Top 12 Museums in Shanghai: Shanghai Museum, and More
Shanghai proudly houses 171 museums that encompass a wide array of fields, including history, art, science, technology, and beyond. For those traveling to Shanghai, museums provide a unique perspective to comprehend this city. Presented below are the 12 best museums in Shanghai that are well worth a visit.Location: No. 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (Closed on Tuesdays) Ticket: Free Highlights: Cultural relics, digital exhibits with interactions Best for: History lovers, families with kids Getting there: Take Metro Line 2 to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station, exit from Exit 7 or 8. Recommended Shanghai Day Tour with Shanghai Museum Location: No. 2000 Shiji Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays) Ticket: CNY 45 Highlights: Scientific principle exhibition, exquisite models, interactive devices Best for: Technology explorers, families with kids, students’ educational tours to China Getting there: Take Metro Line 2 to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station, exit at Exit 8. Location: No. 3398 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui District, Shanghai Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 from Tuesday to Thursday, 10:00-21:00 from Friday to Sunday Tickets: CNY 200 Highlights: Chinese revolutionary art, ancient collections, and masterpieces of modern artists Best for: Families with kids, artists, and anyone who wants to indulge in an artistic atmosphere Getting there: Take Metro Line 7 or 12 to Middle Longhua Road Station, exit at Exit 5. Location: No. 205 Shangnan Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (Closed on Mondays) Tickets: Free Highlights: Chinese art history, artworks from varied times Best for: Anyone fond of art, architectural admirers Getting there: Take Metro Line 8 and get off at Shanghai Art Museum Station, exit at Exit 3. Location: No. 510 Beijing West Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)\ Tickets: CNY 30 Highlights: Specimens, fossils, and excavation experience Best for: Families with kids, anyone keen on the history and development of nature Getting there: Take Metro Line 1, 2, or 13 to reach there. Location: No. 62 Changyang Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays) Tickets: CNY 20 Highlights: Jewish historical photographs, artifacts, and personal items Best for: Anyone interested in Jewish history Getting there: Take Metro Line 12 and get off at Tilanqiao Station, exit at Exit 1. >> Recommended 16-Day China Jewish Heritage Tour with Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum Location: No. 100 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District, Shanghai Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Wednesdays) Tickets: Free Highlights: City planning, immersive digital experience Best for: City planners, families with kids, and anyone who wants to learn more about Shanghai Getting there: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at People’s Square Station, exit at Exit 2. Recommended17-Day Wonderful China Journey with Shanghai Urban Planning Museum Location: No. 325 Nanjing West Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays) Tickets: Free Highlights: Historical and cultural relics Best for: History lovers, families with kids, the elderly Getting there: Take Metro Line 1, 2, or 8 and get off at People’s Square Station, exit at Exit 10. Recommended 8-Day East China Highlights Tour with Shanghai History Museum Location: No. 2600 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui District, Shanghai Opening hours: 11:00-18:00 (Closed on Mondays) Tickets: CNY 100 for permanent exhibitions; CNY 120 for special exhibitions Highlights: Modern and contemporary art, art education Best for: Anyone fond of art, families with kids, photographers\ Getting there: Take Metro Line 11 and get off at Yunjin Road Station, exit at Exit 6. Location: No. 200 Tianmu East Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai Opening hours: 9:00 - 11:00 & 13:30 - 16:30 (Closed on Mondays) Tickets: CNY 10 Highlights: Railway history, models, simulated driving experience Best for: Railway enthusiasts, families with kids Getting there: Take Metro Line 3 or 4 and get off at Baoshan Station, exit at Exit 1. Recommended 15-Day Train Lover’s Tour of China with Shanghai Railway Museum Location: No. 7565 Boyuan Road, Jiading District, Shanghai (within the Auto Expo Park) Opening hours: 9:30-16:30 (Closed on Mondays)\ Tickets: CNY 60 Highlights: Automobile history, antique cars and models Best for: Car lovers, families with kids Getting there: Take Metro Line 11 to Anting Station, and then transfer to Bus Jiading 114 or 116 to Boyuanlu Moyunanlu Station. Location: No. 1200 Cai Lun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai Opening hours: 9:00-16:00 (Closed on Mondays) Tickets: CNY 15 Highlights: Traditional Chinese medicine culture Best for: Educational tours, and anyone interested in traditional Chinese medicine Getting there: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Zhangjiang High-tech Station, then transfer to Bus 609 to Cailun Road Huatuo Road Station.
