Shanghai Natural History Museum

　　The preparatory office of the Shanghai Natural History Museum was successively located at No. 2, Mingdeli, Nanchang Road; No. 20, Huqiu Road; and within the Shanghai Institute of Entomology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, at No. 1102, Longwu Road. In August 1958, it moved to No. 260, Yan'an East Road (formerly the site of the Chinese Cotton & Cloth Trading Company), a six-story British classical-style building facing south, covering an area of over 2,600 square meters, with a total construction area of more than 12,000 square meters. In February 1960, Guo Moruo, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, inscribed the name “Shanghai Natural History Museum.”

　　The Shanghai Natural History Museum is a comprehensive museum encompassing multiple natural sciences including paleontology, botany, zoology, anthropology, geology, and astronomy. Its primary missions are to conduct scientific research and public education based on the collection of natural specimens and literature. On January 27, 1960, the Zoological Branch opened in the main building; in 1984, the Botanical Branch was completed at No. 1102, Longwu Road, covering an area of over 1,800 square meters, with six floors and a construction area of 3,065 square meters. The exhibition space spans over 4,000 square meters, featuring content divided into three parts: ancient animal history, ancient human history, and modern animals. The modern animals section includes invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In addition, the Shanghai-area ancient human relics exhibition and the marine animal exhibition bring the total to nine exhibition rooms. The botanical branch exhibition covers over 2,200 square meters, focusing on the evolution of plants.

　　The entire exhibition is arranged from lower to higher forms of life, reflecting the process of biological evolution. It showcases representative species from various phyla, classes, and orders of the animal kingdom, along with various ecological dioramas that not only scientifically display the basic characteristics of different animals but also vividly reflect their habitats and close relationships with humans. Many of these are endemic to China or are classified as first- or second-level protected animals. Additionally, the museum frequently hosts special exhibitions, live demonstrations of animal specimen preparation and fossil restoration, offering a variety of services to visitors.

　　Since 1984, the Shanghai Natural History Museum has secured a total of 19 scientific research grants. Among them, “Marine Mesozoic Gastropods of Tibet” and “Discussion on the Reconstruction of Wild Elk Populations in China” won second and third prizes respectively in the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Awards; “Research and Development of Medicinal Minerals” and “The Current Status, Structure, and Development Trends of Natural History Museums in China” received second and third prizes in the Shanghai Academy of Sciences Science and Technology Progress Awards. The museum has independently authored or co-authored 33 academic works and color atlases in fields such as biology and mineralogy. Moreover, approximately 20 articles on museology have been published in domestic and international journals. The museum also publishes the academic series “Exploration and Research,” issuing one to two volumes per year, primarily showcasing the research findings and fieldwork of its scientific staff.

　　International cultural exchanges include five aspects: specimen exchange, exhibition collaborations, cooperative research, academic exchanges, and material sharing. Since November 1985, when the “Exhibition on the Evolution of Animals” was displayed in Singapore, a total of seven exhibitions have been shown in countries such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Italy.

　　The current organizational structure includes the following departments: Zoology Department, Botany Department, Geological and Paleontological Department, Anthropology Department, Astronomy Department, Science Education and Popularization Department, Archives Department, Art and Design Department, Specimen Preparation Center, and the editorial office of the magazine “Nature and Humanity.” The museum has 145 professional staff members.

　　Address: No. 510, Beijing West Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai (within Jing’an Sculpture Park)

　　Type: Museum

　　Recommended visit duration: 0.5–1 day

　　Phone: 021-62620280; 021-68622000

　　Official website: http://www.snhm.org.cn/

　　Opening hours:

　　Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–17:15 (ticket sales stop at 16:30); closed on Mondays (except public holidays)

　　Transportation

　　Metro: Line 1, Xinzha Road Station; Line 2, West Nanjing Road Station (Exit 2); Line 13, Shanghai Natural History Museum Station (Exit 1). Bus: Beijing West Road Chengdu North Road (Bus 324), Shimen Second Road Shanhaiguan Road (Buses 41, 301, 324, 927), Shimen Second Road Beijing West Road (Bus 104), Beijing West Road Taixing Road (Buses 15, 955), etc.

　　Ticket prices

　　Adult ticket: 30 RMB; seniors aged 60–70 (with ID): 25 RMB; children over 1.3 meters and minors under 18, as well as full-time university undergraduates and below (with ID): 12 RMB; seniors over 70, children under 1.3 meters (inclusive) or 6 years old (inclusive), retired cadres, active-duty military personnel, people with disabilities, and families of martyrs (with ID): free entry.