In December, the Shanghai Cultural Expo feast was exciting, and the city's major museums opened blockbuster exhibitions at the same time, and the cultural brilliance bloomed with diverse themes. Go to a cultural and museum appointment in Shanghai to unlock year-end surprises!
A must-see exhibition in December
Blending the ancient with the new
The retro and innovation of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing bronzes
East Hall of Shanghai Museum
During the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, copper was exquisitely made, subject to a wide range of themes, and diverse styles, but it was neglected for a long time because it was too late compared to the three generations of bronzes. This exhibition, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, brings together collections from around the world to comprehensively explore late bronze through about 178 exhibits, showcasing their artistic attainments, cultural charm, and the cultural environment shared with them.
Exhibition period: From now until March 16, 2026
Address: No. 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area
Ticket price: Free
Modern Chinese shadows
Shanghai style cheongsam and century-old fashion
Shanghai Museum People's Square
The exhibition brings together Shanghai-style cheongsam and various fashion treasures spanning more than a century since the 1910s. The exhibits mainly come from the donation of Ms. Bei Qia and the collection of Mr. Zhang Xinzhe, as well as the collections of various units, reflecting the diverse style trend of cheongsam design aesthetics and the infinite possibilities of integration with adaptive products.
Exhibition period: December 23 - May 5, 2026
Address: No. 201, Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District
Ticket price: Free
The fan is the best
Collection of Shanghai Museum
Exhibition of famous calligraphy and painting of fan faces in the past
Shanghai Museum People's Square
The exhibition focuses on the development of fan calligraphy and painting art, and selects 100 fine fan paintings and calligraphy from different periods of the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing and modern periods, covering landscapes, flowers and birds, characters and calligraphy, and the shape includes fan pages and fans, aiming to present China's long-standing fan calligraphy and painting art and the aesthetic classics of "vessels carry the way". Considering that the silk books of the Song and Yuan dynasties are extremely fragile, some exhibits will be exhibited in phases.
Exhibition period: From now until February 22, 2026
Address: No. 201, Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District
Ticket price: Free
Angelica returns to Huangpu spring
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Healthy Living Exhibition at Sea
Shanghai Museum of History
(Shanghai Museum of Revolutionary History)
Based on the historical positioning of Shanghai as an important base for the inheritance of traditional Chinese medicine culture, the exhibition takes the deep integration of "medicine, medicine and nursing" as the core context, and connects the deep connection between the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine and healthy life. With more than 100 precious cultural relics as the core carrier, supplemented by detailed historical plates, immersive interactive installations and vivid multimedia images, the exhibition presents the Jiangnan ointment culture, the circulation of authentic medicinal materials, the style of famous doctors at sea and the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in multiple dimensions, and completely outlines the development trajectory of traditional Chinese medicine in the continuation of inheritance and innovation in the integrity of traditional Chinese medicine. During the exhibition, the audience was able to experience the oriental wisdom of "pricing with time" and "corresponding to heaven and man", revealing that traditional Chinese medicine is not only a traditional medical technique for healing diseases, but also a philosophy of life and health wisdom that permeates diet, daily life and emotional regulation, which profoundly echoes the theme of the times of "everyone is the first person responsible for their own health", so that the ancient traditional Chinese medicine culture can glow with new vitality in contemporary life.
Exhibition period: From now until March 1, 2026
Address: No. 325, West Nanjing Road, Huangpu District
Ticket price: Free
Rome Rome
From Olympus to Capitoline
Shanghai World Expo Museum
This exhibition presents a total of 131 pieces/sets of precious exhibits, all from the National Museum of Liverpool, England. As one of the largest museums in the UK, the museum is known for its rich and exquisite collection of European classical sculptures. The exhibition selects 76 representative sculptures, including more than 20 ancient Greek and Roman statues of ancient Greek and Roman gods with a height of nearly two meters, 26 busts of Roman emperors and nobles, as well as some ancient Greek pottery, ancient Roman mosaic murals, gemstones, glassware and other collections.
