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History Museums in Shanghai

THE 10 BEST Shanghai History Museums

History Museums in Shanghai

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What travelers are saying

  • Ailton007
    Seattle, WA910 contributions
    Cool little gem of a museum
    Didi navigation knows the place but it's a non-descriptive office building and the museum is located on 7th floor. Posters / pictures with Chinese and English context are provided and super interesting to see how these supported the various themes throughout China's 20th century history! Takes 30 min but worth visiting. I walked from Jing An temple here in 15 min.
    Review of: Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre
    Written February 26, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • venkatrao t
    Washington DC, DC22 contributions
    City Development
    Best Shanghai development center by the city, Shanghai History, growth over the years, infrastructure plans, and water and sewer processing and reclamation. Air quality and controls.
    Review of: Shanghai Development Exhibition Hall
    Written February 16, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Narsfweasels
    Shanghai, China164 contributions
    Good history, but too much Party.
    A great free museum in the centre of the city, if you're a history afficionado you can expect to learn a great deal about the long history of the city.

    However, the needless lionisation and politicisation of the top half of the fourth floor in a dedicated sop to the Party is a needless and boring distraction from the real history of one of Asia's greatest cities.
    Review of: Shanghai History Museum
    Written June 29, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • JillShanghai
    Shanghai, China1 contribution
    Nice visit
    A nice museum about the history of Shanghai. Not many old things to see there, but different scenes of Old Shanghai. Still a nice visit with kids :)
    Review of: Shanghai City History Development Museum
    Written March 22, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Tomeloulin
    Qianjiang, China148 contributions
    This is a private apartment, but also a famous apartment too
    Like the title said, this is a private apartment, but also a famous apartment too.
    The private is, this apartment was builted in 1930s, and always kept it original appearance like what it used to be - a private apartment.
    The famous is, a Chinese writer Eileen Chang Reyher ever lived there.
    I came in there was just for a memorial things, for a writer- Eileen Chang Reyher.
    I feel glad- because the apartment is still here. I hope the old Shanghai's history can be keep and going on.
    Review of: Zhang'ailing Former Home Changde Apartment
    Written October 2, 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jo-Ann
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia15,994 contributions
    Interesting & Huge Park!
    It is a unique park. The highlight of this park would be the culture museum which is about 6 meters under the lake! It was super crowded but still manage to enjoy the park. There are a lot of empty buildings too which is a waste. I hope they’ll turn them into cafes or hotels.
    Review of: Guangfulin Ancient Relics Park
    Written October 8, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ererap
    Seattle, WA32 contributions
    A unique and very interesting museum
    No.55-1 Puhuitang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
    Getting there: Subway Line # 11, station Shanghai Indoor Stadium / Xujiahui
    Tushanwan / Tousewe museum (I am not sure which is the definite spelling) was an orphanage established in 1864 by Jesuits. They trained the orphans there western art, including painting, sculpturing, print, and press. According to the museum’s info, this became the “cradle of western artists in China”; it educated “generations of well-known artists in China”; it is the “source of modern art in China as well as of its arts and crafts, pioneering many breakthroughs in the history of Chinese crafts”. It also states that while printing was one of the great inventions of China in 1867, Tousewe Press introduced new press technologies throughout its existence and was the pioneer of modern printing in China and was one of the most important publication outlets in China.
    Introducing and training the Chinese in western art, the Jesuits also incorporated some Chinese art and the combination of Chinese-Western art is the focus of the current Tushanwan / Tousewe museum.
    The museum is located in a lovely building and we found the exhibition to be very interesting.
    Review of: Shanghai Tou-Se-We Museum
    Written April 14, 2014
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Becky Nao K
    Berlin, Germany159 contributions
    Well displayed and friendly staff: a rare find in China
    We had a guided tour by a docent who knew the history and techniques related to the items on display. She also spoke excellent English. The museum is on an international level. The collection has choice pieces.
    Review of: Shanghai Guanfu Museum
    Written January 20, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • sureshbabu2017
    Shanghai, China97 contributions
    Ancient Chinese Civil Engineering on Water Conservancy
    The excavation is about a Water Gate built during the Yuan period, an example of ancient chinese civil engineering for water conservation project. As the foreword at the entrance mentions this excavation was one of the top ten new archaeological discoveries in China during the year 2006. Take Metro Line 7 and get down at Xincun station to reach this museum. The admission is free. Inside, the functioning of the water gate is well explained by models. The light animation projection displays the construction techniques used for building the water gate.
    Review of: Yuan Dynasty Water Gate Museum
    Written March 16, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Andrew M
    7,174 contributions
    Great exhibits
    We tried to visit this museum a few years ago, and were disappointed when it was closed due to improvements for the 70th anniversary of the end of WW2 .We took the subway Line 3 (Yellow Line) to Youyi Road, and then took a taxi to the museum. The museum is difficult to find, so it may be best to take a taxi from the subway station.There were a few exhibits in the park outside the museum, including peace doves, peace bell, memorial park and a few sculptures. It may be best to visit the external displays firstly before going into the museum.

    The museum has free entry, but tickets are required from the ticket office. Remember to take passports as identification will be requested. There are quite a few halls dedicated to varying themes, but the central theme is the battle of Shanghai. The Baoshan area saw the heaviest fighting, and we had visited the nearby martyrs memorial on our previous visit.This was the first real stand by the Chinese against the Japanese, and it resulted in an estimated 300,000 casualties for the Chinese and an estimated 40,000 for the Japanese. This statistic shows the great loss of life on the Chinese side, which was a feature of the war against Japan. The Japanese marched onto Nanjing after the Shanghai Battle.

    The museum also has exhibits on the atrocities carried out by the Japanese, including mass graves, massacres, biological weapons and the use of Chinese women for comfort. The themes in the museum are repeated throughout other military museums in China.The exhibits were well presented, but there was not as much english translation as was expected.We were disappointed at not being able to use the elevator in the Pagoda, as in the old museum the view of the battlefield areas from the tower was one of the main parts of the tour. I hope that the Pagoda section will be reopened soon.
    Review of: Song Hu Campaign Memorial Hall
    Written August 19, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • generaltripreviews
    Vancouver, Canada29 contributions
    Site commemorating the CCP leadership's attempt to remain a workers party free from GMD control
    The Central Committee of the CCP met in this workers district of Shanghai after the 3rd Congress had moved the headquarters to Guangzhou to be closer to the Guomindang. Soviet foreign policy, becoming more conservative under the growing influence of Stalin, sought to build up the GMD at the expense of the CCP's independent leadership of the working class. The fourth congress was in fact held in Shanghai and the CCP gained leadership of the working class movement by 1925, but did not free itself from the control of the GMD, who massacred the CCP and its working class supporters in 1927. The Zhabei Revolutionary History Exhibition Hall shows some of the resistance to the suicidal path imposed upon the CCP. Each exhibit was also hosted by a high school student who gave a presentation of the history.
    Review of: Zhabei Revolution History Museum
    Written July 17, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Robert R
    Chiang Mai, Thailand363 contributions
    Great night-time photo op
    This attraction has countless shops and restaurants located in an area with iconic architecture. At night, the buildings are outlined with light and provide scenes for breath-taking night photography.

    One of the specialties of the area is crab and pork dumplings which are quite tasty. Those with mobility issues will want to know most of the streets and walkways are at ground level although a few shops are less accessible.
    Review of: Yuyangli
    Written April 15, 2015
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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