, cave murals, stone statues, and clay sculpture fragments.
Times Yifei: Chen Yifei Retrospective Exhibition (tickets must be purchased in advance)
Exhibition period: April 25 - October 16, 2025
Location: Pudong Art Museum
The exhibition presents Chen Yifei's works of different styles from different periods. Starting with revolutionary works such as "Pioneer", the exhibition also includes classics such as "Ode to the Yellow River".
The Flow of Time - Yuan Wu's Historical Figure Painting Exhibition
Exhibition period: September 26th - November 2nd
Location: Shanghai China Painting Academy Art Museum
This exhibition presents the results of Mr. Yuan Wu's decades of artistic pursuits in a slice-by-slice manner, focusing on the portraits of historical figures he has created.
Beijing
"A Century of Guardianship: From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum" special exhibition (appointment required)
Exhibition period: September 30 to December 30
Location: Palace Museum
The exhibition is divided into three sections: "A Continuous Literary Lineage," "A Century of Heritage," and "A Myriad of Visions," showcasing 200 cultural relics. These include the Eastern Jin Dynasty's "Bo Yuan Tie," the Tang Dynasty's "Five Oxen," Zhang Zeduan's "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," Huang Tingjian's "Zhu Shangzu Tie," and the Lotus and Crane Square Pot. "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" was last publicly exhibited in 2015, a decade ago.
Ink Rhythm and Cultural Context: Henan Han and Tang Art Exhibition
Exhibition period: September 19 - December 14, 2025
Location: National Art Museum of China
It brings together more than 130 pieces (sets) of cultural relics and related exhibits from 12 cultural and historical institutions, including the Henan Museum, Longmen Grottoes Research Institute, Luoyang Museum, Luoyang Ancient Tomb Museum, and Anyang Museum. Through the three major units of "Simplicity and Naturalness", "Expressionism of Style", and "Form and Color", it systematically displays art treasures from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty.
Special Exhibition "The Reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing: A Prosperous Scene Deep in the Imperial Tombs"
Exhibition period: September 23-December 31
Location: Beijing Archaeological Site Museum (Beijing Dabaotai Site Museum)
The exhibition selects 184 sets of 253 precious cultural relics, with the archaeological research results of the Yangling Mausoleum of Emperor Jing of Han and the Baling Mausoleum of Emperor Wen of Han as the main display objects. From the three parts of "Han Tombs", "Ways of Governing the Country" and "The Splendor of the Prosperous Era", it explores the cultural connotations deep in the imperial tombs, analyzes the wisdom of state governance during the Wen and Jing periods, and showcases the material and spiritual civilization achievements of the prosperous Western Han Dynasty.
Art of the Kingdom - Saudi Arabia Contemporary Art Exhibition
Time: July 31st - October 30th
Location: National Museum of China
The exhibition features nearly 50 pieces (sets) of works by 30 Saudi artists, covering a variety of genres including photography, sculpture, painting, mixed media, and installation art.
Reverie on the Neva River - Repin Art Exhibition (Tickets Required)
Exhibition period: July 23, 2025 - January 11, 2026
Location: South Halls 3 and 4, National Museum of China
The exhibition will present 92 paintings and drawings, systematically exploring the artistic career of the master painter Ilya Repin, using his creative path as a clue to open an artistic dialogue across time and space. This exhibition brings together the collections of two major Russian art institutions, presenting a comprehensive overview of Repin's art.
Jiangsu
Shi Hushu: His other artistic exploration path
Exhibition period: October 1 to October 30
Location: Nanjing University of the Arts Art Museum
Shi Hu (1942-2023)'s calligraphy has a profound influence on his art. This exhibition is titled "Shi Hu Calligraphy". The curatorial team believes that "Shi Hu Calligraphy" is not an imitation of some ancient norms, but a questioning of the ontology of "calligraphy" - calligraphy can be fast, broken, incomplete, detached, imaginary, and alienated.
