How do you say 'Pompidou' in Chinese?

It’s true, the first Pompidou Centre in China is landing in Shanghai. According to this report (in Chinese) by Oriental Morning Post, Renaud Donnedieude Vabres, culture minister of France, and Bruno Racine, president of the Pompidou Centre (we're going to call it the "PC" from now on), the first PC in Shanghai is going to cover 10,000 square meters at the intersection of Huaihai Zhong Lu and Songshan Lu, near the site of the old French concession police station (pictured). The report was kind of vague, as they often are, but the historic building is expected to be preserved and somehow incorporated into the project.

Vabres said that it’s going to be a huge project to open a PC in Shanghai and at the initial stage the art centre will get involved with art and culture activities in Shanghai, to promote the second phase of the construction of the centre. He also mentioned he will try to convince Audrey Tautou and Sophie Marceau to come to China for a French Film Festival next year. Hmmmm.

In other earlier news about Shanghai PC, Shanghai Daily said the future PC in Shanghai will feature modern and contemporary artwork from both France and China. It will include a children's gallery, a library, an art store, a café and a restaurant. The showroom is scheduled to open in 2009.

The report did not say what the Shanghai PC will look like or what is getting knocked down to make way for it -- we would assume something has to go ... that part of town already seems kind of crowded (well, except for all the vacant lots being created -- by knocking down old neighborhoods -- near Xintiandi). We will keep you posted on this.

Photo from Shanghai Municipal Housing, Land and Resource Administration Bureau.