The Shanghai Museum houses over 120,000 exquisite artifacts, showcasing historical relics from various dynasties, with a particular focus on ancient bronze ware, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings. Notably, the museum is home to nationally treasured pieces such as the Western Zhou Da Ke Ding, the Spring and Autumn Period Zi Zhong Jiang Pan, as well as the Tang Dynasty’s Gaoyi Tu and the Eastern Jin Dynasty Wang Xianzhi’s Yatou Wan Tie.
In the Ancient Chinese Bronze Ware section of the Shanghai Museum, the museum’s prized possession, the Western Zhou Da Ke Ding, is displayed alongside other treasures such as the Spring and Autumn Xi Zun and Zi Zhong Jiang Pan. The Ancient Ceramics section boasts remarkable pieces like the Shang Dynasty’s primitive celadon zun, the Tang Dynasty Yue Kiln’s begonia-style bowl, a set of Song Dynasty Ru Kiln plates, and Yuan Dynasty Jingdezhen Kiln’s blue and white lotus vase.
The museum’s ancient calligraphy collection includes masterpieces like Wang Xizhi’s Shangyu Tie, Wang Xianzhi’s Yatou Wan Tie, and Emperor Huizong of Song’s thin gold Qian Zi Wen. The ancient painting section features rare treasures such as Sun Wei’s Gaoyi Tu from the Tang Dynasty, Dong Yuan’s Xiashan Tu Juan from the Five Dynasties, and Liang Kai’s Ba Gao Seng Gu Shi Tu Juan from the Song Dynasty.
Additionally, the museum has a Sculpture Hall dedicated to ancient Buddhist sculptures, a Minority Crafts Hall showcasing traditional handicrafts from ethnic minorities, a Jade Hall displaying fine jade pieces from various dynasties, and a Ming and Qing Furniture Hall reflecting the lifestyle of furniture from those periods. The museum’s collection of seals and coins ranks among the top in the nation.
The Shanghai Museum also frequently hosts special exhibitions, sometimes with admission fees, featuring thematic displays of domestic and international cultural relics, artworks, and calligraphy and paintings. The museum is open from January 1st to October 31st, Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00; November 3rd to November 4th, Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00; November 11th to November 14th, Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00; November 17th to November 21st, Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00; November 24th to November 28th, Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00; December 1st to December 31st, Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00.
The museum is closed all day on Mondays from January 1st to October 31st, November 3rd to November 4th, November 11th to November 14th, November 17th to November 21st, November 24th to November 28th, and December 1st to December 31st. From November 1st to November 2nd, and from November 5th to November 10th, the museum is open from 09:00-21:00. On Fridays and Saturdays of November, as well as from November 5th to November 10th, the museum extends its opening hours to 21:00 (last entry at 19:00) with a daily limit of 8,000 visitors for the daytime sessions.The Shanghai Museum has a daily visitor limit of 3000 people for exhibition hall appointments, with reservations divided into time slots.
