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Shanghai Museum

The round granite Shanghai Museum on People's Square, shaped like an ancient ding vessel, with visitors at the entrance
Photo: Gary Todd, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
¥148 show; Museum East free
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Shanghai Museum East: 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:00, closed Tuesdays. People's Square: 9:00–17:00, last entry 15:00, closed Mondays; open until 21:00 on evening-session days. Both open on public holidays
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Permanent collection
Bronzes, ceramics, jade, painting, calligraphy, seals, coins — at Shanghai Museum East, Pudong
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Shanghai Museum East entry
Free, no advance booking; bring your original passport
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
East hours
10:00–18:00, last entry 17:00; closed Tuesdays except public holidays
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
People's Square
Until 14 Nov 2027 only the exhibition “On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas”; ticket required
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Exhibition ticket
¥148; ¥135 on weekdays outside school holidays; ¥74 concession
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Family tickets
1 adult + 1 child (6–13) ¥200; 2 adults + 1 child ¥320
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
People's Square hours
9:00–17:00, last entry 15:00; closed Mondays; evening sessions to 21:00 announced by the museum
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Where to buy
Trip.com, the museum's WeChat mini program, or the People's Square ticket office
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Audio guide at East
Foreign languages ¥40
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
East address
1952 Century Avenue, Pudong; individual visitors use the B1 East Gate
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
People's Square address
201 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu; enter by the South Gate on Wusheng Road
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time needed
Permanent galleries 2–3 h; Americas exhibition 1.5–2 h
Coordinates
31.23028, 121.47056YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

2 sitesPeople's Square in Huangpu and Shanghai Museum East in Pudong
SourceShanghai Museum official website
1952the year the museum was founded
3 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaWikidata Q1051293Shanghai government visitor guide
2024Shanghai Museum East fully opened on Century Avenue
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaShanghai Museum official website
1996the People's Square building opened
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaTravel China Guide
Ding vesselthe People's Square building is shaped like an ancient bronze cauldron
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaTravel China Guide
≈ 3,000 objectsfrom Mexico and Peru in the ancient Americas exhibition
2 sourcesXinhuaChina Daily Asia
Olmec Head 4and Calakmul Stela 51 are the exhibition's star pieces
2 sourcesChina Daily AsiaShanghai government
Floors 1–3of the People's Square building are given over to the Americas show
2 sourcesShanghai Museum official websiteChina Daily Asia

Shanghai Museum tickets and opening hours

The permanent galleries at Shanghai Museum East are free and need no booking — just bring your original passport. Hours are 10:00–18:00 with last entry at 17:00, closed on Tuesdays except public holidays. The People's Square building is ticketed while it hosts the ancient Americas exhibition.

That exhibition costs ¥148, or ¥135 on weekdays outside Chinese school holidays and public holidays. The ¥74 concession covers over-60s, 6–18-year-olds and full-time students; family tickets are ¥200 for one adult and one child (6–13) and ¥320 for two adults and one child. These prices come from The Paper, quoting the museum, so check at checkout.

People's Square is open 9:00–17:00, last entry 15:00, and closed on Mondays except public holidays. On evening-session days it stays open until 21:00 — the museum announces them on its WeChat account. Tickets are timed and in your name, one per ID per day.

Shanghai Museum East vs People's Square: which one?

People's Squareyou are hereAncient Americas exhibitionTicket, ¥148Timed ticket in your name9:00–17:00, last entry 15:00MondayPeople's Square, lines 1, 2, 8City centre, by Nanjing Road1.5–2 h
Shanghai Museum EastPermanent Chinese art galleriesFreeNot needed10:00–18:00, last entry 17:00TuesdayShanghai Science and Technology Museum, line 2Pudong, on Century Avenue2–3 h or more

First visit and interested in China? Pick Shanghai Museum East. Choose People's Square if the Maya, Aztecs and Inca are your thing and you have a spare half-day.

Is the Shanghai Museum free, and do you need a reservation?

Yes for East, no for People's Square. Individual visitors walk straight into Shanghai Museum East: go down to the B1 East Gate on the Dingxiang Road side, pass security and scan your passport. Only the Ancient Civilization Exploration Palace and the Digital Gallery need a separate slot booked in the museum's WeChat mini program.

For People's Square you need a ticket for the Americas exhibition. The museum itself points foreign visitors to Trip.com, which takes foreign cards and has an English interface; the WeChat mini program and the ticket office on site also sell them.

