Chinese Museums and Galleries Begin Cautious Reopening After COVID-19 Shutdown

As Europe and the US face COVID-19 lockdowns, China sees a tentative return to normalcy with cultural institutions reopening. The National Cultural Heritage Administration reported that about 180 museums have reopened a month after the outbreak. Among them are the Shanghai Museum and the Power Station of Art, home of the Shanghai Biennale. Strict measures are in place: the Shanghai Museum limits daily visitors to 2,000 (down from 8,000), requires online reservations via its website or WeChat, and mandates masks and ID. Seven galleries are open—ceramics, bronzes, calligraphy, and paintings—while ancient sculpture, Ming and Qing furniture, and craft museums remain closed. Exhibition deadlines have been extended: the Jinxi Cliff bamboo sculpture show now closes March 22, the Chinese New Year rat exhibition on March 29, and the Rainbow of Sea-Tang Zhaoti Temple exhibition on April 5. The Power Station of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai also reopened with controlled entry. Theaters and cinemas stay closed to prevent crowds. The government has ordered a 50% maximum occupancy rate to avoid a second wave. Visitor demand is high: 1,000 people booked the first tours at the Shanghai Museum.