Exhibition period: From now until May 5, 2026
Address: No. 818 Mengzi Road, Huangpu District
Ticket price: Exhibition fee〖 ordinary ticket 88 yuan preferential ticket 68 yuan children's ticket 9.9 yuan〗
Dreams arise from the east
Yangshan Deep-water Port 20th Anniversary Exhibition
China Maritime Museum in Shanghai
The birth of Yangshan Port is not only the main achievement of Shanghai's exploration and progress at the forefront of reform and opening up, but also the strategic fulcrum of the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and the declaration of the times for China to bravely stand at the forefront of global trade in the new era. With the theme of "Dreaming of the East", this exhibition presents a panoramic view of Yangshan Port's journey from blueprint to reality, from catching up to leading. Twenty years of youth, set sail again. Let us follow the channel of time, listen to the symphony of giant ships and tides, feel the majestic pulse of China's development in the new era, and look forward to the journey of this oriental port on the journey of the sea of stars, and continue to write a magnificent new chapter in serving the national strategy and empowering global trade! Twenty years of turbulent seas and twenty years of oriental tides.
Exhibition period: From now until March 9, 2026
Address: No. 197 Shengang Avenue, Pudong New Area
Ticket price: To visit the exhibition, you need to purchase a museum admission ticket, adult ticket is 30 yuan.
Artificial intelligence
Skills that open up new worlds
Shanghai WorldSkills Museum
The exhibition focuses on the development of artificial intelligence, from historical evolution, technical principles to practical applications, and comprehensively presents how humans transform intelligent fantasy into scientific and technological reality. Through intelligent robot interaction, generative AI experience, smart device demonstration and other forms to stimulate the interest of audiences of all ages in AI, it is the first popular science and interactive exhibition with the theme of "artificial intelligence".
Exhibition period: From now until February 28, 2026
Address: No. 1578, Yangshupu Road, Yangpu District
Ticket price: Free
Go to Shanghai
Commemorate the birth of Chinese cinema
120th anniversary special exhibition
Shanghai Film Museum
The exhibition is the largest, most historical and largest investment exhibition since the establishment of the Shanghai Film Museum. Through the three core exhibition areas, the development process of Shanghai film is shown, and the classic works are created with the style of Shanghai's "film city". Not only did nearly 80% of the exhibits such as the tribute video of "Dingjun Mountain" make their debut, but also presented a number of new academic achievements such as the "three centers" of Shanghai film, showing the special charm of Shanghai's "film city" from a vivid and comprehensive exhibition perspective.
Exhibition period: From now until December 2026
Address: No. 595, Caoxi North Road, Xuhui District
Ticket price: You need to purchase a museum admission ticket, 60 yuan for adult tickets.
Liguang has been shining for twenty-five years
Modern glass art group exhibition
Shanghai Liuli Art Museum
Twenty-five years ago, Zhang Yi and Yang Huishan, founders of Shanghai Liuli Art Museum and Liuli Workshop, were invited to Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts as visiting professors to teach the Chinese glass dewax casting technique that they had explored and revived from scratch. Twenty-five years later, the students of the glass art studio have become a new force in Chinese glass art. "Twenty-five Years of Liguang" was initiated by Guan Donghai, a famous contemporary glass artist who has personally experienced the cooperation between Liuli Workshop and Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts, director of the Glass Art Professional Committee of the China Arts and Crafts Association and art scholar, and artist Yang Huishan personally serves as the curator. The exhibition brings together the wonderful works of Tsinghua glass art students over the years, presenting this moving story of Chinese glass.
Exhibition period: From now until February 28, 2026
Address: No. 25, Taikang Road, Huangpu District
Ticket price: The exhibition is free. To visit the exhibition, you need to purchase a museum admission ticket, and the adult ticket is 60 yuan/person
The best is like water
2025 Shanghai International Paper Art Biennale
Fengxian District Museum
Exhibition period: From now until February 28, 2026
Address: No. 333, Huban Road, Fengxian District
Ticket price: Free
Home is the border
Glass project in Montadas
Shanghai Glass Museum
As the boundaries of "home" are constantly rewritten in the midst of global migration, geopolitical tensions, and cultural changes, how can artists respond to this torn and reconstructed reality through visual language? On November 6, the Shanghai Museum of Glass is pleased to present to the audience another new exhibition of this year's "Annealing" project, "Home is the Border: Montadas's Glass Project". The exhibition unfolds from the unique perspective of artist Anthony Montadas, exploring the flow, fracture, and reconstruction of "home" in the contemporary world.
