Shanghai’s museum scene rivals any in Asia — 5,000 years of Chinese art at the Shanghai Museum, contemporary masterworks at the Power Station of Art, propaganda-poster archives in the French Concession, and a state-of-the-art natural history hall. Best of all, most of the city’s leading museums are free to enter. This 2026 guide to the best museums in Shanghai covers the 12 most worthwhile, with what to see, how to reserve free tickets, opening hours, and how to combine them with nearby attractions.
Table of Contents
- Top 12 Museums in Shanghai
- Shanghai Museum
- Shanghai Museum East
- Power Station of Art
- China Art Museum
- Long Museum (West Bund)
- Shanghai Natural History Museum
- Hidden Gem Museums
- Reservation Tips
- Recommended Day Routes
- FAQ
Top 12 Museums in Shanghai
- Shanghai Museum East (Pudong) — flagship Chinese art
- Shanghai Museum People’s Square — original location (limited galleries 2026)
- Power Station of Art — China’s largest contemporary art museum
- China Art Museum / Shanghai Art Palace — Expo 2010 pavilion
- Long Museum West Bund — Wang Wei’s private contemporary collection
- Yuz Museum — contemporary art, West Bund
- Shanghai Natural History Museum — family-friendly science
- Shanghai History Museum — at People’s Square
- Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum — see our heritage guide
- Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre — quirky, hidden gem
- Rockbund Art Museum — Bund-adjacent contemporary art
- Aurora Museum — Tadao Ando-designed; Asian antiquities
Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆) at People’s Square is one of the great museums of Chinese art. Founded 1952, the People’s Square building has housed the collection since 1996 with 120,000+ relics across bronze, ceramic, calligraphy, painting, jade, sculpture, currency, and ethnic minority galleries. As of 2026 the People’s Square site is in partial renovation with limited galleries open. The flagship has effectively moved to Shanghai Museum East in Pudong.
People’s Square site: Open Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00, free admission (advance WeChat reservation required).
Shanghai Museum East
Shanghai Museum East opened in late 2023–2024 and is now the flagship venue. Located in Pudong near Century Park, it’s three times the size of the original (113,000 m²) with 22 permanent exhibitions including dedicated halls for Egyptian, ancient Near Eastern, and African art alongside the core Chinese collections. The 8,000-piece Chinese bronzes gallery is among the best of its kind on Earth.
Practical: Open Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), free admission via advance WeChat reservation. Metro: Shanghai Library East (Line 13). Allow 3+ hours.
Power Station of Art
Power Station of Art (上海当代艺术博物馆), housed in a converted 1985 thermal power plant, is China’s first state-run contemporary art museum and one of Asia’s most architecturally distinctive. The 41,000 m² space hosts the Shanghai Biennale (every alternate November) and rotating international contemporary art exhibits. The 165m smokestack (now a thermometer-shaped art installation) is a landmark visible across the West Bund.
Practical: Open Tue–Sun 11:00–19:00, free permanent collection (¥30–80 for special exhibitions). Metro: Xizang South Road (Line 4/8). Allow 90 minutes.
China Art Museum
China Art Museum (中华艺术宫), also known as Shanghai Art Palace, is housed inside the iconic red China Pavilion of Expo 2010 in Pudong. The 27 galleries — covering 64,000 m² — chronicle Chinese art from ancient roots through the Republican period to contemporary. The animated “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” — a 128m digital reconstruction of the famous Song-era scroll — is a crowd favourite.
Practical: Open Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, free admission. Metro: China Art Museum (Line 8). Allow 2 hours.
Long Museum (West Bund)
The Long Museum West Bund (龙美术馆) is Shanghai’s most architecturally striking contemporary art museum — a concrete-vaulted structure designed by Liu Yichun, on the Huangpu River’s west bank. It houses the private collection of Liu Yiqian and Wang Wei (China’s most prominent art collectors). The collection spans contemporary Chinese art, traditional Chinese painting, and the family’s growing Western contemporary works.
Practical: Open Tue–Sun 10:00–17:30, ¥60 admission. Metro: Yunjin Road (Line 11). Allow 2 hours.
