It’s a Saturday night in Shanghai, and you’re sitting in the living room of your apartment near the Modern Art Museum in Pudong. You suddenly feel heavy waves of sound reverberating through the walls. You wonder, MAM is a museum, not a nightclub… Where is all this bass coming from? Intrigued, you follow the thumping to discover a line of eager patrons waiting in the rain to enter MAM at 11 PM.
You join the queue for the elevator—the only way up to the fourth-floor stage—and as the doors slide open, the party greets you even before you step inside: the waft of good times and chunky techno beats blast you instantly. Walking in, you immediately get a sense that the event is a tribute to the legendary underground club, Elevator, which sadly closed its doors after seven years of shaping Shanghai’s electronic scene. This is truly an Elevator Revival Night—bringing back the intimacy and thrill of the original venue.
On the fourth floor, DJs spin their sets atop a raised tower crowned with a glowing red warning light, like a lighthouse guiding dancers through those waves of sound. Beside the stage, the bar buzzes with energy. Tonight’s most radiant drag queen is serving you Mate Mate and Kombucha, offering a refreshing twist to the typical rave drink menu.
Since SYSTEM—one of the more coveted nightlife spots in the city—shuttered its iconic space in the Yunhai Building, the legendary underground club has entered a nomadic phase. Each week, Shanghai’s ravers eagerly await news of the next venue—this time, it’s an unforgettable night inside an art museum.
It’s not Night at the Museum, but something far more visceral. Surrounded by artist Kenny Scharf’s surreal, tribe-like figurines in exaggerated poses, you feel less like a spectator and more like one of the characters dancing alongside this strange, expressive tribe. The atmosphere, fueled by tropical drinks and dim, moody lighting in this one-night amusement park-esque event, transports you to a whole other world. For a fleeting moment, you wonder, “Am I in Berlin’s infamous Sisyphos dancing pool?”
But no, YOU’RE STILL IN SHANGHAI!
MAM has even opened its fifth floor, unveiling a second DJ stage: The Passage. More than that, they’re flaunting their stunning view of the Huangpu River. On this foggy, rainy night, the outlines of the Pearl Tower and the IFC tower fade into mist; only their neon messages remain: “Welcome to Shanghai.”
You step onto the outdoor balcony for a cigarette. Below, a quiet, serene scene: a row of middle-aged men—uncles—peacefully fishing in the dark, their lines cast in still water. Somehow, despite the beats echoing behind you, it feels timeless.
You suddenly feel older than the fishermen below. The night is deep, and after Ma Haiping closes his magnificent techno set, your heart finally asks for rest. But don’t worry, a wandering massage master, certified and ready, is here to rescue your shoulders and neck (Check out his story in this short documentary). You sit down in the massage chair—right in the middle of the hallway—and you’ll feel just as relaxed as the Huangpu River flowing below you.
After gazing at the river, enjoying a massage, and grabbing a steaming bowl of oden (fish cake soup) from the Family Mart just 200 meters away, it hits you. You’re still at a SYSTEM party. You drift back into the gallery’s dancefloor, your ears reawakened by Huizit and Spada’s smooth, euphoric house music. The night winds down with rhythm, sweat, and fulfillment.
This rave was only a test run. SYSTEM’s summer rave series has just begun, in collaboration with MAM. Over the next six Saturdays, expect new DJ lineups and unexpected buildouts. Together, they’re building a new chapter in China’s rising rave culture. Catch you at the next one?
Cover Image via 卢谜.