Exhibition period: From now until April 30, 2026
Address: No. 685, Changjiang West Road, Baoshan District
Ticket price: admission fee (adult ticket 60 yuan), the exhibition also needs to purchase a temporary exhibition ticket, 〖Rootless Flower + Home is the Border: Exhibition Combined Ticket of Muntadas' Glass Project, 60 yuan/person〗
West Neighbor Art Shadow
2025 Central and Western Asian Art Joint Exhibition
Shanghai Art Museum
With the theme of "Western Neighbor Art and Shadow", the exhibition joins hands with more than ten Central and Western Asian countries to present the unique interpretations of artists in multiple media and promote cultural and artistic exchanges and mutual learning. It is expected that the exhibition will become an "oriental window" to observe the cultural revival of the Silk Road, so that Central and Western Asian art can see each other with Chinese audiences and artists, and this is also the first time that Chinese cultural and museum institutions have exhibited Chinese and Western Asian contemporary art on a large scale.
Exhibition period: From now until March 17, 2026
Address: In Tianshan Park, No. 657 Kaixuan Road, Changning District
Ticket price: Free
More exciting exhibition recommendations
Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
No. 201, Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District
Pearls return to the sea: Zhuang Wanli's family donated two Tuxuan calligraphy and painting exhibitions
From now until April 19, 2026
Free
Ancient rhinoceros treasures: Ming and Qing rhinoceros horn tools in the collection of the Shanghai Museum
From now on
Free
Jin Lang Huacan: Zhang Zongxian donated cloisonné enamel exhibition
From now on
Free
Shanghai Museum of History
(Shanghai Museum of Revolutionary History)
No. 325, Nanjing West Road, Huangpu District
Let's go! Go for coffee
Special exhibition of coffee culture
From now until March 1, 2026
Free
Nine songs of the Yellow River on horseback
Ordos Grassland Cultural Relics Exhibition
From now until January 4, 2026
Free
The tide of new voices is endless
The history of the red publishing industry of the Communist Party of China
（1921-1949）
From now until January 18, 2026
Free
Shanghai World Expo Museum
No. 818 Mengzi Road, Huangpu District
Different interests and the same brilliance
Qing Dynasty Export Art Treasures Exhibition
From now until March 1, 2026
Free
A major memorial hall of the Communist Party of China
No. 374, Huangpi South Road, Huangpu District
I am willing to serve the country with this age
Commemorating the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
and a special exhibition on the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War
From now until December 21
Free
Shanghai Planetarium
(Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Branch)
No. 380 Lingang Avenue, Pudong New Area
"Great Instruments and Stars" - Meteorite Culture Exhibition
From now until March 18, 2026
To view the exhibition, you need to purchase a museum admission ticket
Adult tickets are 30 yuan
Shanghai Museum of Natural History
(Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Branch)
No. 510 Beijing West Road, Jing'an District
Dragon Yin Kyushu Chinese Dinosaur Exhibition
From now until February 28, 2026 (tentative)
118 yuan
China Maritime Museum in Shanghai
No. 197 Shengang Avenue, Pudong New Area
Confirmation of the State of Dian
Yunnan Ancient Yunnan Civilization Special Exhibition
Chinese civilization "pluralism and integration" series exhibition three
From now until March 9, 2026
To view the exhibition, you need to purchase a museum admission ticket
Adult tickets are 30 yuan
Thousands of boats come from the water
Special exhibition of fishing culture of Chinese ethnic minorities
From now until March 9, 2026
To view the exhibition, you need to purchase a museum admission ticket
Adult tickets are 30 yuan
Shanghai Liuli Art Museum
No. 25, Taikang Road, Huangpu District
Belief determines the extraordinary
From a single thought to a thousand miles
2025 Liuli Workshop Year of the Horse Sculpture Exhibition
From now until February 25, 2026
Free
China Museum of Modern and Contemporary Press and Publication
No. 3678, Zhoujiazui Road, Yangpu District
The storm is mighty and the song is singing
Lu Xun and Yu Dafu
From now until December 17
Free
Patriotic Children News Giants
Ge Gongzhen's 135th Birthday Commemorative Exhibition
From now until January 22, 2026
Free
Shanghai Film Museum
No. 595, Caoxi North Road, Xuhui District
Movies are all kinds of work
