On the south bank of the Suzhou River in Zhabei District, there is the most famous "community of artists in Shanghai", No. 50 Moganshan Road (Mò gān shān lù 50 hà0 莫干山路50号). The address was once a factory which belonged to a famous businessman back in the 1930s. The workshops and warehouses there were used for producing silk and calico. Since then, buildings with different uses and features were continuously raised on this 41 thousand square meters area and well preserved till now.
Chinese painting The dated constructions now were given new vitality and significance. Since Xue Song, an eminent painter in China set his workroom at No. 50 Moganshan Road in 2000, more than 130 celebrated or not well renowned artists from 16 countries like United Kingdom, France, Italy, Swiss, Israel, Canada and Norway have settled here. The Galleries, Graphic Design Institutes, Architect Firms, Movie and Television Production Firms, Environmental Artistic Design Institutes and Artwork (Jewelry) Design Institutes here have gradually become the mainstream of Shanghai art. Many fanciers of art would love to visit here, admire the work of the artists and even buy some of their favorites.
The traffic is not very convenient though. No direct subway or bus can reach here. You have to take subway No. 1 to the Shanghai Railway Station, or public bus No. 76/105 to Changhua Road, or No. 19/68/112 to Jiangning Road and then connect a taxi to No. 50 Moganshan Road.
After a whole morning at this Palace of Arts, the afternoon will be spent at a Palace of Knowledge, East China University of Political Science and Law (address: No. 1575 Wanhangdu Road, Changning District).