Both sites cap numbers when they hit capacity. During Chinese school holidays and public holidays, especially the first week of October, arrive at opening time.

How to get to the Shanghai Museum

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. From the Bund, walk west along pedestrian Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road metro station — about 10 minutes.
  2. For People's Square: line 2 west, one stop to People's Square. Take Exit 1, then walk 5–10 minutes to the museum's South Gate. Or walk the whole of Nanjing Road — about 30 minutes.
  3. For Shanghai Museum East: line 2 east, four stops to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum — about 15 minutes. Exit 8 brings you out by the museum.
  4. Individual visitors enter East by the B1 East Gate on the Dingxiang Road side. Other nearby stations: Xiangcheng Road (line 4, Exit 2) and Pudian Road (line 6, Exit 1).
  5. Arriving at Pudong Airport? Take the Maglev to Longyang Road, then line 2 two stops to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, and leave your suitcase at the ground-floor cloakroom.

Is the Shanghai Museum worth visiting?

Yes, if you care about China before the 20th century. Shanghai Museum East is one of the best places in the country to see bronzes, ceramics and painting from many dynasties in a single afternoon — free, indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it a good rainy-day or heatwave plan.

Give the permanent galleries 2–3 hours; ceramics and painting fans can easily spend half a day. The Americas exhibition takes 1.5–2 hours. Don't go to People's Square expecting the Chinese collection — it isn't there until the exhibition closes.

With only one day in Shanghai, you may prefer the city itself: the Bund, Yu Garden and the Lujiazui skyline. Museum people should still make time for East.

What to see in the permanent galleries

  • Ancient bronzes — ritual ding vessels and bells; the People's Square building copies exactly this shape.
  • Ceramics and porcelain — from early pottery to Ming and Qing porcelain.
  • Jade — ritual discs and ornaments that show how elite taste changed over millennia.
  • Painting and calligraphy — scrolls rotate often, so what you see depends on the day.
  • Seals and coins — small rooms for lovers of detail.
  • Jiangnan art and Shanghai culture — regional crafts and local history.
  • CurioCity for children, and the Open Conservation Lab, where you watch restorers through glass.
  • At People's Square: Olmec Colossal Head 4 and the 4-metre Calakmul Stela 51, Mexico on floors 1–2 and Peru on floor 3.

Paying in Shanghai as a visitor

Entry to East is free, but the exhibition, audio guide, coffee and metro are not. Most of China pays by Alipay or WeChat Pay, and both let you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard — set this up before you fly, as verification texts don't always arrive while roaming.

For the metro, buy a single ticket at the machines; the city government also points visitors to the Metro Daduhui app, which accepts foreign bank cards. The foreign-language audio guide at East is ¥40; a free WeChat guide covers the highlights. Keep some cash yuan as back-up.

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Shanghai's history sights compared

Historic places in Shanghai rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

The Bund591 hFree30 min walk
Oriental Pearl Tower491 h 30 min¥199 — two spheres45 min walk
Shanghai Maglev4630 min¥50, ¥40 with a same-day flight8.8 km
Nanjing Road461 hFree11 min walk
Yu Garden461 h 15 min¥30–40 by season28 min walk
Shanghai Museumyou are here432 h¥148 show; Museum East free—
People's Square4230 minFree3 min walk
People's Park4240 minFree8 min walk
Shanghai Old City421 hFree26 min walk
Xintiandi411 hFree15 min walk
Tianzifang391 hFree40 min walk
City God Temple3830 min≈ ¥10 (one guide says free)29 min walk
Former French Concession382 hFree14 min walk
Wukang Road3745 minFree3.8 km
Suzhou364 hTrain ≈ ¥30–45, garden ¥70–8080.8 km
Jing'an Temple3640 min≈ ¥502.9 km
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center361 h 15 minFree6 min walk
Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum361 hCNY 20; students 10, 60+ 154.4 km
Jade Buddha Temple3345 minFree3.2 km
Longhua Temple2945 min≈ ¥10 (one guide says free)6.4 km
Zhujiajiao243 hFree42.0 km
Xitang164 h≈ ¥95 by day, free in the evening64.2 km