Shanghai Film Museum Collection Cultural Relics Exhibition
From now on
To view the exhibition, you need to purchase a museum admission ticket
Adult ticket 60 yuan
Shanghai University Museum
(Shanghai Culture Museum)
No. 333, Nanchen Road, Baoshan District
Yujian Civilization: Liangzhu Culture Special Exhibition
December 13 - January 23, 2026
Free
Jiading Museum
No. 215, Bole Road, Jiading District
Beyond writing
The multi-dimensional elegance of the Qing Dynasty champion
From now until January 25, 2026
Free
Jinshan District Museum
No. 1800 Jinshan Avenue, Jinshan District
Chinese mirror
Ancient Chinese bronze mirror rubbings exhibition
From now until December 27
Free
Qingpu District Museum
No. 1000 Huaqing South Road, Qingpu District
The first town in the southeast
Suzhou Urban Archaeological Achievements Exhibition
From now until December 20
Free
Shanghai Songjiang District Museum
No. 233, Zhongshan East Road, Songjiang District
Pen and ink fan rhyme
Shanghai Songjiang District Museum Collection Fan Exhibition
December 23 - March 8, 2026
Free
Shanghai Glass Museum
No. 685, Changjiang West Road, Baoshan District
Wang Yefeng: Rootless flower
From now until April 30, 2026
Admission fee (60 yuan for adults)
Temporary exhibition tickets are also required for the exhibition
Rootless flowers
Home is the Border: The Glass Project in Montadas
The double exhibition ticket is 60 yuan/person
Shanghai Guanfu Museum
37th Floor, Shanghai Tower, No. 479 Lujiazui Ring Road, Pudong New Area
The fragrant flowers bloom one after another
Exhibition of ancient Chinese lunar flower ornaments
From now until May 12, 2026
To view the exhibition, you need to purchase a museum admission ticket
Adult ticket 100 yuan
China Securities Museum
No. 15, Huangpu Road, Hongkou District
If you have money, you will have the power to contribute
Historical exhibition of Shanghai businessmen's patriotic actions during the Songhu Anti-Japanese War
From now until June 2026
Free
The Fourth Memorial Hall of the Communist Party of China
No. 1468, North Sichuan Road, Hongkou District
Raise the flag and orient the cohesion
Exhibition of pictures and historical materials of propaganda and cultural work
From now until December 31
Free
The former residence of Zhang Wentian
No. 4398, Sichuan Nanfeng Highway, Zhuqiao Town, Pudong New Area
Tashi Convention and Exhibition
From now until March 31, 2026
Free
Tongji University Museum
In Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Yangpu District
Between the lines
The beauty of Chinese character writing and the way of intelligent evolution
From now until January 30, 2026
Free
Dong Qichang Calligraphy and Painting Art Museum
No. 64, Renmin South Road, Songjiang District (in Zuibaichi Park)
Freehand Jiangnan
Nine Peaks and Three Mao Poems and Couplets Calligraphy Works Exhibition
He also participated in the invitational exhibition of calligraphy masters
From now until January 28, 2026
Free
Shanghai Tushanwan Museum
No. 55, Puhuitang Road, Xuhui District
Time to be frozen
The century-old Expo relationship between the Tushan Bay archway and the pagoda
From now on
Free
Shanghai Old Camera Photography Museum
No. 39, Lane 676, Wuxing Road, Pudong New Area
Movement and glory
Lianxi Cup Sports Photography Exhibition
From now until March 3, 2026
Free
Shanghai Sanshan Guild Center Management Office
No. 1551, Zhongshan South Road, Huangpu District
Lotus rhyme bamboo wind quietly go far
Integrity culture theme exhibition
From now until December 2
Free
Shanghai Printing Font Exhibition Hall
No. 60, Lane 1209, Xinzha Road, Jing'an District
2025 Shanghai Printing on Paper Art Exhibition
From now until December 12
Free
"Flowers on the Sea" font illustration design exhibition
From now until January 15, 2026
Free
Shanghai Museum of Chinese Students
No. 7, Lane 1177, Rongmei Road, Songjiang District
Beacon mark
Scientists who returned from studying abroad during the Anti-Japanese War
Special exhibition
From now until April 2026
Free
Shanghai Zhou Huchen Cao Sugong Pen and Ink Museum
2nd floor, No. 429 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District
Deng Sanmu Study Literature Exhibition
From now until March 21, 2026
Free
Shanghai Fushouyuan Humanities Memorial Hall
No. 600, Lane 7270, Qingsong Road, Qingpu District
The dream of scientific excellence is the heart of the rivers and mountains
Shanghai Fushouyuan Scientists Anniversary Exhibition
From now until December 31
Free
Source: Leyou Shanghai
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