People's Park
Shanghai, China
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
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Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free, booking required
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h 15 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Admission
- Free, advance booking required
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Closed
- Wednesdays, except Chinese public holidays
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Booking
- The centre's official WeChat account, with your passport, up to 7 days ahead
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- 100 People's Avenue (Renmin Avenue), Huangpu District
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Metro
- People's Square, Lines 1, 2 and 8 — Exit 2 (some sources say Exit 3)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Audio guide
- CNY 20 plus a CNY 100 deposit — unofficial
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- 60–90 minutes; 45 minutes for the highlights
Key facts
Freeno ticket price, but you need to book a time slot
3 sourcesi
Meet-in-Shanghai (Shanghai government)Travel China GuideEast China TripWednesdayweekly closing day; open if a public holiday falls on it
3 sourcesi
Shanghai governmentChinese WikipediaTravel China GuideShanghai 2035the city's master plan to 2035 is the core of the exhibition
3 sourcesi
SmartShanghaiJiemianShanghai government2000opened on 25 February 2000
2 sourcesi
English and Chinese WikipediaWikidata2019–2022closed for renovation from December 2019, reopened on 9 August 2022
2 sourcesi
Chinese WikipediaMeet-in-Shanghai1:500scale of the old giant model of central Shanghai inside the Inner Ring Road
2 sourcesi
Chinese WikipediaTravel China GuideThree themesCity of Humanity, City of Innovation and Eco City
2 sourcesi
JiemianEast China TripScreens and VRthe renovation swapped glass cases for digital, interactive displays
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SmartShanghaiJiemianNext to City Hallon People's Square, beside the municipal government building
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English WikipediaShanghai government16:00last entry, an hour before closing
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Shanghai governmentChinese WikipediaTickets: is it free and how do you book?
Yes, it's free — but you need a reservation. Slots are booked through the centre's official WeChat account: pick a date and time and enter your passport number. You can book up to seven days ahead, including the same day. At the door, show the booking and your physical passport.
No WeChat? Unofficial guides say you can scan a QR code or use a booking machine at the entrance, but same-day slots aren't guaranteed. At weekends and during Chinese holidays, book a day or two ahead, when morning slots are the first to go.
The CNY 30 fee in older guides dates from before the renovation; none of the post-reopening sources we checked mention a charge. You'll only pay for an audio guide or a coffee. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work once linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay, and it's worth carrying some cash yuan too.
Opening hours and closing day
The centre opens Thursday to Tuesday, 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. It's closed on Wednesdays — unless a Chinese public holiday falls on one, in which case it opens. That's what the Shanghai government lists, and Chinese Wikipedia agrees.
Some older listings say Mondays; that's out of date. Handy detail: on Mondays, when the Shanghai Museum building on the square is shut, the planning centre is open, and on Wednesdays it's the other way round. Weekday mornings are quietest, with the touchscreens all to yourself.
What is the Urban Planning Exhibition Center?
It's a government-run museum about Shanghai as a city — how its neighbourhoods grew, where new metro lines and districts are going, and how the waterfronts and parks will change. It opened in 2000 on People's Square, right next to City Hall, as the public face of the city's master plan.
After a renovation lasting from late 2019 to the summer of 2022, the displays now revolve around the "Shanghai 2035" master plan and three themes: City of Humanity, City of Innovation and Eco City. Expect screens, VR headsets, interactive maps and district models rather than glass cases.
You'll spot the building by the white, flower-like canopy on its roof. There are no antiques here. What you get instead is a clear sense of how the vast city you see from the Bund and the towers of Pudong actually fits together.
What to see, floor by floor
- B1 — temporary exhibitions and public planning notices, plus left luggage. Floor layout per East China Trip (unofficial).
- 1F — the entrance hall, "Shanghai: a global city in pursuit of excellence", with artistic city models and a short history of planning.
- 2F, City of Humanity — heritage protection and urban renewal, shikumen lane-house models, the Huangpu and Suzhou rivers, and a small model of the centre with the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Bund.
- 3F, City of Innovation — Zhangjiang Science City, the Lingang area, the "five new towns" and the two-storey digital city model. Start here if you're short on time.
- 4F, Eco City — green corridors, low-carbon neighbourhoods and Chongming eco-island.
- 5F — a café with drinks and cakes; a good pause before the other museums on the square.
How to get to the Urban Planning Exhibition Center
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
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
- People's Park is about 4 min away on foot.
- People's Square is about 15 min away on foot.
- Shanghai Museum is about 14 min away on foot.
More tips
- From the Bund, walk west along Nanjing Road for about 10 minutes to East Nanjing Road metro station (Lines 2 and 10).
- Take Line 2 westbound one stop to People's Square — 2–3 minutes. Contactless foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work at the gates.
- Use Exit 2 (some sources say Exit 3), the closest to the centre. Unofficial reports say Exit 12, towards Nanjing Road and People's Park, may be temporarily closed — follow the signs.
- The centre is on the east side of the square at 100 People's Avenue, beside City Hall — a 3–5 minute walk from the exit.
- On foot from the Bund: follow pedestrian Nanjing Road west to People's Park, then cut south across the square — 25–30 minutes.
Is it worth visiting?
Yes, if you like cities, architecture, maps or transport. It's free, central and takes about an hour, so it slots easily into a People's Square day. Kids of school age tend to enjoy the touchscreens, VR and models more than a traditional museum.
Skip a special trip if you're coming for the old floor-sized model — the renovated centre is mostly digital. With only a day or two in Shanghai and views as your priority, the Shanghai Tower and a walk along the Bund give you more of the skyline itself.