1.Shanghai Museum
As the largest comprehensive museum in Shanghai, it boasts a rich collection that shows the history and culture of this city, ranging from ancient artworks to traditional handicrafts. Currently, the Shanghai Museum has two venues: Shanghai Museum East and Shanghai Museum on People's Square. The east venue collects ancient Chinese bronzes, sculptures, calligraphy and painting, jades, ceramics, and more. Therefore, if you travel to Shanghai with kids, visiting this museum is among the top things to do in Shanghai.
Shanghai Museum East
2.Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
With an exhibition area of 65,000 square meters, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum has 13 themed exhibition halls with distinct styles. You can explore the mysteries of nature in the Biodiversity Hall, experience the impact of technology on life in the Light of Wisdom Hall, and discover the unknowns of the vast universe in the Aerospace Hall. Closed on March 31, 2023, for upgrading and renovation, this fascinating museum in Shanghai is scheduled to reopen to the public in 2025.
3. Long Museum in Shanghai
Long Museum West Bund is one of the leading private art museums in China, founded by Liu Yiqian and Wang Wei. Both its architectural appearance and interior spatial design are filled with a sense of art. In addition to its treasure pieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties, it also houses paintings by top artists such as Xu Beihong and masterpieces by international artists like Yayoi Kusama.4. China Art Museum, Shanghai
Originating from the Shanghai Art Museum founded in 1956, the meticulously designed China Art Museum is one of the best art museums in Shanghai. The most famous exhibit is the multimedia version of "Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival," a treasure in the history of Chinese art. Also, it exhibits numerous artworks by modern artists, along with temporary exhibitions featuring pieces from both Chinese and international museums.
5. Shanghai Natural History Museum
Featuring 10 permanent exhibition areas and many other temporary exhibitions, this is one of the top museums in Shanghai that you can’t miss. Its treasures include the skeleton of an ancient elephant from the Yellow River, a Mamenchisaurus fossil, and the only wild Manchurian tiger specimen in China. Moreover, there is an exploration area that allows kids to dig up fossils by themselves.6. Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, with the Moses Synagogue as its core, was established in 2007 and completed its expansion in 2020. Through scene reproduction and interactive technology, this museum in Shanghai demonstrates the stories of Jewish refugees in Shanghai during WWII. Suitcases and old ship tickets from their escape from Europe, residence permits, and marriage certificates all show the unforgettable memories of those who experienced the difficult years.7. Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Also called Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, this famous museum in Shanghai not only displays the changes of this city but also constantly updates its development plans for the future. Its main design has won the China Construction Engineering Luban Award. Within the museum, the 5D digital immersive urban sand table offers an enthralling experience, enabling you to dynamically explore the city's unique streets while standing there during your Shanghai tours.
8. Shanghai History Museum
As its name shows, this museum in Shanghai is a great place to learn about the history of the city. The East Building of it is replete with a rich history and once stood as a cultural icon of Shanghai. The 110,000 pieces of collections at the Shanghai History Museum are divided into fifteen major categories, including paintings and calligraphy, metals, ceramics, crafts, medals, and more.9. West Bund Museum in Shanghai
Designed by the distinguished British architect Sir David Chipperfield, the West Bund Museum in Shanghai officially opened in 2019. It houses three exhibition halls, dedicated to the permanent exhibitions that systematically present the history of modern and contemporary art, as well as special exhibitions that show different artistic sections.10. Shanghai Railway Museum
Located on the site of the former Shanghai North Railway Station, which was built in 1909 with a British classical architectural style, the Shanghai Railway Museum is also a must-visit museum in Shanghai. One of the top railway museums in China, it shows over 100 years of development of Shanghai and East China's railways since the 19th century, with over 50 exhibition items, precious old railway equipment, and historical photographs.