Jade carvings, showstopping opera costumes, intricate ceramics and more will go on display at World Museum on 10 October in a new display from the Shanghai Art Collection Museum, showcasing China’s rich artistic heritage and the cultural links between the twin port cities of Liverpool and Shanghai.
Wings of the Sea will give visitors the chance to journey through a wide range of Chinese artforms, by artists showcasing their craftsmanship and the evolving nature of traditional art in our modern world. Works meticulously carved out of jade and stone and sculpted from metal will be displayed alongside paintings portraying countryside landscapes and everyday rural life. Folk art and handicrafts will give a glimpse into another side of Shanghai, with paper cuttings, embroidery and enamelwork revealing how Shanghai’s art combines tradition with new cultural influences.
Meanwhile, the rich aesthetic language of the Peking Opera – which was designated as a national cultural treasure by UNESCO in 2010 – will be on full view through vivid, highly decorative costumes, portraits and beautifully painted masks.
Dr Ashley Cooke, Head of World Museum, said: “Liverpool and Shanghai have been twinned since 1999, so we are very much looking forward to showcasing Shanghai’s culture here at World Museum. As ports, both cities have been shaped by the constant flow of people. Liverpool is home to one of Europe’s oldest and largest Chinese communities, and Wings of the Sea is another important step in reflecting the global connections of our museums, whilst also representing the range of cultures that call Liverpool home.”
Mr Hu Muqing, President of Shanghai Art Collection Museum, said: “Through this exhibition, we hope UK audiences will discover not only the craftsmanship of traditional Chinese arts, but the shared aesthetics and life experience embodied in these works. Working with National Museums Liverpool gives us the opportunity to share Shanghai’s living heritage more widely and explore how these stories can resonate with people from different cultural backgrounds. We hope the exhibition will strengthen exchanges between Shanghai and Liverpool, turning appreciation of art into deeper cultural understanding and fostering lasting connections between China and the UK.”
This new exhibition follows the success of China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors, which came to World Museum in 2018. Organised by National Museums Liverpool and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau and Shaanxi History Museum (Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre), People’s Republic of China, the exhibition attracted 600,000 visitors and contributed almost £80 million to the Liverpool City Region’s economy.
National Museums Liverpool has also successfully toured its own exhibitions in China. Art in the Age of Victoria was seen by 300,000 visitors during its tour and Return of the Gods, which was on display at World Museum in 2023, is currently on a tour of four venues in the country.
Wings of the Sea opens at World Museum on 10 October 2026 and runs until 8 November 2026. Find out more about the exhibition here and keep up to date with World Museum on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.