Discover the rich cultural heritage of Shanghai through the Shanghai Museum, one of the city’s most prominent museums. Located near People’s Square on Nanjing Road, this ‘glassy’ museum houses over 120,000 artifacts that narrate the history of different eras.
**Travel Information**:
1. **How to Get There?**: Access the Shanghai Museum by Metro on Lines 1, 2, or 8, alighting at People’s Square Station and exiting from Exit 1. A 5-minute walk south will lead you to the museum. Alternatively, take bus numbers 46, 49, 123, 145, 312, 451, or the Shangchuan Special Line to People’s Square Station, a short walk from the museum. For a more scenic approach, consider the City Sightseeing Bus on Line 1 or Line 2, which drops you off directly at the museum. Taxis are also a convenient option with a reasonable fare structure.
2. **Opening Hours**: The museum operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., with last entry at 4 P.M. It remains closed on Mondays and public holidays.
3. **Ticket Fee**: Entry to the Shanghai Museum is complimentary, but an entrance ticket is required. Limited to 8000 free tickets daily, the museum suggests allocating about 2 hours for a complete visit. Special exhibits may have separate ticket fees, available at the Southern Entrance Ticket Desk, which also offers咨询服务, audio guide rentals, and IC card sales.
Shanghai, the largest city and the ‘Gateway to China,’ is a global economic and trade hub with a profound cultural significance. It attracts millions of visitors annually, positioning itself as a trendsetter in art, science, and culture, with the Shanghai Museum at its core.
The Shanghai Museum is a great place to explore. It has intelligent terminals with interactive and multimedia touch-screen systems on the first floor and in galleries for guiding visitors.
There is an audio tour available in many languages including Chinese, Korean, English, Italian, Japanese, German, Spanish, and French. The audio hearing set can be rented for RMB 20 yuan (adult set with a deposit of RMB 300 yuan) and RMB 10 yuan (children’s set with a deposit of RMB 300 yuan).
The museum has two cloakrooms, one at the southern entrance and another at the northern entrance. Wheelchairs and lost and found service are also available at the cloakroom desk.
If you are hungry, there is a visitor restaurant outside the southern entrance on the side of Xizang Road and the Shanghai Museum Restaurant inside the museum serving Chinese and western meals. You can also stop by You Yun Xuan tea house on the second floor for Chinese tea, coffee, juices, and dim sum.
The Shanghai Museum has a significant collection of ancient Chinese relics from over 5000 years ago. Some of these artistic relics date back to the Qing dynasty. The exhibits are divided into 11 galleries and 3 exhibition halls. The galleries cover major categories of Chinese art and showcase Ancient Bronze relics, Ancient Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Sculptures, unique Jade figurines, Coins, furniture from Ming and Qing dynasty, Royal Seals, and exhibits related to minority Nationalities.
Don’t miss visiting the Bronze gallery. The collection of over 400 exquisite pieces from the Shang and Zhou dynasties tells a lot about these ancient civilizations. Most of these beautiful Bronze collections were gathered during the metal-gathering campaign of the Great Leap Forward Revolution. The Shanghai Museum rescued the bronzeware that were confiscated or donated and were sent to be melted down. Set of ritual Bronze vessels from 1650 BCE constitute a significant part of these collections.
While you are here, make sure to visit the ancient Ceramics gallery. The Ceramics collection is a special museum treasure. It features more than 500 pieces of artwork from different dynasties, such as Painted and Gray pottery from the Neolithic Age, Primitive Celadon from the Shang dynasty, Mature Celadon from the East Han Dynasty, and the well-known tri-colored glazed pottery from the Tang Dynasty. Most of these ceramics are glazed with blue, white, and black colors.
Paintings: Enter the painting gallery of the Shanghai Museum and fully immerse yourself in an ancient and graceful garden of traditional Chinese paintings. More than 120 outstanding paintings by artists from the Tang dynasty to modern times are exhibited here, depicting China’s unique historic art scene. The gallery features unique masterpieces like ‘Hermits’ (also known as ‘Gaoyi Tu’), a silk painting hand scroll from the Tang Dynasty (705 AD – 907 AD), which is the only authentic work of Sun Wei remaining in the world.
Calligraphy: Chinese calligraphy has been a renowned art since ancient times. The Shanghai Museum houses a collection of typical works dating back thousands of years to the Qing dynasty. Take time to appreciate the brilliant writing of all styles. One of the most treasured calligraphy relics is Wang Xianzhi’s ‘Ya Tou Wan Tie’, a famous cursive script work that shows pill reducing edema in less than 20 characters. Another must-see is Zhu Yunming’s ‘The Red Cliff Ode (Chi Bi Fu)’ from 1502 AD.
