Summer Exhibition Heaven, A Wave of Great Museum Exhibitions Are Gathering→

Summer in Shanghai begins with a cool and enriching museum journey. Multiple major exhibitions, including “Reviving China: The Path to Unification - Special Exhibition of Qin Dynasty Artifacts and Archaeology,” “At the Top of the World Tree: Grand Exhibition of Ancient American Civilizations,” and “Imperial Elegance - Exhibition of Imperial Costumes from the Palace Museum,” are set to launch one after another. From millennia-old bronzes to the mysteries of the Americas, escape into art spaces and unlock a grand cultural feast this midsummer. The “Shanghai Pass: Citywide Museum Combo Ticket” is also available in limited quantities—with one ticket, you can access all the major exhibitions mentioned.

New Exhibition Recommendation

Atop the World Tree

Ancient Civilizations of the Americas Exhibition

Shanghai Museum, People’s Square

This exhibition is another major blockbuster from the Shanghai Museum focusing on global ancient civilizations, following “The Peak of the Pyramids: The Great Ancient Egyptian Civilization Exhibition.” It brings together 1,129 groups, nearly 3,000 exquisite artifacts, aiming to present a panoramic view of the ancient civilizations of Central and South America, creating the largest, highest-level, most comprehensive, and most innovative exhibition of ancient American civilizations in global history.

Exhibition Period: July 9, 2026 – November 14, 2027

Address: No. 201 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District

Ticket Price: 148 yuan

museum

The Rise of China

Special Archaeological Exhibition on the Road to Unification under the Qin Dynasty

Shanghai Museum East Branch

This exhibition brings together the latest Qin culture archaeological findings from Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, showcasing over 200 sets of Qin cultural relics to systematically present the grand journey of Qin from a Western Zhou vassal to the establishment of a unified empire, highlighting its significant role and status in the diverse yet integrated development of Chinese civilization.

Duration: June 10 - September 7

Address: 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area

Admission: Free

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National Collection

Imperial Costume Exhibition from the Palace Museum

Shanghai World Expo Museum

The exhibition features 103 precious pieces/sets from the Palace Museum, including categories such as garments, fabrics, jewelry, boots and socks, covering first-class, second-class, and third-class cultural relics, fully showcasing the colors and patterns of Qing Dynasty court textiles and embroidery.

Duration: July 7 - October 7

Location: No. 818, Mengzi Road, Huangpu District

Ticket Price: 88 RMB

Endless Universe

Exhibition of Works Blending Science and Art

Shanghai Astronomy Museum (Branch of Shanghai Science & Technology Museum)

This exhibition leverages the unique astronomical context of the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, featuring selected award-winning works from past “Tsung-Dao Lee Science and Art Competition.” With “cosmic scale” as its narrative thread, it offers the public a visual feast that captures the beauty of science.

Duration: May 23 – August 31

Location: 380 Lingang Avenue, Pudong New Area

Ticket: Admission requires a museum entry ticket, 30 yuan for adults.

Free Grand Exhibition

Treasures of Radiant Splendor

Special Exhibition of Qianlong Period Artifacts from the Palace Museum Collection

Fengxian District MuseumThe exhibition features 121 pieces (sets) of artifacts closely related to Emperor Qianlong from the Palace Museum collection, showcasing the grand atmosphere of the Qianlong era through exquisite items such as costumes, seals, furniture, porcelain, jade, and musical instruments.

Duration: From now until November 18

Address: No. 333, Lakeside Road, Fengxian District

Ticket Price: Free

Stars Shine over the East

Qingpu Archaeology and the Exploration of Yangtze River Delta Civilization Origins

Qingpu District MuseumThe exhibition centers on archaeological findings from two major sites—Songze and Fuquanshan in Qingpu—and connects discoveries of key prehistoric sites across the Yangtze River Delta. Through tangible artifacts, it explores the deep historical and cultural roots behind the contemporary national strategy of “Yangtze River Delta Integration.”

Duration: From now until September 13

Address: 1000 Huaqing South Road, Qingpu District

Admission: Free

Wooden Structures: Bridging Tradition and Future

Shanghai World Skills MuseumCentered around physical artifacts and connected by craftsmanship, the exhibition weaves together seven thousand years of wooden structural civilization, allowing visitors to experience the timeless vitality of wood architecture across eras through the interlocking of mortise and tenon joints empowered by technology.

Duration: From now until June 14

Address: No. 1578 Yangshupu Road, Yangpu District

Admission: Free

MuseumPaid Mega Exhibition****Moistened Paper

A Restorative Dialogue Between Paper and Water

China Maritime Museum, ShanghaiThe exhibition takes the interplay between “paper” and “water”—their mutual dependence and conflict—as its main thread, systematically presenting the entire process of paper artifacts from damage to restoration through three dimensions: the origins of conservation, principles and practices, and what goes beyond restoration.

Duration: From now until June 15

Location: No. 197, Shengang Avenue, Pudong New Area

Ticket Info: Visitors need to purchase a museum entry ticket; adult ticket is 30 RMB.

“Only the Tree Knows”

Nature • Art Exhibition

**Shanghai Natural History Museum (Branch of Shanghai Science & Technology Museum)**The exhibition brings together 18 works by 11 renowned domestic and international artists, using contemporary art as a gateway to merge natural science with humanistic thought, sparking an international dialogue on trees, forests, and the symbiosis of life.

Exhibition period: From now until August 31

Address: 510 West Beijing Road, Jing’an District

Ticket price: Admission requires a museum entry ticket; adult ticket is 30 yuan.

From Zero to Infinity

The Birth of Science Museum Exhibits

Shanghai Science and Technology MuseumFor the first time, the exhibition turns its lens to the stories behind the exhibits, taking visitors into the minds of curators, the workstations of designers, and the testing grounds of engineers. It kicks off a journey to decode the creation of exhibits, starting from scratch and seeing the infinite.

Exhibition Period: From now to August 30

Address: 2000 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area

Ticket Price: Entry requires purchasing a museum ticket; adult ticket 45 RMB.Huge Perks****Shanghai Pass

Shanghai All-City Museum & Cultural Venues Combo TicketRecently, at the 2026 “International Museum Day” Shanghai main venue event and the launch ceremony of the Shanghai Cultural Heritage Season, the “Shanghai Pass - Museum City Pass” was released to the public. This pass, led by the Shanghai Museum’s “Dialogue with the World” super exhibition series “Atop the World Tree,” connects over 150 cultural and museum venues across the city. It includes tickets to paid venues and special exhibitions, as well as exclusive perks and shopping district discounts. In addition to serving local residents and domestic tourists, a special version will also be launched for inbound foreign visitors.

Validity: From now until December 31, 2026

First limited edition: 5,180 sets

Ticket price: 299 yuan

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