Power Station of Art

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Power Station of Art

Museum

The Power Station of Art is a contemporary art museum housed in a converted power plant on Shanghai's Huangpu riverfront. Travellers come for large-scale contemporary exhibitions, the Shanghai Biennale and its striking industrial architecture.

Power Station of Art ShanghaiChangzheng, ShanghaiSongjiangPengpuPower Station of Art

Power Station of Art essentials

Address: 200 Huayuangang Road, Huangpu, Shanghai, China

The Power Station of Art is a municipal contemporary art museum located on the Huangpu riverfront in Shanghai. It occupies the former Nanshi Electric Plant site and is run under the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, with over 41,000 m2 of building space and about 15,000 m2 dedicated to exhibitions.

The site began life as the Nanshi Electric Plant (first established in the late 19th century and relocated to this riverside site in 1935), later served as the Pavilion of Future for Expo 2010, and was converted to a museum that opened on October 1, 2012. Renovation work led by TJAD Original Design Studio retained major industrial features such as the tall chimney, rooftop generators and the plant’s general layout.

The museum hosts the Shanghai Biennale (from 2012 onward), runs design shows under the Power Station of Design name and has run the Emerging Curators Project since 2014. The interior feels industrial and monumental - large turbine-hall volumes and preserved machinery give exhibitions scale and atmosphere, and many shows are free to the public as a municipal institution.

  • Main turbine halls and large-scale galleries: Vast, open former-engine rooms adapted for contemporary installations and sculptural works, where scale is part of the experience.
  • Preserved chimney and industrial features: The building’s 165-meter chimney, rooftop generators and visible structural trusses highlight the site’s power-plant past.
  • Huangpu riverfront views: The riverside location offers views across the Huangpu River toward The Bund and the opposite riverbank.
  • Shanghai Biennale and rotating exhibitions: The museum regularly stages the Shanghai Biennale and major temporary shows that attract large crowds and international artists.
  • Power Station of Design and curatorial projects: Design-focused exhibitions and the Emerging Curators Project offer different perspectives from the main contemporary-art programme.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Power Station of Art#

Shanghai has hot, wet summers and cooler, drier winters; museums are visitable year-round but comfort and rainfall vary by season.

Winter (best)
November - February · 1°C - 17°C (34°F - 63°F)
Winters are cooler and drier, with lower rainfall and fewer humid days, making it pleasant to walk the riverfront and explore indoor exhibitions.
Spring and Autumn (good)
March - May; September - October · 6°C - 31°C (43°F - 88°F)
These shoulder seasons bring milder temperatures and more comfortable humidity levels, ideal for combining a museum visit with outdoor strolling along the Huangpu.
Summer (wet and hot)
June - August · 21°C - 31°C (70°F - 88°F)
Summer is hot and humid with the highest rainfall, so expect indoor activities like museum visits to be more attractive while planning for busy exhibition periods.

Weather & Climate near Power Station of Art#

Climate

Power Station of Art's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1039 mm/year), wettest in June.

Air Quality: AQI 100 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
OctoberAugustSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
40°
Warmest Month
-9°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 1° - 8° 2° 41 mm partly cloudy 79% 3.3 m/s 0.4 low 10.2h
February Good 2° - 9° 3° 53 mm partly cloudy 80% 3.4 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.9h
March Acceptable 6° - 13° 7° 67 mm partly cloudy 78% 3.6 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.9h
April Good 11° - 19° 15° 78 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.9 m/s 1.2 high 12.8h
May Very Good 16° - 24° 20° 95 mm overcast 77% 3.7 m/s 1.4 high 13.6h
June Good 21° - 27° 24° 162 mm overcast 81% 3.0 m/s 1.3 high 14.0h
July Good 25° - 31° 32° 139 mm overcast 81% 3.0 m/s 1.8 very high 13.8h
August Very Good 25° - 31° 32° 141 mm partly cloudy 80% 3.1 m/s 1.8 very high 13.1h
September Very Good 21° - 27° 24° 131 mm partly cloudy 78% 3.0 m/s 1.3 high 12.2h
October Excellent 15° - 23° 19° 48 mm partly cloudy 76% 4.1 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.3h
November Very Good 9° - 17° 13° 44 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.8 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.4h
December Good 3° - 11° 5° 40 mm partly cloudy 76% 3.3 m/s 0.4 low 10.0h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Power Station of Art#

The museum is in central Shanghai on the Huangpu riverfront; arrive into the city via Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA). Major rail hubs serving the city include Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai railway stations, from which you can continue by metro, taxi or ride-hailing service.

For the final stretch use the metro to a nearby station or take a short taxi from central Shanghai; the museum sits on the riverside and is walkable from several nearby stops depending on your route, so check a local map or metro app for the best connection on the day.

Tips for Visiting Power Station of Art#

  • Many exhibitions at the Power Station of Art are presented by the municipal museum and are free to the public, but check current exhibitions before you go.
  • The building’s large industrial spaces can be chilly and windy in winter and very humid in summer, so dress for the season.
  • The museum hosts the Shanghai Biennale and other major shows that can draw heavy crowds; plan ahead if you prefer quieter visits.
  • Photography policies vary by exhibition - ask staff or check signage before using tripods or flash.