The large-scale art exhibition "Dali & The Old Municipal Government: Departure" recently opened at the Old Municipal Government Building on the Bund. As one of the flagship exhibitions of the "Art Bund 2025 International Art Festival," it features nearly 150 works by surrealist master Salvador Dalí, spanning sculptures, prints, jewelry, glassware, gold ornaments, furniture, and fashion.
To ensure the smooth launch of this exhibition, Huangpu Customs, under Shanghai Customs, provided comprehensive and secure regulatory services. Given the high value and large scale of the exhibits, Huangpu Customs collaborated with the organizers to develop a tailored "one-enterprise-one-policy" supervision plan. They gathered details on exhibit categories and logistics in advance, streamlined bonded goods documentation, optimized clearance procedures, and ensured seamless coordination between warehousing, declaration, and transportation to the exhibition venue.
Fan Ting, Deputy Section Chief of Huangpu Customs' Comprehensive Business Division, explained, "We established dedicated service channels like the 'Art Bund Service Window,' offering pre-clearance document reviews and classification guidance. Our 'one-on-one' assistance helped the organizers complete customs procedures without delay. Additionally, we employed high-definition video surveillance for non-intrusive, round-the-clock smart monitoring, minimizing disruptions to the exhibition setup."
The organizer, Shanghai Dalí Universe Cultural Development Co., Ltd., praised the customs support. Co-General Manager Xu Yan noted, "Customs provided duty-free clearance, significantly easing our financial burden. Moreover, our large transport vehicles could only enter the city after 10 PM. Customs staff worked overtime to conduct on-site inspections, enabling immediate clearance upon arrival, which streamlined the entire logistics and setup process."
According to Huangpu District's cultural and tourism authorities, the Dalí exhibition, themed "Departure," marks a historic convergence—the 1922 opening of the Old Municipal Government Building and the dawn of Dalí's artistic career. The exhibition showcases a rare selection of his iconic works and has drawn immense public interest, with early-bird tickets selling out before the opening.
Supported by Huangpu Customs' professional clearance and supervision, the exhibition ensured the safe and timely setup of these invaluable artworks.
Shanghai Customs reported that, as of October this year, the city has hosted 128 international exhibitions. The recently concluded 8th China International Import Expo further highlighted Shanghai's vibrancy as a global hub for exhibitions. Moving forward, Shanghai Customs will strengthen collaboration with local authorities to refine regulatory services and contribute to the high-quality growth of the exhibition economy.