Shanghai Museum Tour: See China Through Art & History

DURATION 2 hours

GROUP SIZE Public Tour, Up to 10 people

LOCATION Shanghai

Overview

The Shanghai Museum is a world-renowned museum of ancient Chinese art, with more than 1.02 million items across over 33 categories. At the East Hall, explore the development of Chinese art through bronzes, sculpture, calligraphy, painting, ceramics, and jade. With a guide, you will go beyond the objects to understand the history, ideas, and cultural traditions behind them.

Highlights

1. See some of China's finest bronzes, ceramics, jade, and paintings
2. Discover how Chinese art changed across different dynasties
3. Learn what dragons, jade, and other symbols mean in Chinese culture
4. Understand Chinese calligraphy and painting from a cross-cultural perspective
5. Explore the galleries through stories, questions, and conversation

What you'll do

Part I: Bronze Gallery — Ancient Rituals & Symbols

Start with the Bronze Gallery and discover some of the finest examples of ancient Chinese bronzes. Your guide will explain how these vessels were used in rituals and what the mysterious patterns and inscriptions can tell us about ancient Chinese society.

Part II: Ceramics Gallery — From Everyday Objects to Art

Continue to the Ceramics Gallery and follow the development of Chinese ceramics across different periods. See how changing techniques, shapes, and decorations reflect both everyday life and changing ideas of beauty.

Part III: Rooftop Garden — A Different View of the Museum

Take a break from the galleries and step into the museum's rooftop garden. Surrounded by the architecture of the East Hall, this is a chance to experience a quieter side of the museum and take in the views of Shanghai.

Part IV: Jade Gallery — Beauty, Beliefs & Status

End the tour with jade, one of the most distinctive materials in Chinese culture. Discover why jade has been treasured for thousands of years and how it became connected with ideas of beauty, virtue, status, and tradition.

What's included

Included

2 hours of guided tour with an English-speaking guide
Museum admission
Personalized cultural interpretation throughout the tour

Not included

Transportation to and from the museum
Food, drinks, and other personal expenses
Tickets for special exhibitions, if applicable
Any services or expenses not specifically listed above

Meeting point

Bronze Gallery, 1st Floor, Shanghai Museum East Hall, 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai

Important information

Please Note:

The tour is available during the museum's opening hours. The museum is normally closed on Tuesdays.
Museum admission is free for regular visits, while special exhibitions may require separate tickets.
Please arrive at the meeting point on time. The tour duration includes the time spent meeting the guide and visiting the museum.