"Forging Rivers and Mountains: Weapons of China's Bronze Age" Special Exhibition
Exhibition period: October 1, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Location: West Building of Suzhou Museum
The exhibition, focusing on weapons from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, brings together nearly 200 precious artifacts from eight cultural institutions across China. The special exhibition also features a pop-up shop themed "Wu Sword Forge," where visitors can even have a swordsmith craft their own unique sword.
Splendor of Purple Walls: Exhibition of Qing Dynasty Court Clothing and Embroidery from the Palace Museum
Exhibition period: August 15th - November 15th
Location: Suzhou Silk Museum
Highlights include the dragon robes of the Kangxi, Qianlong and Yongzheng dynasties, costumes from the Kunqu opera "The Peony Pavilion", kesi flower and bird paintings of Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty, and the imperial clothing and accessories used by Emperor Guangxu for his wedding.
From Humble Administrator's Garden to "Chancery of Superfluous Things" (no reservation required after purchasing the ticket)
Exhibition period: July 1st - October 26th
Location: Suzhou Museum
The exhibition, based on the elegant events of the four seasons described in the book "Changwuzhi," combines museum collections with immersive displays and interactive experiences. Key exhibits include Wang Meng's "Bamboo and Rocks," Shen Zhou's "Flowers and Birds" and "Boat Scroll."
From Humble Administrator's Garden to Monet's Garden
Exhibition period: July 15th - October 23rd
Location: Suzhou Museum
The exhibition brings together more than 160 treasures from 13 public institutions at home and abroad. Famous Chinese art historians such as Zhao Mengfu and Wen Zhengming will "meet" the famous Impressionist artist Claude Monet in Suzhou.
Zhejiang
Dialogue with Pompeii: Exhibition of Pompeii Artifacts from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy
Exhibition period: October 1, 2025 - March 8, 2026
Location: West Lake Museum, Hangzhou
The exhibition brings together precious collections from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, and through various cultural relics such as murals, sculptures, glassware, pottery, and metalware, it reproduces the historical appearance and artistic achievements of the ancient city of Pompeii in multiple dimensions.
A Thousand Miles of Bronze Civilization: Special Exhibition on Bronze Civilization in Southwest China
Exhibition period: July 22-October 19, 2025
Location: East Exhibition Hall, 1st floor, Ningbo Museum
The exhibition brings together a total of 165 pieces (sets) of fine cultural relics from 17 cultural relics units in Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi. It focuses on bronze ware known as "Ji Jin" and also displays various types of cultural relics such as jade, gold, and pottery.
"Linlang" Qing Dynasty Palace Glassware Exhibition
Exhibition period: August 15th - October 15th
Location: Zhejiang Provincial Museum
Yangshan - Xu Jiang Art Exhibition
Exhibition duration: Until December 3
Location: Ningbo Art Museum
It presents the landscape world described by Xu Jiang, as well as the dialogue between tradition and contemporary, visual and philosophical landscape spirits that he explored.
Anhui
Gold Shines Across the Nine Provinces: A Special Exhibition of the Civilizational Marks of Ancient Chinese Gold and Silver
Exhibition period: September 28, 2025 to January 6, 2026
Location: Shushan Museum, Anhui Museum
The exhibition begins with China's earliest known gold earrings unearthed from the Huoshaogou site in Yumen, Gansu, and continues through the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, the Qin and Han dynasties, the Sui and Tang dynasties, and finally the Ming and Qing dynasties, charting the course of Chinese gold and silver art from its inception to its peak. The exhibition also features a wealth of top-tier artifacts from important archaeological sites across China, including Sanxingdui, Haihunhou, Famen Temple, and the Ming Dingling Mausoleum.
Shanxi
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: Miracles and Echoes of a Millennium Wooden Structure
Exhibition period: September 21 - January 4, 2026
Location: Shanxi Museum
Relying on more than 130 high-definition image systems, it presents precious drawings drawn by Liang Sicheng, Li Qianlang and others, focusing on the seven-treasure relics found in the Buddha statue, the "Khitan Tripitaka" and other Liao Dynasty treasures.
