Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center

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 city better!

Very detailed and interesting museum. It's free and in my case I didn't have to reserve a ticket, I could just go to the ticket booth (they still check/scan your passport) to get a ticket. The museum was relatively quiet, which was nice. I probably would've visited this museum earlier during my vacation in Shanghai, because it covers so many places to see in Shanghai. The models of the buildings and areas in Shanghai are amazing. For me the main highlight is just how well this museum displays all the thoughts behind all the decisions made regarding urban planning. The only feedback I can give is to add (more) English translations to the exhibitions.

First time visiting here, you have to book an entrance ticket through the mini app in WeChat. As a foreigner, it was kind of hard for me to submit the booking request as it kept showing an error because I did not use a Chinese phone number to book it. But the staff there were friendly and helpful, assisting me in solving the problem and managing to get the entrance ticket in hard copy. The museum has several floors, each with a different theme, and there is a clear directory so that you will not get lost in the museum. The museum displays the history and planning of Shanghai city well, allowing you to understand this city better. I recommend visiting this museum if you have plenty of time in Shanghai.

A very unique and informative museum in Shanghai. At first I went to Shanghai Museum but fully booked so cannot get the ticket. Then I tried to visit this museum and have a pleasant surprise. A lot of students and some tour come here. It is a nice museum to visit. They have some small gift shop with unique things.

This is a pleasant surprise for us. As a native growing up in SH, it never occurred to me to visit this place until coming back after 9 years. The exhibits are very well laid out, mostly having English translations (so my American friends can enjoy as well). It does a fantastic job showing Shanghai’s past, present and future through many models, pictures and interactive exhibits. We spent 2 hours here but felt we could have spent more. Upon finishing the tour, it made me proud of being born in this amazing city.

This place is really cool. Absolutely worth visiting. There are many projections and examples of the city from its history, current time, and also the plans for the future. We spend there about an hour but it was quite fast. Even two hours is enough to discover the beauty of this city. Thank you🤩

This is a must-visit if you are interested on learning the history and future of China and Shanghai. There are many exhibits to explore. Foreigners can enter for free by showing their passport. Don't miss out on this interesting place if you have time on Shanghai.

Definitely worth a visit to understand China’s and Shanghai’s roadmap for 2030 and 2050 as well as a good dose of Chinese propaganda. Lots of innovation planned without much scientific backing. Rent the audio guide and plan on two hours to be able to view each exhibit which spans several floors.