# China Art Museum, Shanghai (中华艺术宫)

Museum · Pudong New Area · Shanghai. Modern Chinese art inside the red 2010 Expo China Pavilion, mostly free to enter.

Source: https://chinafootnotes.com/places/china-art-museum · Data checked 2026-10-02 · Rendered for 2026-10-03 (Asia/Shanghai). Facts carry their status; "not found yet" means we searched and found no reliable source.

## Notices in effect

- 2026-09-15 to 2026-12-31: Visitor entrance moved to the West Gate, 153 Shangnan Road.
- 2026-09-30 to 2026-10-03: Metro Lines 7 and 8 run later than usual at night.

## Why go

The China Art Museum (中华艺术宫, also signed 上海美术馆 Shanghai Art Museum) fills the huge red China Pavilion from the 2010 World Expo. Permanent galleries of 20th-century Chinese painting are free, and the building itself, an upside-down pyramid of red brackets, is one of Pudong's most recognisable shapes.

## What to do

- **Walk under the 'Crown of the East'.** The pavilion was built for Expo 2010 and is nicknamed 东方之冠 (Crown of the East). Levels are named by height: 0 m, 5 m, 33 m, 41 m and 49 m, with galleries on each.
- **See the moving Qingming scroll.** A 128-metre multimedia version of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' (清明上河图) from the Expo pavilion is shown as a separate ticketed exhibit for ¥20. Day and night scenes alternate on a short loop.
- **Explore the changing exhibitions.** Explore the separately ticketed temporary exhibitions alongside the free permanent galleries. Check the current exhibition list and its entry rules before visiting.
- **Browse free Chinese painting.** Browse the museum's collection of modern Chinese painting in the free permanent galleries. Check the display list for works currently on view.

- Don't miss: Use the new West Gate at 153 Shangnan Road (上南路153号), 100 m from Line 8 Exit 3; the old address 205 Shangnan Road is no longer the visitor entrance.
- Don't miss: The 128-metre multimedia Qingming scroll (清明上河图) has a separate ticket; check its current showing before buying.

- Best time: Weekday mornings; closed Mondays
- Skip if: Skip it if you only want contemporary or Western art; the free galleries focus on 20th-century Chinese painting.

## Practical details

- **Hours:** 10:00–18:00 · closed Mon
  - Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:00
  - Usually closed: Mon
  - Open on Mondays that are national holidays, including 5 October 2026.
- **Admission:** Free · special shows extra
  - Special exhibition (official standard listing; includes the multimedia Qingming scroll): ¥20 — Listed by the museum as 特展 ¥20.
  - Mawangdui: House of a Thousand Gold (to 7 Oct 2026): ¥98 — Full price. Concession tickets exist; children under 1.2 m free, 1.2–1.4 m need a ticket. Sold on Damai, Maoyan, Douyin and Ctrip.
  - Free: All visitors to the permanent galleries
  - Permanent galleries are free; each paid exhibition has its own ticket.
- **Booking:** No booking for individuals
  - Free admission ticket at the West Gate (上南路153号西门领取免费参观票)
  - Passport accepted: unknown — No published rule on passports for special-exhibition tickets.
  - Groups of 30+ must book 7 days ahead (021-20252018 / 20252019).
- **Last admission:** 17:00
- **Time to allow:** 2–3 hr
- **Getting there:** Line 8 · China Art Museum · Exit 3 · 100 m
  - Metro Line 8 to China Art Museum (中华艺术宫), Exit 3, about 2 min walk
  - Metro Line 7 to Yaohua Road (耀华路), Exit 1, about 8 min walk
  - Show a taxi driver: 中华艺术宫（上海美术馆）西门，浦东新区上南路153号
  - Map: [Apple Maps](https://maps.apple.com/?q=%E4%B8%AD%E5%8D%8E%E8%89%BA%E6%9C%AF%E5%AE%AB&ll=31.186484,121.489926&z=17) · [Amap 高德](https://uri.amap.com/marker?position=121.489926,31.186484&name=%E4%B8%AD%E5%8D%8E%E8%89%BA%E6%9C%AF%E5%AE%AB&coordinate=wgs84&callnative=1&src=chinafootnotes)
  - From Line 8 Exit 3 walk about 100 m south on Shangnan Road; from Line 7 Exit 1 walk about 600 m north.
  - Walking minutes are converted from the museum's distances (100 m, 600 m).
- **Address:** 205 Shangnan Road, Pudong New Area (上南路205号).
- **Foreign visitors:** Free entry; audio guide needs ID deposit

## Not found yet

- booking.passport.accepted: No published rule on passports for special-exhibition tickets bought on Chinese ticket platforms. (searched: official web, local guide web, Trip.com Moments, Reddit via Exa)

