Which Shanghai Museum?
Choose the Shanghai Museum building by the collection you want, because the People’s Square and Pudong sites are not interchangeable. Check the current exhibitions and access before following an old guide to the familiar address.
The short answer
go to the East Building in Pudong: free, passport walk-in, closed Tuesdays. The People's Square building has none of it until November 2027.
book a dated People's Square ticket the moment the month opens (1st at 12:00), pick a weekday morning, and enter by the Wusheng Road south gate.
plan around the closures: People's Square closes Mondays, the East Building closes Tuesdays; they are a Line 2 ride apart, not next door.
East Building, bronze and ceramic galleries only; skip the People's Square show, which is a full visit.
Side by sideEach cell ends with the date of the notice it was checked against
Swipe sideways; the first column stays put
People's Square building
人民广场馆Open the place →- What is on
- Only 'Top of the World Tree' (ancient American civilisations, 1,129 lots) until 14 Nov 2027; no Chinese art · 2026-07
- Price
- Full ¥148; dated-day ¥135 (weekdays only); concession ¥74; family ¥200 / ¥320 · 2026-07-30
- Getting in
- Real-name ticket, timed entry: WeChat mini-program or Ctrip in China, Trip.com for overseas visitors, on-site ticket office not guaranteed; passport needed; each month's tickets are released on the 1st at 12:00 · 2026-05-08
- Hours
- 9:00-17:00 (entry to 15:00); some days to 21:00 (entry to 19:00), announced monthly · 2026-07-30
- Closed
- Mondays (open on public holidays) · 2026-05-08
- Metro
- Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exit 1, or Line 14 Dashijie Exit 4; enter by the Wusheng Road south gate · 2026-09-11
East Building (Pudong)
东馆（浦东）Open the place →- What is on
- The permanent Chinese collection: bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jades; bronze and ceramic galleries are the must-sees if you only have two hours · 2026-09-10
- Price
- Free; some special exhibitions ticketed separately (also sold at the service desk) · 2026-09-10
- Getting in
- No reservation for general admission: scan your physical passport at the B1 East Gate (since 2024-09-15); the Exploration Palace and Digital Gallery need a separate booking · 2026-09-10
- Hours
- Daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:00 (opens an hour later than most people assume) · 2026-09-10
- Closed
- Tuesdays (open on public-holiday Tuesdays) · 2026-09-10
- Metro
- Line 2 Science & Technology Museum Exit 8 (about 10 min walk), Line 4 Xiangcheng Road Exit 2, or Line 6 Pudian Road Exit 1 · 2026-09-10
| Compare | People's Square building | East Building (Pudong) |
|---|---|---|
| What is on | Only 'Top of the World Tree' (ancient American civilisations, 1,129 lots) until 14 Nov 2027; no Chinese art · 2026-07 | The permanent Chinese collection: bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jades; bronze and ceramic galleries are the must-sees if you only have two hours · 2026-09-10 |
| Price | Full ¥148; dated-day ¥135 (weekdays only); concession ¥74; family ¥200 / ¥320 · 2026-07-30 | Free; some special exhibitions ticketed separately (also sold at the service desk) · 2026-09-10 |
| Getting in | Real-name ticket, timed entry: WeChat mini-program or Ctrip in China, Trip.com for overseas visitors, on-site ticket office not guaranteed; passport needed; each month's tickets are released on the 1st at 12:00 · 2026-05-08 | No reservation for general admission: scan your physical passport at the B1 East Gate (since 2024-09-15); the Exploration Palace and Digital Gallery need a separate booking · 2026-09-10 |
| Hours | 9:00-17:00 (entry to 15:00); some days to 21:00 (entry to 19:00), announced monthly · 2026-07-30 | Daily 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:00 (opens an hour later than most people assume) · 2026-09-10 |
| Closed | Mondays (open on public holidays) · 2026-05-08 | Tuesdays (open on public-holiday Tuesdays) · 2026-09-10 |
| Metro | Lines 1/2/8 People's Square Exit 1, or Line 14 Dashijie Exit 4; enter by the Wusheng Road south gate · 2026-09-11 | Line 2 Science & Technology Museum Exit 8 (about 10 min walk), Line 4 Xiangcheng Road Exit 2, or Line 6 Pudian Road Exit 1 · 2026-09-10 |
One by one
People's Square building
人民广场馆Come for the Americas show or not at all. For anyone who wants the blockbuster and can book a dated ticket ahead; families should look at the ¥200 / ¥320 family ticket rather than the adult-priced VR combos.
Open the place →East Building (Pudong)
东馆（浦东）This is the Shanghai Museum most people mean — and it is free. For anyone who came for Chinese art; give it a half-day, arrive for the 10:00 opening, and pair it with Century Park or the Science and Technology Museum.
Open the place →