Shanghai Natural History Museum

Overview

The Shanghai Natural History Museum occupies a biomorphic, nautilus-inspired building in Jing'an Sculpture Park. Housing over 290,000 specimens, it traces the history of life from the Big Bang to modern biodiversity with striking dioramas and immersive multimedia.

Highlights

• Dinosaur Hall: Full-scale Mamenchisaurus and T-Rex skeletons dominate the central atrium.
• Living Laboratory: Two-story living wall of plants alongside terrariums of live amphibians and insects.
• Origins Theater: A 4D theater experience exploring the formation of the solar system.

History

Originally founded in 1956, the museum moved to its current Perkins+Will-designed building in 2015. The new facility is ten times larger and features extensive use of natural light and sustainable materials.

Visitor Tips

• Online Booking: Free tickets must be reserved in advance via the museum's WeChat mini-program.
• Allow Time: The museum is larger than it appears; plan at least two hours.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.