Attraction
The Bund
Shanghai's colonial-era waterfront, a 1.6-kilometre line of 52 banks, hotels and trading houses facing the Lujiazui skyline across the Huangpu River.
Shanghai Museum East
The Shanghai Museum's newer branch on Century Avenue in Pudong, with 20 galleries of bronzes, ceramics, jade, painting and the culture of Shanghai and Jiangnan.
At a glance
- Type
- Museum of Chinese art and history
- Area
- Pudong, Shanghai, China
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesday) · 10:00–18:00
Good to know
- Passport required
- No booking for individuals
- English audio guide
- Paid English guided tours
Why we recommend it
Shanghai Museum East is the newer Pudong branch of the Shanghai Museum, set on Century Avenue a few stops east of Lujiazui. It allows the museum to show far more of its collection than the People's Square building can hold, and it adds galleries on the history and culture of Shanghai itself and the wider Jiangnan region south of the Yangtze.
The building has nearly 120,000 square metres of floor space and around 20 galleries and interactive spaces, 13 of them permanent. Core collections cover bronzes, ceramics, jade, calligraphy, painting, seals and coins, so even if you have visited the original museum there is plenty that is new. Sections on Shanghai culture and Jiangnan traditions give useful background for the rest of a trip, especially before a visit to a water town such as Zhujiajiao. Special exhibitions rotate through the year and sometimes bring in material from other Chinese provinces.
Individual visitors do not need to book. Bring a passport or other valid ID and use the B1 East Gate, near Dingxiang Road. The museum opens from 10am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm, and it is closed on Tuesdays except public holidays. That timetable is useful to know, as it differs from the People's Square site, which closes on Mondays. An English audio guide covers the permanent galleries, and paid English-language guided tours of the bronze and ceramics galleries can be booked at the tour desk inside.
Its size makes it a good option on a hot or rainy day. Allow two to three hours. It suits visitors staying in Pudong, or anyone who wants a quieter museum day away from People's Square.
The 13 permanent galleries cover bronze, sculpture, jade, seals, calligraphy, painting, Shanghai painting and calligraphy, ceramics, numismatics, archaeology and Jiangnan culture, along with a gallery dedicated to calligraphy by Zhao Puchu. The bronze gallery opened first, on 2 February 2024, and the museum opened fully on 3 December 2024.
Three metro lines serve the museum. Use Exit 8 of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station on Line 2, Exit 2 of Xiangcheng Road station on Line 4, or Exit 1 of Pudian Road station on Line 6. The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum is close by, and Lujiazui is a short ride back along Line 2.
Shanghai Museum East FAQs
Do you need to book?
No. Individual visitors can walk in with valid ID such as a passport.
Which galleries are there?
Thirteen permanent galleries, including bronze, jade, ceramics, painting, calligraphy, archaeology and Jiangnan culture.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 6pm, last entry 5pm, closed on Tuesdays except public holidays.
Which entrance should you use?
The B1 East Gate, near Dingxiang Road.
Is there an English audio guide?
Yes, for the permanent galleries, and paid English guided tours of the bronze and ceramics galleries can be booked inside.
How do you get there by metro?
Line 2 to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (Exit 8), Line 4 to Xiangcheng Road (Exit 2) or Line 6 to Pudian Road (Exit 1).
How is it different from the People's Square museum?
It shows more of the collection across about 20 galleries and adds sections on Shanghai and Jiangnan culture.
How long should you allow?
Two to three hours.