Brief information on Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum was first founded and opened to the public in the building of a former horse racing club at No. 325, West Nanjing Road in 1952, then the previous Zhonghui Building at No.16, South Henan Road in 1959, and finally the southern part of People’s Square in 1996.  

The whole construction of the present museum took three years to be completed, from August 1993 to its inauguration on October 12th, 1996. It is 29.5 meters high and has a construction area of 39,200m². It is round on the top and square at the base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese philosophy that the sky is round and the earth is square. Shanghai Museum is an outstanding architectural combination of traditional features and modern spirit.  

As a museum of ancient Chinese culture, Shanghai Museum possesses a collection of 120,000 pieces which accounts for almost half of China’s total collection. With eleven galleries and three special temporary exhibition halls, it is highly acclaimed internationally.  

Shanghai Museum is arranged by theme but not by dynasty, and different floors have different exhibits. On the first floor, visitors can see the Gallery of Chinese Ancient Bronze and Gallery of Chinese Ancient Sculpture; the second floor, Gallery of Chinese Ancient Ceramics; the third floor, Gallery of Chinese Paintings, Gallery of Chinese Calligraphy, and Gallery of Chinese Seal; the fourth floor, Gallery of Chinese Ancient Jade, Gallery of Chinese Coins, Chinese Ming and Qing Furniture Gallery, Chinese Minority Nationalities’ Art Gallery.  

There is also a large gift shop on the ground floor selling museum reproductions, books, postcards, and other items. There are also other small shops scattered throughout the museum.