As always, much hoopla surrounds ShContemporary, now in its third year at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. However, you can bet Shanghai's art institutions will capitalize on the city's spike in creative juices (and number of deep-pocketed art collectors) by organizing a slew of peripheral events. If you care to pontificate on the latest cultural haps over a cocktail at your favorite outdoor terrace during weeks to come, or if you have the faintest artistic appreciation, here's a few suggestions on where you should find yourself these next couple of days:

I. ShContemporary

The ShContemporary is the big deal, and this year's is being curated by Chris Chinnery and his team: Mami Kataoka, Anton Vidokle, and Wang Jianwei. The fair is divided into three sections: Best of Galleries, Discoveries, and the new Platform section. Best of Galleries, will present works and projects from top galleries around the world. Discoveries showcases works by established and emerging artists in a 2000sqm arched hall, accompanied by lectures and round tables.. And lastly, Platform offers emerging artists a chance to show their work. ShContemporary runs September 10 - 13. Thursday 10th and Friday 11th are invite only. Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th are open to the public (w/ a 50rmb ticket). More info here.

II. Rebirth

Rebirth takes place at the 800 Show, an old 20,000sqm factory-turned-creative park. The exhibition -- put together by independent curator Zoe Zhang Bing with Dirk Holtkamp Endemann -- will be symbolic of this re-orientation away from industry into the arts. Expect an engaging interplay between art and the unique venue's architecture. The works on display will span a wide array of mediums: installations, video, animation, handwritten sketches, film, music, and photography. Showing is a video installation by Chen Hangfeng (anointed the "godfather of contemporary Chinese design"), filmmaker Ning Hao, animation and original drawings from Bu Hua, the digital photography of Yang Yongliang, and lots more. Don't miss. More info here.

III. Bourgeoisified Proletariat

ShContemporary's curator, Colin Chinnery, is working alongside nine others to present "Bourgeoisified Proletariat" at the newly opened Songjiang Creative Studio. While other exhibitions / fairs will have international collections of art, Bourgeoisified Proletariat will cast its spotlight on local talent (both emerging and established) like Wang Xingwei, Hu Jieming, Kan Xuan and Wang Jianwei. The show will span a wide range of mediums: installation, video, film, sculpture, performance, painting, photography, and site-specific projects. This one is a bit of a chore to get to, but the ShContemporary says they'll provide free shuttles to get you out to the 'burbs. Just go to Gate 7 of the Shanghai Exhibition Center (1000 Yan An Zhong Lu) More info here.

IIII. Shanghai Art Fair

Running since 1997, Shanghai Art Fair is the city's oldest running annual art expo. The fair is very much a buyer's affair, but it also offers us non-collectors a potential overdose of aesthetic stimulation. Galleries from the world over will showcase artist's work, along with a host of local galleries (i.e. UWANTART, Shanghart, and Two Cities among many others). You'll even find some of the Dali works that have been floating around Shanghai lately. It all goes down September 9 - 13 at the ShanghaiMART. More info here.

V. "Wu Wei", Being and Nothing

celebrates their new location by bringing you an existentially motivated show that ponders the relationship between Jean-Paul Sartre's "being-in-itself" and "being for-itself" and the Taoist concept of Wu Wei (action without desire, motivation, or intention). Five artists will offer their aesthetic reaction to the philosophical conundrum: Ben Houge, Cindy Ng Sio Ieng ,