Visiting museums is always an easy way to spend a precious day out with the family, and luckily Shanghai has plenty of great options! Whether you're a self-identified art lover, history geek or car enthusiast, here’s a list of 11 family-friendly museums to check out all year round.
Jewish Refugee Museum
Image via The Epoch Times
While not particularly large, the Jewish Refugee museum is packed full of interesting and comprehensive information on Jewish history in Shanghai. Located inside a historic synagogue, the museum tells the stories of the Jewish community who lived in Hongkou after fleeing the atrocities of World War Two. Featuring many personal stories, this museum offers a fascinating insight into the often unknown Jewish history in Shanghai.
See a listing here.
Long Museum West Bund
Image via ArchDaily
With some of the best modern and contemporary art exhibitions in Shanghai, the Long Museum West Bund's collection has some internationally well-known pieces as well as often temporary shows that mix the traditional with the modern. Pair your visit here with a stroll along the West Bund riverside when the sun is out.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Animation and Comics Museum
Image by Nuna Atadja/Urban Family
A fun museum to go to if someone in the family is a comic book lover, the Shanghai Animation and Comics Museum gives an in-depth history of comics and cartoons in China. The museum also features many short movies to show you how comics are developed and the process of marketing them worldwide. The large superhero figures suspending from the ceilings make for great photo opportunities, and there’s also children’s play area upstairs to keep the little ones entertained.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Auto Museum
Image via Atelier Brueckner
While it may be a little out of the way, the Shanghai Auto Museum is well worth a trip for car enthusiasts, as it documents the past 100 years of automobile history through an extensive collection of cars. The museum starts with the development of the wheel and moves forward with its collection of over 70 rare vehicles. The English descriptions are clear and full of useful information on the specific models making this an easy and fun activity for the family to enjoy.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Children's Museum
Image via Shanghai Children's Museum
Opened inside a recently renovated building, the Shanghai Children’s Museum will keep the most energetic of children entertained with its many interactive exhibits. The museum is all about different ways of traveling and includes a driving simulator and activities to imitate a space exploration. With lots to do and plenty to see, this is a fabulous activity for kids 3-10 years old.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Film Museum
Image via World Expo Museum
The Shanghai Film Museum offers a comprehensive look at film history with a focus on Chinese cinema through celebrities and directors, as well as a look at the technological side. Whether you’re a film buff or just curious, the museum has plenty to see and do with many interactive exhibits and English labels. Start off by walking the red carpet at the beginning of the museum, and end with a trial at dubbing cinema classics in the studio.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Museum
Image via Travel and Sport
Centrally located in People’s Square, the Shanghai Museum is a goliath of classical Chinese art and boasts approximately 14,000 pieces to view. While it is great to go when there is a visiting show, the permeant collection is impressive enough for you to spend a day here. With beautiful cabinets of jade, ceramics, bronze and other historical art pieces, the Shanghai Museum is always a great family destination as you are guaranteed to stumble upon something that you hadn’t paid attention to at before.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Museum of Glass
Image via ArchDaily
Situated in a former glass-making manufacturing complex in Baoshan, the beautiful and unique Shanghai Museum of Glass covers everything about the glass-making process. The building's architecture is very elaborate with tall ceilings and wide-open rooms, and plenty of glass of course! If you find the trip out to the museum inspiring, then you can also participate in a glass blowing class of your own, to try recreating the beautiful pieces that you see.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Natural History Museum
Image via ArchDaily
Located in the lovely Jing’An Sculpture Park, the Shanghai Natural History Museum will entertain the family for many hours. Full of taxidermy dinosaurs, arctic seals, polar bears and a touch tank, there is no shortage of exhibits to catch your eye here. The museum also includes two cafes and a gift shop.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Image via Explore Shanghai
A museum perfect for kids, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum has many diverse and exciting exhibits. It’s the only place in Shanghai where you can look at an exhibition about robots and then go into a room filled with mini waterfalls and beautiful flowers. And when you’re finished with the museum, you’re in the perfect location to go to the fake market and splurge on whatever items you’ve been looking for.
See a listing here.
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Image by Mandy Tie/Urban Family
For all the architecture lovers out there, this museum is a must-see! Located centrally in People’s Square, this behemoth of Shanghai history covers everything from the geological underbelly of the city to how the cities skyscrapers are built. With four floors of detailed city plans, the exhibition ends with a diorama of Shanghai which is, allegedly, the largest city model in the world. The Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is, without a doubt, an exciting place for anyone who is interested in how the city was created and what it will look like in the future.
See a listing here.
[Cover image by Mandy Tie/Urban Family]
If you’re craving a museum experience a little bit more niche, here are four more museums to check out!
Shanghai Camera History Museum, see listing here
Shanghai Martial Art Museum, see listing here
Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center, see listing here
Tushanwan Museum, see listing here
