Shanghai Museum

» Shanghai, Jiang Su

Shanghai Museum Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The world-renowned Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, People's Republic of China. It was established in December, 1952 at the West Nanjing Road which was once the club of the Shanghai horse race course. In 1959, it moved to 16 Henan South Road.

How long it took to build up

The whole construction took three years, from August 1993 to its inauguration on October 12th, 1996. The 29.5 meters high new building has a construction space of 39,200 square meters.

How to form

Its unique architectural form of a round top with a square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese philosophy that the square earth is under the round sky, is a distinguished architectural combination of traditional feature and modern spirit.

What we see

The Shanghai Museum is mainly a museum for ancient arts. At present it is divided into ten sections. These are: ancient Chinese bronzes, sculpture, ceramics, jades, seals, calligraphy, coin and currency, paintings, Ming and Qing-dynasty furniture, and crafts of China's national minorities. Shanghai Museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics and paintings and calligraphy. In addition to these ten permanent exhibitions, the museum often holds small-scale exhibitions and also exhibits articles from elsewhere on a short-term basis. The Museum also exhibits its material in museums both within China and abroad.

Ancient Bronzes Hall

China's Shang and Zhou-period bronzes are an important testimony to the ancient civilization of the country. When visitors enter the Ancient Bronzes Hall, the presentation and atmosphere of the rooms expresses the cultural atmosphere of the bronze age. The subdued dark-green tone of the walls imparts an ancient atmosphere, the simple and elegant display cases and the lighting are carefully designed to enhance the experience. Some 400 exquisite bronze items are displayed in a space of 1,200 square meters, perfectly reflecting the history of the development of China's ancient bronze arts.

The Calligraphy Hall

The Calligraphy Hall includes works from many dynasties; in chronological order it displays the history of the marvelous genius of Chinese calligraphic arts. The aura of the hall is scholarly and elegant, assisted by automatic lighting in display cases that protects the art by shining only when the visitor is viewing a work. Among these works are a number of unique world treasures.

The Chinese Painting Hall

The Chinese Painting Hall of the Museum similarly has a touch of traditional architectural style to it, combined with an atmosphere of Confucian elegance. Around 120 masterpieces are displayed in the 1,200 square-meter exhibition space. These date from the Tang dynasty to modern times but do not include contemporary works.

The Ming and Qing Furniture Hall

The apex of Chinese furniture creation occurred during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Walking into the Ming and Qing Furniture Hall is like walking back into the gardens and rooms of the Ming and Qing dynasty. In some 700 square meters of space are exhibited some 100 pieces of superlative Chinese Ming and Qing-dynasty furniture. Among these are Ming pieces that are fluid in line and harmonious in proportion. The Qing pieces have more complex ornamentation and are often made of thicker, heavier wood.

The Underground Part

The underground part of the Shanghai Museum also has some courtyard gardens that imitate authentic Chinese traditions. Although these are hidden deeply underground, their architecture and environment seem light and airy.

When to visit

Opening hours: 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. all year round (entry stops at 16:00).

Getting there

By bus

Buses 574, 71, 123, 46, 934, 145 or tunnel bus NO.6 get to there.

Visitors to pay attention to

• Please be appropriately dressed
• No merchandising or advertisement distribution inside the museum
• No pets into the museum
• Children under 1.2m, the aged and infirm visitors shall be accompanied by relatives
• Free luggage checking in the cloakroom
• No food or beverage in the galleries
• No smoking or flame inside the building
• No touches on the exhibits
• No loud voice in the galleries
• The museum will publicize in advance the notice of temporary closing for special events or necessary maintenance of facilities.

Attractions around » Shanghai, Jiang Su

Natural Scene

• Huangpu River
• The Bund
• Port Wusongkou
• Shanghai Wild Animal Park

Historical Site

• Ancient Town of Zhouzhuang
• Jade Buddha Temple
• Town God Temple
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower
• Old Town of Xitang
• Zhujiajiao Old Town
• Former French Concession
• Qibaozhen Ancient Town
• The First National Congress of the Communist Party of China Shanghai Site
• Longhua Temple
• Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen

Cultural Site

• Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
• Shanghai World Financial Center
• Shanghai Museum
• Yuyuan Garden
• Shanghai History Museum
• Nanpu and Yangpu Bridges
• Guyi Garden

Nightlife

• Night Club Street on Hengshan Road
• Shanghai Concert Hall
• Shanghai Grand Theater
• Xintiandi Bar Street
• Maoming South Road Bar Street
• Tongren Road Bar Street
• Yandang Road Bar Street
• Sasha's Bar
• Bourbon Street Bar
• Julu Road Bar Street
• Mexican madness night at Zapata's Bar

Day Entertainment & Sports

• Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
• Sheshan Golf Club

Shopping & Leisure

• Nanjing Road
• Shopping Heaven on Xujiahui Street
• Dongtai Road Antique Market
• Shopping on Fuzhou Road
• Pudong New Area
• Yandang Road Bar Street
• Xintiandi Area

