Shanghai History Museum　上海城市历史发展陈列馆

Shanghai History Museum, located on the ground floor of Oriental TV & Radio Tower with a floor space of 15,000 m², is an integration of culture, history, appreciation, tourism, and recreation. It demonstrates the growth of Shanghai from over 6,000 years ago to 1843, when Shanghai was forced to expose herself to the outside world, and to the present when she has transformed into a world famous metropolis. The exhibition not only uses a large number of pictures, materials, and historical relics but also employs first-class multimedia measures. It consists of an introductory hall and six exhibition halls. Shanghai History Museum is like a history book, truthfully reflecting the urban development of Shanghai.

The Introductory Hall: The Origin of Shanghai. With the help of hi-tech video techniques, the hall shows the scenes of the bygone Shanghai people's life and work. The five-minute movie brings us back to the remote past.

Hall Ⅰ: The Growth of Shanghai. Over 700 years ago, i.e. the 28th year (1291) of the Zhiyuan Period of the Yuan Dynasty, the county administration was established in Shanghai, thus beginning the history of Shanghai.

Exhibited in this hall are mostly the commercial activities and folk life in the old town of Shanghai in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Stepping into the Old Street of Shanghai, there are a variety of shops such as salted-meat shop, wine shop, bean-curd shop, blacksmith's shop, Chinese medicine pharmacy, candle shop, etc. The lifelike wax figures and the vivid sound of fluffing cotton bring people back to the old times.

Hall Ⅱ: The Glimpse of Opening-up. In 1840, the British colonists launched the First Opium War. In August 1842, the British army besieged and attacked Nanjing; consequently, the Qing Government was compelled to sign the Nanjing Treaty with the British colonists, and one of the articles stipulated that Shanghai should be an open port. On November 17, 1843, Shanghai was officially open to the outside world. From that day on, China embarked on the road to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society.

Hall Ⅲ: Ten-li Foreign Paradise. Disclosed in this hall is mainly the advent of modern Shanghai, which became the largest metropolis in the Far East. Meanwhile, the two sides of modern Shanghai are reflected, i. e. the prosperous and the abnormal. Moreover, we can also see the Huangpu River, the Shiliupu Dock, the former Customs House, the Great World, Wang Kai Studio, St. Sanyi Church, and the Tianchan Theater.

Hall Ⅳ: Old Shanghai. After Shanghai was compelled to open up to the outside world, modern western culture infiltrated into the city, conflicted and merged with the eastern culture, thus forming the unique Shanghai culture. Here we could find the imposing Hardoon Garden, Dahua Hotel, the Zhang's Garden, Shenjiang Landscaping Garden, and Laurel Blossom Garden, and witness the dilapidated huts of the abjectly poor people.

Hall Ⅴ: Architectural Exposition. Placed in this hall are many life size models and multimedia touch screens. Tourists can derive all kinds of information and inquire about all the renowned buildings and former residences of famous people in old Shanghai.

Hall Ⅵ: Development of Vehicles. In the hall, the precious pictures record the history of Shanghai traffic, and the old vehicles that have experienced vicissitudes of time narrate the transformation and civilization of Shanghai. Therefore, it is said, "Shanghai was born with the turning of wheels."

A visit to Shanghai History Museum is comparable to reading a history book of Shanghai.

Address: No.1, Century Avenue, Lujiazhui, Pudong

Tel.: 021-58791888

Open Hours: 8:00 - 17:00