Power Station of Art (上海当代艺术博物馆)
Museum · Huangpu · Shanghai. A riverside power plant turned contemporary art museum, home of the Shanghai Biennale.
Source: https://chinafootnotes.com/places/power-station-of-art · 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
- 2026-09-30 to 2026-10-03: Metro Line 8 (and Lines 1, 7, 9, 10, 13) runs later than usual at night.
- 2026-10-02 to 2026-10-07: Paper Encounters (纸上奇遇), a free library project, is listed through 7 October 2026.
- 2026-10-02 to 2026-10-08: New Culture Producers season 4 is listed through 8 October 2026.
- 2026-10-02 to 2026-10-25: Lina Bo Bardi: The Poetics of Survival on 1F is listed through 25 October 2026.
- 2026-10-02 to 2026-10-31: Bvlgari Kaleidos on 2F is listed through 31 October 2026.
Why go
Power Station of Art (PSA, 上海当代艺术博物馆) is China's first state-run contemporary art museum, built inside the old Nanshi Power Plant on the Huangpu River. You come for big changing exhibitions in raw industrial halls, the 165-metre chimney, and a free third floor with a design library and a river terrace.
What to do
- See the architecture shows. Check the first-floor galleries for the current architecture and design exhibitions. The programme changes, so open the museum's exhibition list before choosing a date.
- Explore the changing galleries. Explore the temporary art and design exhibitions on the upper gallery floors. Check which spaces are open and whether each show needs its own ticket.
- Read by the river on 3F. The third floor, renamed Espace Gabrielle Chanel in November 2025, has a 1,700 m² ramped library by Japanese architect Kazunari Sakamoto, a theatre, and a 300 m² terrace with a 180-degree view of the Huangpu River. The library and river terrace are free; check access to theatre events separately.
- Look up at the chimney. The building was the Nanshi Power Plant, first built in 1897, and served as the 2010 Expo's Pavilion of Future. Its 165-metre chimney is the easiest landmark for finding the museum from the riverside.
- Don't miss: The free 3F river terrace: take the lift or stairs to 3F after the ground-floor galleries; it faces the Huangpu River and Nanpu Bridge.
- Best time: Weekday afternoons; closed Mondays
- Skip if: Skip it if you want classical Chinese art; the current programme focuses on contemporary exhibitions.
Practical details
- Hours: 11:00–19:00 · closed Mon
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 11:00–19:00, last entry 18:00
- Usually closed: Mon
- Open on national holidays, including Monday 5 October 2026 during the National Day break.
- Admission: Free public spaces · exhibition tickets vary
- Lina Bo Bardi: The Poetics of Survival (1F, to 25 Oct 2026): ¥60 — Regular exhibition price; an early-bird offer before opening has ended.
- Bvlgari Kaleidos exhibition (2F, to 31 Oct 2026): ¥60 — ¥60 from a third-party listing; recheck at the ticket desk.
- Concession: Full-time students registered in China (excluding adult education), and teachers (Student card or ISIC for eligible China-registered students; teacher card; 50% off, on site only)
- Concession: Groups of 20 or more (20% off)
- Free: Visitors aged 65+ (ID)
- Free: Children under 13 (ID)
- Free: Visitors with disabilities; active or retired military; ICOM members (Relevant card)
- Discounted tickets are sold only at the 1F desk; bring the card that proves eligibility.
- The 3F library, theatre lobby and river terrace are free and need no exhibition ticket.
- Booking: No booking; buy at 1F desk or WeChat
- 1F service desk (一楼服务台)
- Power Station of Art service account (上海当代艺术博物馆) — WeChat → search 上海当代艺术博物馆 (service account) → menu → 微信购票
- Passport accepted: unknown — No published rule on passports for online purchase.
- Group visits must be booked in advance.
- Last admission: 18:00
- Time to allow: 1.5–3 hr
- Getting there: Line 4/8 · South Xizang Road · Exit 2 · 15 min walk
- Metro Line 4/8 to South Xizang Road (西藏南路), Exit 2, about 15 min walk
- Show a taxi driver: 上海当代艺术博物馆，黄浦区苗江路678号
- Map: Apple Maps · Amap 高德
- Walking route from Exit 2: straight on, right into 南车站路, then along it to 花园港路.