Hebei
Boundless Welfare: Auspicious Aspects in the Palace Collection
Exhibition period: January 22 - December 31, 2025
Location: Chengde Museum
A total of 81 pieces (sets) of palace cultural relics collected by the Chengde Mountain Resort Museum are on display, including porcelain, lacquerware, jadeware, clothing, Buddhist statues, etc.
Henan
"The Charm of Gourd" - Special Exhibition of Bronze Gourd Pots Unearthed from Zhao Qing's Tomb in Shanxi
Exhibition period: September 26 - December 21
Location: Henan Museum
In 1988, a well-preserved tomb dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period, the "Tomb of Zhao Qing," was discovered in Jinsheng Village, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. It is the highest-ranking, largest, richest in burial objects, and best documented tomb of a high-ranking Jin noble from the Spring and Autumn Period ever discovered. The bronze gourd pot on display was unearthed from the tomb.
Inner Mongolia
Eternal Smile: Exhibition of Exquisite Buddhist Sculptures Unearthed in Qingzhou
Exhibition period: August 15 to November 8
Location: Ordos City Museum, Inner Mongolia
The 37 statues on display are primarily excavated from the Longxing Temple site, with some also originating from the Guangfu Temple site. The iconic "Qingzhou Smile" of Longxing Temple in Qingzhou, Shandong, is particularly striking.
Guangdong
Colombian Rhapsody: The Art of Botero
Exhibition period: July 4th - November 23rd
Location: Guangdong Museum of Art
Bringing together 81 works across a variety of media, including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, the exhibition will introduce Botero's unique artistic style and present the exotic life and spiritual landscape of Latin America.
Great Dunhuang - Dunhuang Culture and Art Exhibition
Exhibition period: July 26 - November 23, 2025
Location: Special Exhibition Hall No. 2, 2nd Floor, Shenzhen Nanshan Museum
205 precious exhibits/sets, including over 80 original artifacts, over 60 reproductions of murals, and four reproductions of painted sculptures. Six specially protected caves are digitally recreated at a 1:1 scale. Fourteen national first-class cultural relics, including a Northern Liang stone pagoda and Uighur wooden movable type, are also featured. An immersive interactive experience is also available.
Chongqing
From Dunhuang to Dazu: The Evolution of Grotto Art in China
Exhibition period: June 18, 2025 - January 5, 2026
Location: China Three Gorges Museum, Chongqing
The first joint exhibition of two world cultural heritage sites, the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and the Dazu Rock Carvings, showcases the localized evolution of Buddhist art in China.
Sichuan
Encounters from afar: Collection exhibition of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Torino, Italy
Exhibition period: August 8th - November 16th
Location: Area A, Chengdu Art Museum
This exhibition brings together 66 works by 51 artists from seven countries from the collection of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Torino, Italy. Representative artists include Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Giorgio Morandi, Gustave Courbet, Paul Klee, Salvador Dali and others.
Hubei
The Eternal River: Treasures of Ancient Civilizations in the Yangtze River Basin
Exhibition period: September 23, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Location: Panlongcheng Ruins Museum
It brings together 160 pieces (sets) of cultural relics from 37 cultural and museum institutions, connecting the history of civilization development, craftsmanship characteristics and artistic achievements in the Yangtze River Basin from the Neolithic Age to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and presenting the important position of the ancient Yangtze River civilization in the development of Chinese civilization.
Gansu
A Brief Account of China: Exhibition of Selected Han Dynasty Bamboo Slips Unearthed in Gansu
Exhibition period: From October 1
Location: 5th Floor, Tianjin Museum
Through precious Han Dynasty wooden slips, the exhibition vividly recounts the story of the Silk Road 2,000 years ago. Through four sections—"The Era of Bamboo Slips," "A Brief Account of the Silk Road," "Life on the Frontier," and "The Charm of Bamboo Slips and Ink"—the exhibition systematically explores the origins of bamboo slips, the experiences along the Silk Road, the daily lives of soldiers guarding the border, and even their allure as an art form of calligraphy.
