Shanghai Museum

Overview

The Shanghai Museum is one of China's premier repositories of ancient art, housing over 120,000 artifacts across 11 permanent galleries. Its distinctive bronze ding-vessel silhouette, designed by architect Xing Tonghe, has become a landmark of People's Square.

Highlights

• Ancient Bronze Gallery: Exceptional Shang and Zhou dynasty ritual vessels spanning 3,500 years.
• Chinese Painting Gallery: Scroll paintings from the Tang through Qing dynasties, including masterworks by Tang Yin.
• Minority Nationalities Art: Costumes, textiles, and masks from China's 55 ethnic minorities.

History

Founded in 1952, the museum moved to its current purpose-built home in 1996. It was one of the first major museums in China to offer free admission, a policy adopted in 2008.

Visitor Tips

• Free Entry: No ticket needed, but daily visitor caps apply; arrive before 10 AM on weekends.
• Audio Guide: Available in eight languages at the entrance.
• Duration: 2–2.5 hours; ceramics enthusiasts could spend half a day.