Museums & Arts · Our pick in Shanghai
Two Shanghai Museums: the back story
The back story
About Two Shanghai Museums: the back story
The Shanghai Museum now has two sites: its home on People’s Square and the Shanghai Museum East on Century Avenue in Pudong. A third site, in Yangpu, is planned before 2030 (Shanghai Municipal Government).
People’s Square
The museum at 201 Renmin Avenue opens 9:00–17:00 (last entry 15:00) and closes on Mondays except national holidays. While “On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas” runs (to 14 November 2027), you need to book ahead.
Shanghai Museum East
At 1952 Century Avenue in Pudong, the East opens 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00) and closes on Tuesdays except national holidays. Individual visitors don’t need to reserve. Its galleries include the Jiangnan Gallery and the ancient Chinese ceramics galleries.
The two sites close on different days: People’s Square on Mondays, the East on Tuesdays.
Planning your visit
Check the exhibition calendar on shanghaimuseum.net before you go: temporary shows run at both sites, and the booking rules can change.
Our advice: visit the East on a weekday morning, then walk over to Century Park.
Why it's on our list
- People’s Square
- Shanghai Museum East
- Planning your visit
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Two Shanghai Museums: the back story before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Two Shanghai Museums: the back story, as the crow flies.
- The Middle House1.2 km15 min walk
- The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi1.2 km16 min walk
- Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai1.3 km16 min walk
- Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund1.5 km19 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Two Shanghai Museums: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Shanghai Museum (People’s Square)550 mWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Xintiandi1.4 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- The Bund1.6 kmWalk 20 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Yu Garden1.8 kmWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Shanghai Tower2.9 kmWalk 36 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Jing’an Temple3.0 kmWalk 38 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Wukang Mansion4.7 kmCycle 19 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Shanghai Museum East6.4 kmCycle 25 minCar or taxi 20 min
- West Bund Museum7.3 kmCycle 29 minCar or taxi 23 min