Oriental Smile Across Millennia - Buddhist Sculpture Art Exhibition
Exhibition period: September 10th - December 10th
Location: Gansu Bamboo Slips Museum
The exhibition brings together 127 precious cultural relics from the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and 23 cultural institutions in eight provinces across China, including Gansu, Henan, Shanxi, and Sichuan. Among these, 50 are first-class cultural relics. Exhibits encompass gilded and bronze Buddhist statues from various dynasties in China, Buddhist statues unearthed from important caches and archaeological sites, and statues from the four major grottoes.
Northwest Wind Blows, Willows Evergreen: Gansu Wei and Jin Dynasty Picture Brick Exhibition
Exhibition period: July 26 - October 19
Location: Changsha Museum
With the Wei and Jin Dynasty pictorial bricks as the core, the exhibition interprets the ancient people's travel, banquets, agriculture and animal husbandry, clothing, entertainment, etc. through 164 pieces (sets) of cultural relics, reflecting the history of agricultural and animal husbandry development and multicultural exchanges and mutual learning in the Hexi region.
Jiangxi
Southern Frontier of the Empire: Historical and Cultural Exhibition of the Nanyue Kingdom in the Western Han Dynasty
Exhibition period: September 26 - December 26
Location: Nanchang Han Dynasty Haihunhou State Ruins Museum
A total of 125 artifacts, including those unearthed from the tomb of the Nanyue king and the ruins of the Nanyue palace, are on display. This exhibition marks the first "trans-temporal dialogue" between the Nanyue Kingdom and the Haihunhou State. Both states resided in the southern border of the Western Han Empire, yet each possessed distinct characteristics: the Nanyue Kingdom, integrating the Central Plains with the Baiyue, connecting land and sea, embodied an open and inclusive spirit; the Haihunhou State, while inheriting the ritual system of kings and princes, reflects the splendor of the Western Han Dynasty. Their juxtaposition provides a comprehensive overview of the social landscape of southern China from the early to mid-to-late Western Han Dynasty, exemplifying the grandeur of the Han Dynasty's diversity and unity.
Hunan
Buddha's Light and Golden Shadow: The Museum's Collection of Gold and Bronze Buddha Sculptures from Past Dynasties
Exhibition period: June 12, 2025 - May 19, 2026
Location: Special Topic Hall 3, 3rd Floor, Hunan Museum
The exhibition focuses on more than 100 exquisite gold and bronze Buddha statues in the collection of Hunan Museum. The exhibition is divided into four parts, showcasing the classic Buddhist statue styles and art schools over the past thousand years since the Wei and Jin Dynasties.
Shaanxi
Jijin China: The Rise and Prosperity of Chinese Bronze Civilization
Exhibition period: May 18th - November 17th
Location: Shaanxi History Museum
Focusing on the development of China's bronze civilization, the exhibition systematically presents the rise and prosperity of the bronze civilization of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties and their shaping of the Chinese ritual and music genes through three major units and 341 pieces (sets) of cultural relics from 51 cultural and museum institutions across the country.
Taiwan
"Jia Zi Wan Nian" Special Exhibition
Exhibition Period: October 4, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Location: National Palace Museum, Taipei
The exhibition features 153 artifacts, encompassing calligraphy, paintings, artifacts, rare books, and archival documents. Five national treasures, including Wang Xizhi's "Three Notes on Peace and Oranges," Su Dongpo's "Cold Food Poems in Huangzhou" from the Northern Song Dynasty, Huang Gongwang's "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" (Wuyongshi Scroll) from the Yuan Dynasty, Huang Jucai's "Partridges on the Mountain," and Wu Yuanzhi's "Red Cliff," are on display for a limited time.
Hongkong
Silk China: The He Qisi Collection of the Hong Kong Palace Museum
Exhibition period: October 1, 2025 - April 6, 2026
Location: Hong Kong Palace Museum
More than 100 pieces of collection were selected from the He Qisi Collection, and based on Chinese history, the history of silk technology and art from the Neolithic Age to the early 20th century was sorted out.
