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The Shanghai Museum on People's Square, shaped like an ancient bronze vessel

No. 26 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 2,434,492 visitors in 2025

Shanghai Museum on People’s Square

Shanghai, China · City guide: Shanghai

The Shanghai Museum's landmark home on People's Square, with free entry to its galleries of ancient Chinese art.

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Photo: Gary Todd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Shanghai Museum on People's Square is No. 26 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 2,434,492 visitors in 2025, up 4% on 2024 (a figure that covers more than one building). It is the original home of the Shanghai Museum, one of China's leading museums of ancient Chinese art.

The building, opened in 1996, has a round top on a square base, echoing an ancient bronze ding vessel and the traditional idea of a round heaven and a square earth. The museum's newer branch, Shanghai Museum East, opened in Pudong in 2024.

People's Square with the Shanghai Museum and the city skyline
People's Square with the Shanghai Museum and the city skyline. Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Check the official website for opening days, current galleries and exhibitions.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Ancient bronzes

    Ritual bronze vessels from China's early dynasties are among the museum's greatest treasures.

  • 2

    Ceramics

    Chinese pottery and porcelain from the Neolithic to the Qing dynasty.

  • 3

    Painting and calligraphy

    Classical Chinese painting and calligraphy, shown in rotation.

  • 4

    Exhibitions

    The museum hosts major international exhibitions; check what is on before you go.

Getting there

The museum is at 201 Renmin Avenue, on the south side of People's Square. People's Square station is served by Metro Lines 1, 2 and 8.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Entry to the permanent galleries is free, but you need to reserve a time slot in advance and bring your passport. Some exhibitions charge. Check the official website for hours.
Time needed
Two to three hours.
Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY). Most payments are made by phone with Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept foreign cards; set one up before you travel and carry some cash as a back-up.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and most EU countries, can currently visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under a policy that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens need a visa, or can use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme with an onward ticket to a third country. Rules change often, so check with a Chinese embassy before you travel.

Official information: Shanghai Museum (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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