- No car park at the museum; use the Miaojiang Road underground garage or Wangda Road car park.
- Address: 678 Miaojiang Road, Huangpu district (苗江路678号).
- Foreign visitors: Student discounts have China registration rules
Not found yet
- booking.passport.accepted: Official page does not say whether a passport can be used to buy online through WeChat or whether real-name entry applies. (searched: official web, Exa / WeChat, Trip.com Moments, Reddit via Exa)
Traveler tips
- Go up to the free third floor. You do not need an exhibition ticket for the public library and terrace on the third floor (三楼, Espace Gabrielle Chanel). The art-and-design library follows a slow ramp, and the 300 m² public terrace faces the Huangpu River and Nanpu Bridge; theatre events may have separate admission. A visitor post on an August 2026 page called the free reading area the best part of the visit. Caveat: The post also noted that the 1F and 2F exhibitions need tickets. The page snapshot date is not proof of the visit date. source
- Bring ID for the library. The 3F library (等等图书馆) is a free public space. Older visitor posts disagreed about whether a reading card, bag check or advance reservation was needed during its trial period, so ask at the 1F desk before going upstairs. Caveat: The posts show May 3 and March 17 without years; they do not establish current entry rules or passport acceptance. (2 travelers) source
- Buy discount tickets at the desk. Exhibition tickets are sold at the 1F service desk (一楼服务台) or through the museum WeChat service account. Half-price student tickets are for eligible full-time students registered in China, and the museum lists a student card or ISIC as proof; discounted tickets are sold only on site. Teachers have a separate half-price concession. Caveat: The official rule does not confirm that an ISIC alone qualifies a student enrolled outside China. source
- Visitors aged 65+ or under 13 enter free. PSA lists free exhibition entry for visitors aged 65 or older, children under 13, visitors with disabilities, active or retired military, and ICOM members. Go to the 1F desk with the document proving your age or concession to collect the free ticket. Caveat: The museum does not specify which foreign documents it accepts. source
- Plan the 15-minute walk from Line 4/8. The nearest metro is South Xizang Road (西藏南路) on Lines 4 and 8. Leave by Exit 2, walk straight, turn right into Nanchezhan Road (南车站路) and follow it to Huayuangang Road (花园港路); the museum lists about 15 minutes. A visitor post reports about 1.4 km on foot and suggests a shared bike or a taxi in hot or wet weather. Caveat: The post appeared in a 24 August 2026 page snapshot; its visit date and measurement method are not confirmed. source
- Check in big bags and bring a layer. Backpacks larger than an A3 sheet (297 × 420 mm) must go to the lobby cloakroom (大厅寄存). The galleries are kept cool to protect the works, so bring an extra layer even in summer. Flash is not allowed, some rooms ban photos, and you cannot eat or drink in the galleries; PSA Café is on 1F. source
- Check what is on before you go. PSA presents changing shows, so check the current exhibition list before a visit. Between shows some floors can be closed for installation. source
- Mondays are closed except holidays. PSA opens Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–19:00, with last entry at 18:00. It also opens on national holidays, including holiday Mondays. source
Sources
- Shanghai Municipal Government
- Shanghai Municipal Government
- Power Station of Art
- Power Station of Art
- Power Station of Art
- Power Station of Art
- ARThing艺术活
- Power Station of Art
- 活动网
- Power Station of Art
- Shanghai Municipal Government (from 解放日报) (published 2025-11-25)
- 上海黄浦 (published 2026-05-21)
- WeChat account (name not shown by search)
- 上海当代艺术博物馆 (WeChat)
- 上海本地宝
- 上海本地宝
- EvelynThompson (Trip.com Moments) (published 2026-08-24)
- WorldWandererDiaries#7 (Trip.com Moments)
- Isabella Thompson~7 (Trip.com Moments)
- 上海发布 / Shanghai Municipal Government (published 2026-09-28)
- 上海市公安局 (published 2026-09-30)
- 活动网