## Traveler tips

- **Enter by the new West Gate.** All visitors now enter at the West Gate, 153 Shangnan Road (上南路153号西门), and arrive on the 0 m level. Take Metro Line 8 to China Art Museum station (中华艺术宫), leave by Exit 3 and walk about 100 m south along Shangnan Road. From Line 7 Yaohua Road (耀华路) Exit 1 it is about 600 m north, and older maps that send you to 205 Shangnan Road are out of date. _Caveat: The entrance moved to the West Gate on 15 Sep 2026; older maps and guides still show 205 Shangnan Road._ [source](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/xwgg/2026/09/09/2c906d9b9e0127fe01a089b6b4e53d77.html)
- **Walk in free to the permanent galleries.** The permanent exhibitions are free and individual visitors do not need a reservation; collect the free admission ticket at the West Gate and pass security. Only special exhibitions are paid. Groups of 30 or more must book 7 days ahead by phone. If you travel with a passport, carry it in case entrance staff ask for identification. _Caveat: A Russian visitor in April 2026 also reported free entry without advance booking. A Korean post published in June 2026, describing a 1 May visit, generally advises foreign visitors to show a passport; it does not clearly describe the author being checked. This does not establish a uniform ID practice._ (2 travelers) [source](https://sg.trip.com/moments/detail/shanghai-2-144474542/)
- **Last chance for Mawangdui: late nights 5–7 Oct.** The Mawangdui exhibition 'House of a Thousand Gold' (千金之家) closes on 7 October 2026. On 5, 6 and 7 October the museum stays open until 21:00, with last entry at 20:30, so an evening visit avoids the daytime holiday crowd. Buy the exhibition ticket through Damai, Maoyan, Douyin or Ctrip. Children under 1.2 m enter free, and children 1.2–1.4 m need a ticket. _Caveat: Concession prices were not published in the sources read._ [source](http://sh.bendibao.com/xiuxian/202664/306503.shtm)
- **Pay ¥20 for the moving scroll.** The 128-metre animated 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' (多媒体版清明上河图) from the 2010 Expo pavilion is a separate paid exhibit, listed at ¥20 in a 2025 local guide; the museum lists special exhibitions at ¥20. Day and night versions alternate on a loop of a few minutes, so 15–20 minutes is enough. Ask at the 0 m service desk which level it is on and where to buy. _Caveat: Older guides place it on the 49 m level; the location is not confirmed on the current official page._ [source](https://m.sh.bendibao.com/news/298340.html)
- **Rent the audio guide with ID.** Audio-guide sets for the permanent galleries are rented at the service centres on the 0 m and 49 m levels for ¥20. You leave your ID and a ¥200 deposit, or ¥400 without ID. The museum does not say which languages are on the device, so ask before paying. [source](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/fwxx/index.html)
- **Free lockers, strollers and wheelchairs.** Bag storage is free. Strollers (for babies under 15 kg) and wheelchairs are lent free against an ID and a ¥200 deposit, or ¥400 without ID. Staff and volunteers at the 0 m and 49 m service desks can suggest a route through the levels. [source](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/fwxx/index.html)
- **Find galleries by height in metres.** Floors are named by height, not by number: 0 m (main halls, theatre), 5 m, 33 m, 41 m and 49 m, plus B2. A December 2025 news guide listed exhibitions on 0 m, 5 m, 33–49 m and B2 at the same time. Check the level of the show you want on the floor map at the entrance before you start. [source](https://m.163.com/dy/article/KHVJJI6J055040N3.html)
- **Mondays are closed except holidays.** The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00, with last entry at 17:00. It also opens on national holidays, including holiday Mondays. [source](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/fwxx/index.html)

## Sources

- [Shanghai Municipal Government](https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-MuseumsGalleries/20241018/dfda779aa5f644f48f99e89ffb745703.html)
- [上海美术馆（中华艺术宫）](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/fwxx/index.html)
- [上海美术馆（中华艺术宫）](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/xwgg/2026/09/09/2c906d9b9e0127fe01a089b6b4e53d77.html) (published 2026-09-09)
- [上海美术馆（中华艺术宫）(转载光明日报)](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/xwgg/2026/09/30/2c906d9b9e0127fe01a0f0eef7df33b9.html) (published 2026-09-30)
- [上海美术馆（中华艺术宫）](https://new.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/visitGuide/xwgg/index.html)
- [上海美术馆（中华艺术宫）](https://www.artmuseumonline.org/art/art/zlgz/zl/dqzl/2026/07/03/2c906d9b9e0127fe019f2698b30432d2.html) (published 2026-07-03)
- [上海本地宝](http://sh.bendibao.com/xiuxian/202664/306503.shtm) (published 2026-06-04)
- [乐游上海 (via Sohu)](https://www.sohu.com/a/1080053947_121106832) (published 2026-09-23)
- [上海本地宝](https://m.sh.bendibao.com/news/298340.html) (published 2025-06-23)
- [公共外交网](https://pdnet.cn/home/index/view/article_id/5540.html)
- [乐游上海](https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20260914A041XQ00) (published 2026-09-14)
- [上观新闻](https://m.163.com/dy/article/KHVJJI6J055040N3.html) (published 2025-12-29)
- [Elizabeth 17 (Trip.com Moments)](https://sg.trip.com/moments/detail/shanghai-2-144474542/)
- [上海发布 / Shanghai Municipal Government](https://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw17239/20260929/2754211366cb4a1095a84ec35386e9b0.html) (published 2026-09-28)
- [上海市公安局](https://www.shanghai.gov.cn/nw17239/20260930/3ecafc35026a496792940035c77b744a.html) (published 2026-09-30)
- [Naver](https://m.blog.naver.com/PostView.naver?blogId=zonmini&logNo=224313277028) (published 2026-06-11)