Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center — Attraction in Shanghai

This 5 floor building allows you to see Shanghai's development from the very beginning. It's very interesting as there are comparison photos of Shanghai over the years, gigantic models of the city, model buildings, including different forms of information such as text, documentaries, videos, pictures etc.

It'll be able to satisfy most people's interests, as there are exhibitions on a range of aspects such as the environment, economy, architecture, culture, the future, other cities, development, the good and bad etc. Also has interactive elements including games which will be good for kids.

The latest photos in the museum are from 2018, so definitely not out of date as some people worry about.

95% of the information in the museum is in English, with just 1-2 small exhibitions that have just English captions and no descriptions. You can spend a couple of hours here if you want to go to each individual room. There is alot of information.

Cost: 30 RMB per person

How to get there: People's Square Subway (line 1, 2, 8), take exit 3, turn left and it's right in front of you. The ticket office is on the left of the front door.

Other: There are bathrooms, with souvenir shops, and also a cafe on the top floor with a nice view across the adjacent road. Don't take huge bottles of water or other drinks with you, as you have to go through a security check before...

One of my favorite museums! I really enjoyed that once you get to exit 2 of People's Square, you start learning already! The exit is right under the museum and the museum itself was only about $5 USD for an adult. There is reduced admission for children, the elderly, and military personnel. I was here for about 3 hours by myself. I was there on a Sunday morning and it wasn't crowded, which is always awesome. The exhibits were enjoyable and I learned a lot. There were some exhibits that required a QR code, but the kiosks I went to to procure a QR code didn't dispense any. Some exhibits required a lot of reading. Of course, the highlight for most is the model of the city on the third floor. Almost everything was posted in English and Chinese. There were no temporary exhibits when I was there in August 2019. The cafe on the fifth floor leaves a lot to be desired, so I recommend bringing food if you plan on eating there; there is seating available. Highly...

The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is a fascinating spot to learn about the city’s incredible growth and future plans. When I visited recently, it was quiet and very well-organized, making it easy to explore at my own pace. Entry was free—just head to the ticket booth with your passport to grab a ticket.

The highlight for me was the detailed scale models of Shanghai’s buildings and neighborhoods—they’re absolutely stunning and give you a real sense of the city’s development. It’s also a great place to pick up ideas for other places to visit in Shanghai. My only suggestion would be to include more English translations, but it’s still easy to enjoy even if you don’t read Chinese.

Perfect for architecture enthusiasts, urban planners, or anyone curious about Shanghai’s evolution. I’d recommend visiting early in your trip—it’s a great way to plan your itinerary and understand the...