Top Summer Exhibitions: A Wave of Museum Shows Are Gathering→

A cool and cultural museum tour kicks off Shanghai’s summer. Major exhibitions like “The Dawn of China: Qin’s Path to Unification — Special Archaeological Artifacts Exhibition”, “At the Summit of the World Tree: Grand Exhibition of Ancient American Civilizations”, and “Imperial Elegance — Exhibition of Imperial Costumes from the Palace Museum” are set to debut one after another. From millennia-old bronzes to the mysteries of the Americas, escape into art spaces and unlock a midsummer cultural feast with one click. The “Shanghai Pass — Citywide Museum Combo Ticket” is also available in limited quantities, granting access to all the major exhibitions mentioned in this article with just one ticket.

New Exhibition Recommendation

Atop the World Tree
Ancient Civilizations of the Americas Exhibition
Shanghai Museum, People’s Square

This exhibition is another monumental showcase by the Shanghai Museum, following “Peak of the Pyramids: The Great Ancient Egyptian Civilization Exhibition,” focusing on ancient global civilizations. It brings together 1,129 sets and nearly 3,000 exquisite artifacts, aiming to present a comprehensive panorama of ancient Central and South American civilizations, creating the largest, highest-level, most complete narrative, and most cutting-edge 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 RMB

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The Rise of China

Special Archaeological Exhibition on the Path to Unification under Qin

Shanghai Museum East Branch

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

Duration: June 10 - September 7

Address: No. 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area

Admission: Free

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National Collection

The Palace Museum’s Imperial Costume Exhibition

Shanghai World Expo Museum

The exhibition features 103 sets of precious artifacts from the Palace Museum, including categories such as garments, fabrics, jewelry, boots and socks, covering first-grade, second-grade, and third-grade cultural relics, showcasing the colors and patterns of textile artifacts from the Qing Dynasty imperial court.

Duration: July 7 – October 7

Location: No. 818 Mengzi Road, Huangpu District

Ticket Price: 88 yuan

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Endless Universe

Science and Art Fusion Exhibition

Shanghai Planetarium (Branch of Shanghai Science & Technology Museum)

Based on the unique astronomical context of the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, the exhibition selects award-winning works from previous “Tsung-Dao Lee Science and Art Competition,” using “cosmic scale” as the narrative thread to create a visual feast for the public to perceive the beauty of science.

Exhibition Period: May 23 - August 31

Venue: No. 380 Lingang Avenue, Pudong New Area

Ticket Price: Visitors need to purchase a museum entry ticket to view the exhibition; adult ticket: 30 yuan.

Free Grand Exhibition

Bao Shuo’s Radiant Legacy

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, Hupan Road, Fengxian District

Admission: Free

Stars Shine Over the East

Qingpu Archaeology and the Exploration of Yangtze River Delta Civilization Origins

Qingpu District MuseumThe exhibition centers on the archaeological findings from two major sites—Songze and Fuquanshan in Qingpu—and links discoveries from important prehistoric sites across the Yangtze River Delta. Through tangible artifacts, it explores the deep historical and cultural roots of today’s national strategy for “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 on physical exhibits and connected by craftsmanship, the exhibition brings together seven thousand years of wooden structural civilization, allowing visitors to experience the timeless vitality of woodwork spanning time and space 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 Exhibition****Moist Stationery

A Restorative Dialogue Between Paper and Water

China Maritime Museum ShanghaiThe exhibition, centered on the interplay of creation and destruction between “paper” and “water,” systematically presents the full journey of paper artifacts from damage to restoration through three dimensions: the origins of restoration, its principles and practices, and the continuation beyond restoration.

Duration: From today to June 15
Address: No. 197, Shengang Avenue, Pudong New Area
Ticket: Visitors need to purchase a museum admission ticket. Adult ticket: 30 yuan.

“Only the Trees Know”

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 starting point to blend natural science with humanistic thought, sparking an international dialogue on trees, forests, and the symbiosis of life.

Duration: From now to August 31

Location: No. 510 West Beijing Road, Jing’an District

Ticket Price: Visitors need to purchase a museum admission ticket; adult ticket is 30 yuan.

From Zero to Infinity

The Birth Story of Science Museum Exhibits

Shanghai Science and Technology MuseumFor the first time, the exhibition turns its lens to the stories behind the exhibits, taking audiences into the curator’s mind, the designer’s workspace, and the engineer’s test site, embarking on a journey to decode the creation of exhibits—starting from scratch, seeing infinity.

Duration: From now until August 30

Address: 2000 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area

Ticket Price: Admission requires a museum ticket; adult tickets are 45 RMB.Huge Perks****Shanghai Pass

Shanghai City Museum & Heritage 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 Citywide Museum and Cultural Venue Joint Ticket” was released to the public. This joint ticket is headlined by the Shanghai Museum’s “Dialogue with the World” mega-exhibition series, “Top of the World Tree,” and connects over 150 cultural and museum venues across the city. It includes not only tickets to paid venues and special exhibitions, but also offers a variety of exclusive perks and shopping discounts. In addition to being available to local residents and domestic tourists, a special version tailored for inbound foreign visitors will also be launched.

Valid until: December 31, 2026

First limited edition: 5,180 sets

Ticket price: 299 yuan

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