Shanghai Museum Highlights

Museum in Great China

• Forbidden City
• Terracotta Warriors and Horses
• Shaanxi Provincial History Museum
• Sanxingdui Ruins
• Dunhuang Museum
• National Museum of China
• Shanghai Museum
• Weijin Art Gallery
• Gansu Provincial Museum
• Xi'an Banpo Museum
• Dinosaur Museum
• Han Yang Ling Museum
• Forest of Stone Steles Museum
• Tibet Museum
• Jingdezhen Ceramic History Museum
• Dongba Museum
• Chongqing Three Gorges Museum
• Hubei Provincial Museum
• Shanghai History Museum
• Great Wall Museum
• Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre
• Han Dynasty Tomb Museum
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Xianyang Museum
• Shandong Provincial Museum
• Nanjing Museum
• Meteorite Museum
• Salt History Museum
• Inner Mongolia Museum
• Hunan Provincial Museum
• National Tea Museum
• China National Silk Museum
• Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Luoyang Museum
• Chen Family Temple

Shanghai Museum FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?
2. What's the best season for traveling there?

  Transportation

1. What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

  Food

1. What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?
2. What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

  Shopping

1. Where is the most famous area for shopping here?
2. Where can we visit on our spare time?

  Travel

1. How about Shanghai's nightlife?

  Other Hints

1. How many airports do Shanghai have?
2. What is the city code of Shanghai?

• What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?

  The four seasons are easy to tell apart. The weather is pleasant, and the number of all kinds of products is large in Spring and Autumn.

  Every June and July is the mold rain season, so it is usually humid in hotel rooms. Umbrella is a necessary thing to bring with during the rainy weather.

  The coldest time is from late January to early February. Even though there is not much snow, warm clothes are still needed, because cold wind is always unendurable. Hotel rooms are equipped with air-conditions, so please stay warm in the room.

  It is usually super hot in July and August. Weather with higher than 35 C usually stays for about ten days, so that prevention from overheat is very necessary.

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• What's the best season for traveling there?

  After humid mold rain season and cold winter, there comes the Spring with blooming flowers, or the Autumn with falling red leaves, which are the best the seasons for trevaling.

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• What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

  Travel line in the east China includes Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It usually takes about 2C3 hours to travel between cities. Medicine that prevents car-sickness is necessary.

  Multi-city traveling usually requires travelers to put up each night in different cities. Please take care of your belongings when checking out.

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• What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?

  Shanghai cuisine is a mixture of five different cuisines and western food. Apart from its local food, it also has Beijing cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Guangdong cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Yangzhou cuisine, Chaozhou Cuisine, Anhui Cuisine and vegetarian cuisine, etc.

  Of course, Italian food, Russian food, French food, Vietnamese food, Korean food and Japanese food can also be found in Shanghai.

  Local people like food with light seasoning and light sweetness. Rice is their main food. People that like strong seasoning can prepare their own seasonings.

  Travelers with special needs please give us notice before hand, so we can prepare for you earlier according to your requirements.

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• What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

  Shanghai Nanxiang Dumplings, Crab Roe Dumplings, Steamed Dumplings Filled with Minced Meat and Gravy, Fermented Rice with Pigeon Eggs, Rib Rice Cakes, Eggs Boiled with Five Ingredients, Five Ingredients Beans, etc. There are a lot of delicious local food.

  Please mind the sanitation when enjoying the tasty food.

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• Where is the most famous area for shopping here?

  The shopping heaven in Shanghai is Nanjing Road. It has a name of 'the number one shopping street in China.' Now all kinds of stores have been opened by all kinds of business people. There are not only old stores that have hundreds of years, but also modern shopping malls like Friendship Europe Shopping Mall, Mancton Square, HUalian Shopping Center, etc.

  Huaihai Road is as famous as Nanjing Road. Shopping malls are standing at each side of the road: Guangna World Center, Paris Spring, Meimei Shopping Center, Parkson, etc. World famous brand can all be found in the shopping malls, which make Shanghai a shopping center of world class.

  Sichuan North Road's stores offer reasonable prices, which attracts a lot of common people. Xizangzhong Road had developed food and travel industry.

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• Where can we visit on our spare time?

  Shanghai is where Chinese movie originated. It is also where a lot of international movie festivals take place. There are world-class theaters. Famous movies and latest movies can all be found in Shanghai's movie theaters.

  Huanyi Movie Theather on Nanjing West Road, Yongle Palace on Anfu Road are the most famous movie theathers in Shanghai.

  You can also go to teahouse. Different from traditional teahouse, the teahouse in Shanghai adds more modern atmosphere that attracts more and more young people.

  New theme parks and amusement parks in Shanghai are good choices too. Modern equipments and beautiful natural scenes will bring you to the ideal land.

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• How about Shanghai's nightlife?

  Bars, KTV and DISCO are indispensable in a busy city like Shanghai. Beautiful lights are like the reflection of the stars, lightening the whole city and bring the city endless liveliness.

  Blue Belt Night Club, Night Paris and the famous Big World are all well known and loved by young people. Dancing people and fragrant martini will make you forget about tiredness and start to enjoy the charm of Shanghai city.

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• How many airports does Shanghai have?

  There are two international airports in Shanghai, which are Hongqiao Aireport and Pudong International Airport.

  Hundreds of airlines are in service, which can reach to every big and medium city in China and some cities in each country.

  Air traffic is very convenient. Pudong International Airport is mainly for international airlines, while Hongqiao Airport is mainly for national airlines.

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• What is the city code of Shanghai?

  Shanghai's area code: 021

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