Jade: The Jade gallery of the Shanghai Museum proves that China has a jade manufacturing history of more than 7000 years. The country of Jade lives up to its reputation through the beautiful jade wares here, which showcase delicate carvings about the magical tale of ancient China. The Shanghai Museum is the proud owner of the world’s only Jade ‘Divine Figure’. The 10.3cm tall Jade Divine Figure is more than 4200 years old and made of the best quality, translucent jade material. It wears a crown and ear ornaments, with hands in front of the chest, regarded as the image of the ancient wizard. Other outstanding jade works on display include ‘Ornaments on Funerary Face Covering’, ‘The Hindustan Octagonal Case Inlaid with Gems’, and ‘Gu with the Three Chi-dragons Design’.
Recommendation route to visit Shanghai Museum: To make the most of your time at the museum, take the museum map and plan your route accordingly. The typical course to cover the galleries is to first see the Bronze Gallery and Sculpture gallery on the first floor, then move to the second floor to include the splendid Ceramics. On the third floor, view Sun Wei’s ‘Hermits’ painting along with many other paintings and calligraphic works of cursive writing. You can also explore ancient Chinese seals on the same level. The fourth floor, which showcases jade wares, currency, furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and multiple items of Chinese minority nationalities, is a must-see.
Some useful Tips: Flash-free photography is allowed in the Shanghai Museum, but large devices like tripods are not. You can take photos with a personal camera or mobile phone. Add a few extra minutes to your intended museum visit time for the strict security check. Always carry your passport.
Plan your visit to the Shanghai Museum with this comprehensive travel guide. Upon arrival, you’ll need to use the cloakroom for your belongings.
For those looking to take home a souvenir, the museum’s first-floor store offers a variety of options. Alternatively, you can find souvenirs at Pudong International Airport, Oriental Pearl Tower, or Taicang Road.
While admission to the Shanghai Museum is free, some special exhibits may incur a charge.
Discovering Shanghai’s Rich Museum Culture
Shanghai boasts over 72 museums, each offering a unique cultural experience. Let’s explore some of the top museums in the city.
Shanghai Art Palace: Also known as the Shanghai Art Museum, this institution houses over 80,000 exhibits focusing on Chinese modern art. It features works from late 19th-century artists such as Zhang Daqian, Ren Bonian, and Wu Changshuo. The museum also displays oil paintings, woodcut works, picture storybooks, and Spring festival paintings. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 A.M. to 17:00 P.M., with last entry at 4 P.M., and closed on Mondays and public holidays, the museum offers free entry and spans an exhibition area of about 64,000 square meters.
Shanghai History Museum: Dedicated to the history and development of Shanghai, this museum showcases approximately 18,000 objects and over 1300 relics, including old artifacts and wax figures. Visitors can walk through mock streets and take photos at shop models or bar scenes. The museum also displays vintage cars and narrates the story of Shanghai’s transformation from a small port to a major city. Open daily from 9:00 A.M. to 17:30 P.M., the entry fee is 35 yuan.
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum: A must-visit for families, this museum offers 12 exhibition areas that will entertain you for a whole afternoon. The first floor features exhibits like Rain Forests of the Yunnan and Earth’s Crust Exploration, providing insight into geographical science. The second floor hosts exhibits that interest children, such as the Earth, World of Robots, and the World of Spiders. The third floor presents the latest in science and technology, including interactive exhibits like Space Navigation Area and Exploration Trip through the Digestive Tract. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 A.M. to 17:00 P.M., with last entry at 4 P.M., and closed on Mondays and public holidays.
The entry fee for Shanghai Museum is 30 yuan. In addition to this museum, there are several other exhibitions in the city. For example, the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. These places will tell the story of how far the city has progressed in the past decades. Shanghai is a vast city and has a lot to offer besides many museums. While you are here, do try out the world’s fastest train the Maglev and get a feel of the super modern Shanghai too. You can also cruise along the Huangpu River on your way to The Bund. The Yuyuan Garden is also a must-visit destination due to its green space, decorative bridges and colorful pagodas. Stroll around in the Watertown of Zhujiajiao and visit the Shanghai Disney Resort.
Related posts:
Revisiting Shanghai Amidst the Pandemic: A Journey in 2020
Exploring the Rich Culture and History of Shanghai Suburbs
Shanghai Family Trip in Late Summer 2007: Enigmatic Metropolis
Explore Shanghai in Summer Vacation: These Places Are Worth Adding to Your Favorites
Unadulterated Primitive Ancient Town of Liantang
Top Attractions in Shanghai
