7 brilliant history and culture museums in Shanghai
Photograph: Yang Xiaozhe (Shanghai Natural History Museum)
Shanghai museums have a bad reputation. At worst they’re dusty, outdated and stuffed with questionable taxidermy. At best, they showcase some of the most inspiring tech achievements, wonders of the natural world and art out there, and truthfully, the city is full of both. But the good ones are really good and are worth getting lost inside whether you’re five or 50. Take in our picks of the coolest, weirdest and most wonderful history and culture museums the city has to offer.
Shanghai Museum
Photograph: @上海博物馆 via Weibo
One of the oldest and arguably best museums in town, the Shanghai Museum is a must-see if you’re into ancient Chinese culture and art. Expect a world-class collection of objects spanning China’s oft-quoted 5,000 years of history, including a selection of national treasures. The enormous four-storey museum is largely organised by chronological order, featuring 21 categories of cultural relics like bronzeware, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, jade, furniture and currency. Entry is free, but admission is capped at 8,000 people per day, so expect to queue at the entrance.
Estimated time Two to three hours.
Language provisions Translated captions are excellent, with audio guides available in French, Japanese, Spanish, German, Korean
and Italian.
📍201 People’s Avenue, near Huangpi Bei Lu. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm (4pm last entry). Free.
Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
During the Second World War, more than 20,000 Jewish Europeans fled the Holocaust and settled temporarily in Shanghai’s Hongkou district. Starting at the former Ohel Moshe Synagogue, this small museum does an excellent job of recounting refugees’ personal stories and commemorating the hardship of resettlement both before and after the city’s Japanese occupation in 1937. Opt for a combo entrance ticket, which includes a coffee at White Horse Inn, just opposite the museum. The recently renovated café was opened by an Austrian refugee in 1939 and has since become an important landmark. Guided tours, organised by volunteers, take place hourly.
Estimated time One to two hours.
Language provisions Translations are solid and comprehensive.
📍62 Changyang Lu, near Zhoushan Lu. Open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm (4.30pm last entry). 20RMB (adults); 10RMB (students); free (kids under 1.3m).
Shanghai Natural History Museum
After a big renovation a few years back, this colossal museum is perhaps the best place in the city (and maybe even the country) to discover all corners of the natural world. It has fossil collections, taxidermy, panoramas on ancient agriculture, ethnic minorities’ traditional clothing and much more.
Estimated time Four hours (but really to see it all, it’ll probably take more than one visit).
Language provisions Bilingual signage, audio guide (20RMB rental, 200RMB cash deposit).
📍510 Beijing Xi Lu, near Chengdu Bei Lu. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5.15pm. 30RMB (adults); 12RMB (students); 25RMB (seniors 60-70); free (seniors over 70, children under 1.3m).
Shikumen Open House Museum
Photograph: Jakub Halun via Wikicommons
Also known as Shikumen Wulixiang Museum, this restored shikumen house was first built in the ’20s. Once belonging to a family from Ningbo, it’s decorated with a comprehensive collection of old furniture, gadgets and memorabilia. Check out the tingzijian, the small room beneath the staircase, a typical feature in shikumen buildings. Facing north and uncomfortable in both summer and winter, tingzijian were typically rented out by scholars and artists during the ’20s and ’30s for their cheap rates.
Estimated time 30 minutes.
Language provisions Comprehensive English and Chinese descriptions.
📍Lane 181, 25 Taicang Lu, near Xingye Lu. Open Mon-Sun 10am-10pm. 20RMB.
Shanghai Postal Museum
Photograph: Windmemories via Wikicommons
A Mecca of info on the history of China’s postal service, housed in a postal hall built in 1924, here detailed exhibits range from the ancient post stations of early dynasties to an impressive collection of stamps.
Estimated time 30 minutes.
Language provisions Exhibits have English translations throughout the museum.
📍395 Tiantong Lu, near Sichuan Bei Lu. Open Wed-Thu, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Free.
Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre
Photograph: Raki_Man via Wikicommons
This pint-sized museum packs in a huge collection of propaganda poster art and old Shanghai commercial posters. It’s a real hidden gem (located in the basement of a residential compound) for those who are interested in the very specific art form, as it was used in China between 1949 and 1979. Apart from propaganda posters, the centre also has a collection of Shanghai Lady posters advertising cigarettes, medicine and cosmetics, usually featuring fashionable women in qipao.
Estimated time 30 minutes to one hour.
Language provisions Descriptions are in English and French – limited Chinese throughout.
📍B1, Bldg 4, 868 Huashan Lu, near Wukang Lu. Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 25RMB.
Shanghai History Museum
Photograph: Szalai.laci via Wikicommons
Located in the former Shanghai Race Club, originally built in 1934, this newly renovated museum is the place for history lovers to dig deeper into the city’s past – from the earliest civilisation of Majiabang culture to the present day – and will answer your questions about how a small shipping port became the modern and enormous metropolis Shanghai is today. Animated maps show the changes of former Shanghai concessions, and two bronze tablets that were used to mark the city’s concessions are on the third floor.
Estimated time Two hours.
Language provisions Limited English descriptions; audio guides available in both Chinese and English.
📍325 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huangpi Bei Lu. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm (4pm last entry). Free entry.
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