The three museums on People's Square
Choose among the three People’s Square museums by subject and access, not proximity. Ancient art, Shanghai history and urban planning are different visits, and booking or temporary displays may remove one option before you arrive.
The short answer
Planning Exhibition Center first (booked ahead), then the History Museum next door on foot — both free; leave the Shanghai Museum out unless you already hold an Americas-show ticket.
the History Museum is the only one of the three you can simply walk into; the Planning Center is booked to capacity and the Shanghai Museum sells out.
it is not on the square at all until November 2027 — take Line 2 to the East Building in Pudong (free, passport walk-in, closed Tuesdays).
avoid Monday (Shanghai Museum and History Museum closed) and Wednesday (Planning Center closed); Thursday to Sunday all three are open.
Side by sideEach cell ends with the date of the notice it was checked against
Swipe sideways; the first column stays put
Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
上博人民广场馆Open the place →- What you see
- Only 'Top of the World Tree', ancient American civilisations, until 14 Nov 2027 — the Chinese collection is at the East Building in Pudong · 2026-07
- Price
- Full ¥148; dated-day ¥135 (weekdays only); concession ¥74 · 2026-07-30
- Getting in
- Real-name timed ticket; overseas visitors buy on Trip.com; the on-site ticket office sells until capacity is reached, with no walk-up guarantee; passport needed · 2026-05-08
- Hours
- 9:00-17:00 (entry to 15:00); some evenings to 21:00, announced monthly · 2026-07-30
- Closed
- Mondays (open on public holidays) · 2026-05-08
- English
- Not stated for this exhibition; the ticketing page addresses overseas visitors in English via Trip.com · 2026-09-11
- Metro exit
- Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exit 1, or Line 14 Dashijie Exit 4; Wusheng Road south gate · 2026-09-11
Shanghai History Museum
上海市历史博物馆Open the place →- What you see
- The 1933-34 Race Club building itself — clock tower, members' staircases, grandstand — then ancient Shanghai (2F) to 1949 (3F-4F); fifth-floor rooftop garden over the square · 2026-01-26
- Price
- Free (permanent galleries; special shows priced per show) · 2026-01-26
- Getting in
- Walk in, no booking for individuals (since 17 May 2023); entry may pause at peak capacity · 2026-01-26
- Hours
- 9:00-17:00, last entry 16:00 · 2026-01-26
- Closed
- Mondays (open on public holidays) · 2026-01-26
- English
- Not confirmed: handheld audio guides and a scan-the-code WeChat guide are listed without naming languages; English labels unknown · 2026-09-11
- Metro exit
- Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exit 11, about 150 m · 2026-01-26
Urban Planning Exhibition Center
上海城市规划展示馆Open the place →- What you see
- Four floors from the walled town to the 2035 plan, with a 5D digital model of the whole city as the centrepiece (rebuilt 2020-22) · 2026-09-11
- Price
- Free; ticket required · 2026-09-11
- Getting in
- Real-name timed booking through the hall's WeChat official account, up to 7 days ahead; a passport is accepted as the booking ID; without a booking you will not get in; enquiries 86-21-63184477 ext. 226 · 2026-09-11
- Hours
- Thu-Tue 9:00-17:00, last entry 16:00 · 2026-09-11
- Closed
- Wednesdays (open on public holidays) — the odd one out on the square · 2026-09-11
- English
- English audio guide for rent, ¥20 (deposit ¥100 or an ID); no public English tour timetable · 2026-09-11
- Metro exit
- Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exits 2 or 3 · 2026-09-11
| Compare | Shanghai Museum (People's Square) | Shanghai History Museum | Urban Planning Exhibition Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you see | Only 'Top of the World Tree', ancient American civilisations, until 14 Nov 2027 — the Chinese collection is at the East Building in Pudong · 2026-07 | The 1933-34 Race Club building itself — clock tower, members' staircases, grandstand — then ancient Shanghai (2F) to 1949 (3F-4F); fifth-floor rooftop garden over the square · 2026-01-26 | Four floors from the walled town to the 2035 plan, with a 5D digital model of the whole city as the centrepiece (rebuilt 2020-22) · 2026-09-11 |
| Price | Full ¥148; dated-day ¥135 (weekdays only); concession ¥74 · 2026-07-30 | Free (permanent galleries; special shows priced per show) · 2026-01-26 | Free; ticket required · 2026-09-11 |
| Getting in | Real-name timed ticket; overseas visitors buy on Trip.com; the on-site ticket office sells until capacity is reached, with no walk-up guarantee; passport needed · 2026-05-08 | Walk in, no booking for individuals (since 17 May 2023); entry may pause at peak capacity · 2026-01-26 | Real-name timed booking through the hall's WeChat official account, up to 7 days ahead; a passport is accepted as the booking ID; without a booking you will not get in; enquiries 86-21-63184477 ext. 226 · 2026-09-11 |
| Hours | 9:00-17:00 (entry to 15:00); some evenings to 21:00, announced monthly · 2026-07-30 | 9:00-17:00, last entry 16:00 · 2026-01-26 | Thu-Tue 9:00-17:00, last entry 16:00 · 2026-09-11 |
| Closed | Mondays (open on public holidays) · 2026-05-08 | Mondays (open on public holidays) · 2026-01-26 | Wednesdays (open on public holidays) — the odd one out on the square · 2026-09-11 |
| English | Not stated for this exhibition; the ticketing page addresses overseas visitors in English via Trip.com · 2026-09-11 | Not confirmed: handheld audio guides and a scan-the-code WeChat guide are listed without naming languages; English labels unknown · 2026-09-11 | English audio guide for rent, ¥20 (deposit ¥100 or an ID); no public English tour timetable · 2026-09-11 |
| Metro exit | Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exit 1, or Line 14 Dashijie Exit 4; Wusheng Road south gate · 2026-09-11 | Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exit 11, about 150 m · 2026-01-26 | Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exits 2 or 3 · 2026-09-11 |
MoCA Shanghai：Closed for relocation, no reopening date published. nobody right now: the glass conservatory in People's Park closed after its last show ended on 15 February 2025, and whether the small MoCA Pavilion by Gate 7 still runs is not stated officially — do not detour for it. For contemporary art near the square, the Rockbund Art Museum and the Museum of Art Pudong are open.
One by one
Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
上博人民广场馆A ticketed blockbuster, not the museum you read about. For people who specifically want the Americas show and have booked a dated ticket; everyone else takes Line 2 to the East Building.
Open the place →Shanghai History Museum
上海市历史博物馆The building beats the exhibits — give it an hour, not a morning. For anyone passing the square with an hour: free, no booking, and the story of why the square exists at all (it was the racecourse until 1951).
Open the place →Urban Planning Exhibition Center
上海城市规划展示馆The best first stop if you want to understand what you will be looking at for the rest of the trip. For first-timers who can book 7 days ahead through WeChat (the notice lists passports); the city's own story about itself, not a critical history.
Open the place →