The 2025 Shanghai Cultural Heritage Season is in full swing, highlighting two major cultural events: International Museum Day on May 18 and China’s Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, celebrated on the second Saturday of June.

In celebration, 145 museums and 73 art galleries across Shanghai are offering free or discounted admission from May 17 to 19.

Here are some recommended museums participating in the free events, along with their featured exhibitions.

 

1. Shanghai Museum

• Free admission hours: May 17, 9 am – 9 pm; May 18, 9 am – 5 pm (reservation required)
• Address: No 201 People's Avenue, Huangpu district

All That Glitters: Chinese Cloisonné as a Gift from Robert Chang's Collection

Exhibition period: Since April 25, 2024

This special exhibition, held on the fourth floor of the People's Square Pavilion, showcases the generous cloisonne enamel donations by renowned collector Robert Chang.

 

2. Shanghai History Museum

• Free admission hours: May 17-19, 9 am – 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm)
• Address: No 325 West Nanjing Road, Huangpu district

Peace and Prosperity: Exhibition on Auspicious Culture in Ancient China

Exhibition period: Until June 2

Co-hosted with the Tianjin Museum, this exhibition displays over 130 sets of rare artifacts, including bronzes, jades, porcelains, textiles, and paintings, exploring auspicious meanings through various themes.

 

Peach Blossom Stone at the Foot of Helan Mountain – Treasures of Cultural Relics from the Xixia Imperial

Exhibition period: Until Aug 24

The exhibition showcases over 120 artifacts from northwestern China, with nearly a third being national first-class cultural relics. It highlights the historical and cultural identity of various ethnic groups during the Liao (916-1125), Song (960-1279), Western Xia (1038-1227), and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties, emphasizing the Western Xia's role in the unity of the Chinese nation and the development of a unified multi-ethnic state.

 

3. WorldSkills Museum

• Free admission hours: May 17-19, 9 am – 5 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm)
• Address: No 1578 Yangshupu Road, Yangpu district

Stitch by Stich, Step by Step – Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Garment Techniques

Exhibition period: Until June 8

This exhibition focuses on traditional Chinese garment techniques listed as national intangible cultural heritage items, showcasing a variety of skills from weaving and dyeing to embroidery and tailoring.

 

4. Jiading Museum

• Free admission hours: May 17-19, 8:30 am – 5 pm
• Address: No 215 Bole Road, Jiading district

Exhibition of Song and Jin Dynasties bronze mirrors from the Museum of Heilongjiang Province

Exhibition period: Until June 20

Featuring over 70 bronze mirrors from the Song (960-1279) and Jin (1115–1234) periods, this exhibition explores the cultural exchanges and integration between northern ethnic groups and the central plains. This fusion facilitated rich political, economic, and cultural exchanges and interactions.

 

5. Qingpu Museum

• Free admission hours: May 17-18, 9 am – 4:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm); Closed on May 19
• Address: No 1000 South Huaqing Road, Qingpu district

Ethnic Minority Clothing Exhibition

Exhibition period: Until June 25

Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province, a key point on the ancient southwestern Silk Road, is renowned for its vibrant ethnic culture. Home to five indigenous minority groups, including the Dai and Jingpo, the region has developed distinctive textile, weaving, and dyeing techniques, along with diverse traditional attire. The exhibition highlights the unique cultural heritage of these communities, showcasing the natural, historical, and aesthetic influences that have shaped their traditional dress.

 

6. Songjiang Museum

• Free admission hours: May 17-18, 9 am – 4 pm
• Address: No 233 East Zhongshan Road

Exploration of the Jade Belt Hooks – Infinite Collection

Exhibition period: Until June 8

The ancient gou, or belt hook, was used to fasten belts or attach accessories, typically consisting of a hook head, body, and button. Jade belt hooks are iconic in Chinese jade craftsmanship, representing a fragment of China's 5,000-year-old civilization. This exhibition features 183 jade belt hooks, highlighting their development and the achievements of ancient Chinese jade artistry.

 

7. Tou-Se-We Museum

• Free admission hours: May 17-19, 9 am – 4:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm)
• Address: No 55 Puhuitang Road, Xuhui district

The Congealed Time

Exhibition period: From April 1

The Tou-Se-We Museum sits on the original site of Tushanwan Orphanage. This exhibition revisits the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, where wooden archway and pagoda model from the orphanage were showcased, winning top awards for their exquisite craftsmanship.

 

Sources: Official WeChat account of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism at "shanghaitourism", museums mentioned above