Planning centre vs Shanghai Museum vs History Museum
| What's insideyou are here | Shanghai today and tomorrow: screens, models, VR | Permanent collection of ancient Chinese art | Paid temporary exhibition on the ancient Americas | City history in the old racecourse clubhouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission | Free, booking required | Free with passport | CNY 148 | Free |
| Closed | Wednesday | Tuesday | Monday | Monday |
Shanghai Museum details are official, from YesGo's Shanghai Museum page. The History Museum's terms and free entry to the planning centre are unofficial — check before you go.
Before you go
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You are ready for the visit
Historic places in Shanghai: compare and choose
Every historic place in Shanghai that YesGo has rated. Tap a column heading to sort.
| The Bund | 59 | 1 h | Free | 27 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oriental Pearl Tower | 49 | 1 h 30 min | ¥199 — two spheres | 43 min walk |
| Shanghai Maglev | 46 | 30 min | ¥50, ¥40 with a same-day flight | 8.9 km |
| Nanjing Road | 46 | 1 h | Free | 7 min walk |
| Yu Garden | 46 | 1 h 15 min | ¥30–40 by season | 29 min walk |
| Shanghai Museum | 43 | 2 h | ¥148 show; Museum East free | 6 min walk |
| People's Square | 42 | 30 min | Free | 5 min walk |
| People's Park | 42 | 40 min | Free | 5 min walk |
| Shanghai Old City | 42 | 1 h | Free | 29 min walk |
| Xintiandi | 41 | 1 h | Free | 21 min walk |
| Tianzifang | 39 | 1 h | Free | 2.6 km |
| City God Temple | 38 | 30 min | ≈ ¥10 (one guide says free) | 31 min walk |
| Former French Concession | 38 | 2 h | Free | 20 min walk |
| Wukang Road | 37 | 45 min | Free | 4.1 km |
| Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centeryou are here | 36 | 1 h 15 min | Free | — |
| Suzhou | 36 | 4 h | Train ≈ ¥30–45, garden ¥70–80 | 80.8 km |
| Jing'an Temple | 36 | 40 min | ≈ ¥50 | 3.0 km |
| Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum | 36 | 1 h | CNY 20; students 10, 60+ 15 | 4.1 km |
| Jade Buddha Temple | 33 | 45 min | Free | 3.1 km |
| Longhua Temple | 29 | 45 min | ≈ ¥10 (one guide says free) | 6.7 km |
| Zhujiajiao | 24 | 3 h | Free | 42.1 km |
| Xitang | 16 | 4 h | ≈ ¥95 by day, free in the evening | 64.3 km |
People's Square and Nanjing Road to the Bund
The square, the planning centre, People's Park, then a walk down Nanjing Road to the waterfront. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- People's Square30 min · Free
- 5 min walk from the previous stopShanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centeryou are here1 h 15 min · Free, booking required
- 5 min walk from the previous stopPeople's Park40 min · Free
- 11 min walk from the previous stopNanjing Road1 h · Free
- 20 min walk from the previous stopThe Bund1 h · Free
5 places · about 5 h 6 min with walks · 41 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
How to do it right
- Book a morning slot — the halls are calmer and you won't wait for the interactive screens.
- Leave bags at the B1 left-luggage desk; the floors are easier to explore hands-free.
- Short on time? Go straight to 3F for the digital city model, then work down.
- Pair it with People's Square and People's Park — they're all within five minutes' walk, half a day in total.
- Only free on a Wednesday? The Shanghai Museum is open that day — go there instead.
Questions
Is the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center free?
Yes. Every source we checked after its reopening lists free admission, but you need to book a time slot via the centre's official WeChat account and bring your passport.
How do I book a visit?
Find the centre's official account in WeChat, choose a date and time, and enter your passport details. Booking opens seven days ahead. Without WeChat, you can try the QR code or booking machine at the door, but same-day slots may be gone.
What are the opening hours?
Thursday to Tuesday, 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00. It's closed on Wednesdays, except when a Chinese public holiday falls on one.
Can you still see the giant model of Shanghai?
Not in its old form. SmartShanghai reported that the floor-sized 1:500 model was removed in the renovation; recent guides describe smaller models and a two-storey digital city model on 3F.
How do I get there by metro?
Lines 1, 2 or 8 to People's Square, Exit 2 or 3, then a 3–5 minute walk to the east side of the square. From the Bund it's one stop on Line 2 from East Nanjing Road.
How long should I spend there?
An hour to an hour and a half covers every floor. If you only want the digital model and the entrance hall, 45 minutes is enough.
Is it worth visiting?
For anyone curious about how a megacity is planned, yes — it's free and central. If you only want the skyline, a tower observation deck and the Bund are a better use of limited time.
Is it good for kids?
School-age children usually enjoy the touchscreens, VR and models. Toddlers will probably get bored quickly.
Where exactly is it?
100 People's Avenue in Huangpu District, on the east side of People's Square next to City Hall, about 1.5 km west of the Bund.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Shanghai government (english.shanghai.gov.cn) — planning centre page: address, hours, last entry, closing day
- Meet-in-Shanghai (Shanghai government portal) — reopening after renovation, free entry, booking
- English and Chinese Wikipedia: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, 上海城市规划展示馆; Wikidata Q713922
- SmartShanghai — the centre after renovation, master plan, model, WeChat booking
- Jiemian — end of the renovation, three exhibition themes
- Travel China Guide — admission, hours, audio guide, 1:500 model, metro exits
- East China Trip — booking, floors, café, left luggage, metro exit
- YesGo's Shanghai Museum and People's Square pages — neighbouring museums
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