People's Square to the Bund in half a day

The exhibition in the ding-shaped building, a shady park, Nanjing Road on foot and the Bund for the evening lights. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Shanghai Museumyou are here2 h · ¥148 show; Museum East free
  2. 8 min walk from the previous stopPeople's Park40 min · Free
  3. 11 min walk from the previous stopNanjing Road1 h · Free
  4. 20 min walk from the previous stopThe Bund1 h · Free

4 places · about 5 h 19 min with walks · 39 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

People's Square

Shanghai, China

30 min · Free · 3 min walk

People's Park

Shanghai, China

40 min · Free · 8 min walk

Nanjing Road

Shanghai, China

1 h · Free · 11 min walk

How to do it right

  • Here for bronzes and porcelain? Go straight to Shanghai Museum East — they're not at People's Square right now.
  • Arrive at East for the 10:00 opening; weekends and Chinese holidays get busy by lunchtime.
  • Pair East with Lujiazui — same line 2, three stops away.
  • The Americas exhibition is cheaper on weekdays outside school holidays: ¥135 instead of ¥148.
  • The free WeChat guide to the highlights saves you the ¥40 audio guide.
  • Eat in: East has a restaurant on B1, cafés on several floors and a tea room on the third floor.

Questions

Is the Shanghai Museum free?

Shanghai Museum East in Pudong is free. The People's Square building charges ¥148 for the ancient Americas exhibition, ¥135 on off-peak weekdays and ¥74 concession.

Do I need a reservation for the Shanghai Museum?

Not for East — walk in with your passport. People's Square needs a timed ticket from Trip.com, the museum's WeChat mini program or the ticket office.

What are the Shanghai Museum opening hours?

East: 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:00, closed Tuesdays. People's Square: 9:00–17:00, last entry 15:00, closed Mondays; until 21:00 on evening-session days.

Which is better, Shanghai Museum East or People's Square?

For Chinese art, East — that's where the permanent collection is. People's Square only shows the ancient Americas exhibition until 14 November 2027.

How do I get to Shanghai Museum East?

Metro line 2 to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Exit 8. Individual visitors enter by the B1 East Gate on the Dingxiang Road side.

How do I get to the Shanghai Museum on People's Square?

Metro lines 1, 2 or 8 to People's Square, Exit 1, then a short walk to the South Gate. Line 14 to Dashijie, Exit 4, also works.

How long do you need at the Shanghai Museum?

2–3 hours for the permanent galleries at East, longer for ceramics and painting fans; 1.5–2 hours for the Americas exhibition.

Can foreigners visit the Shanghai Museum?

Yes. Bring your original passport. At East it's your entry pass; for People's Square, buy on Trip.com, which takes foreign cards.

Is the Shanghai Museum worth it?

Yes, if you're interested in Chinese history and art — East is one of the best collections in China and costs nothing. Skip People's Square unless the Americas appeal.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Shanghai Museum official website: visit pages for Shanghai Museum East and People's Square, reservation page — hours, closures, entry rules, metro, audio guides
  • Shanghai Municipal Government (english.shanghai.gov.cn): end of reservations at People's Square; Shanghai Museum visitor guide; ancient Americas exhibition
  • The Paper: ticket prices and sales rules for the ancient Americas exhibition
  • Xinhua and China Daily Asia: On Top of the World Tree exhibition
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Museum East; Wikidata Q1051293
  • Travel China Guide: Shanghai Museum on People's Square
  • Shanghai Municipal Government: paying with foreign cards via Alipay and WeChat Pay
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, closures, entry rules, addresses, metro exits and audio-guide prices come from the Shanghai Museum's official pages for both sites. The museum states that People's Square shows nothing else during the Americas exhibition; Travel China Guide and older guides still describe free entry and furniture galleries on the fourth floor — that is out of date. Exhibition prices appear only in The Paper, quoting the museum, so they are marked as unconfirmed. Metro journey times are our estimate. Sources give different opening dates for Shanghai Museum East, so we give only the year.

Top YesGo picks: Shanghai

The Bund

Shanghai, China

1 h · Free

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai, China

1 h 30 min · ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120

Oriental Pearl Tower

Shanghai, China

1 h 30 min · ¥199 — two spheres

Lujiazui

Shanghai, China

45 min · Free

Jin Mao Tower

Shanghai, China

1 h · ¥120; Skywalk from ¥288

Shanghai Maglev

Shanghai, China

30 min · ¥50, ¥40 with a same-day flight

Yu Garden

Shanghai, China

1 h 15 min · ¥30–40 by season

All places: Shanghai →