Shanghai Natural History Museum
The Shanghai Natural History Museum (上海自然博物馆) is one of Asia’s most modern science museums — a spiral building rising over a central atrium, with hands-on exhibits across ecosystems, paleontology, biology, and human evolution. The complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton is the headline. Particularly good for families with kids 6+.
Practical: Open Tue–Sun 9:00–17:15 (last entry 15:30), ¥30 adult, free for children under 1.3m. Metro: Shanghai Natural History Museum (Line 13). Allow 2.5 hours.
Hidden Gem Museums
- Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre — basement of a French Concession apartment building; 5,000 original Cultural Revolution posters; ¥25. Time-warp atmosphere.
- Rockbund Art Museum — contemporary art in a 1932 Bund-adjacent building; ¥40; usually quiet.
- Aurora Museum — Tadao Ando-designed museum with Pudong views; Buddha sculptures and Chinese antiquities; ¥60.
- Shanghai Glass Museum — interactive design museum in a former glassworks; ¥30.
- Shanghai Postal Museum — restored 1924 main post office on Suzhou Creek; free entry to the upper-floor museum.
- Shanghai Film Museum — interactive history of Chinese cinema in Xuhui; ¥60.
- Shikumen Open House Museum — recreation of 1920s shikumen life in Xintiandi; ¥20.
Reservation Tips
Most Shanghai museums require free advance reservations via WeChat mini-programs:
- Reservations typically open 7 days in advance; book 3–5 days ahead for weekends
- You’ll need a WeChat account; passport-based foreign IDs are accepted on most reservations
- Reservation language is often Chinese-only; use translation app or hotel concierge
- For Shanghai Museum East and the China Art Museum specifically, book ASAP — popular slots fill fast
- Walk-ins sometimes possible mid-week, less so weekends
Recommended Day Routes
Classical Art Day
9am Shanghai Museum East → lunch in Pudong → 2pm Long Museum West Bund → late afternoon West Bund Riverside walk. Free + cheap.
Contemporary Art Day
10am Power Station of Art → lunch in Xuhui → 2pm Long Museum West Bund → 4pm Yuz Museum → West Bund sunset.
Family Day
9am Shanghai Natural History Museum → lunch at Jing’an Park → 2pm Shanghai Science Museum (separate trip) OR 2pm Shanghai Glass Museum.
Bund + Museum Day
9am Rockbund Art Museum → 11am Bund architecture walk → 1pm lunch on the Bund → 3pm Shanghai History Museum at People’s Square.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best museums in Shanghai?
Shanghai Museum East (classical Chinese art), Power Station of Art (contemporary), China Art Museum (Chinese art history), and Shanghai Natural History Museum (family/science) are the top four.
Are Shanghai museums free?
Most are — Shanghai Museum East, China Art Museum, Power Station of Art permanent collection, Shanghai History Museum. A few charge modest fees: Long Museum (¥60), Natural History Museum (¥30), and special exhibitions.
Do I need to book Shanghai museums in advance?
Yes — most free major museums require advance WeChat reservations 1–7 days ahead. Long Museum and Yuz are walk-in.
Is Shanghai Museum or Shanghai Museum East better?
Shanghai Museum East is the new flagship (opened 2023–2024) and is now the primary museum to visit. The original People’s Square building has limited galleries during renovation.
How long should I spend at the Shanghai Museum East?
3 hours minimum; serious enthusiasts can spend 5–6 hours across the 22 permanent galleries.
Are museums in Shanghai open on Mondays?
Most close on Mondays. Always check the museum’s official WeChat before visiting; some have Monday openings around public holidays.
Is the Power Station of Art worth visiting?
Yes — both for its dramatic architecture (a converted power station) and for some of the most ambitious contemporary art programming in Asia.
Can children enjoy Shanghai museums?
Shanghai Natural History Museum is purpose-built for families. The Glass Museum and Science Museum also work well. Shanghai Museum East has a children’s discovery hall.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
Combine with our pillar guides on things to do in Shanghai, Shanghai culture & history, and our free attractions guide. For background, see the Shanghai Museum on Wikipedia.