As the Shanghai Tourism Festival's classic season unfolds, the city's cultural scene in September and October is nothing short of spectacular. Alongside a myriad of events, several attractions offer free admission days that are absolutely worth visiting. Don't miss out on these exceptional opportunities!

1. Shanghai Metro Museum

Venture into China's first metro-themed museum — the Shanghai Metro Museum. This modern establishment intricately organizes its exhibits into sections such as the history of metro development, metro functions, culture, safety, and global metro systems.

The museum blends entertainment with education, offering a captivating journey from the origins of underground transportation to today's sophisticated and efficient metro networks. Whether you're a metro enthusiast, an urban planning aficionado, or a tech lover, this museum trip promises an inspiring experience.

🕒 Free admission: Every Tuesday, 10 am – 4 pm (last entry at 3:30 pm)

⛳ Address: No 1780 Wuzhong Road, Minhang district

🚇 Transportation: Metro Line 10, Ziteng Road Station

2. Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre

Nestled in the heart of Jiading New City and overlooking Yuanxiang Lake, the Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre boasts an architectural design that harmoniously combines natural elements with geometric spaces. Featuring a 1,466-seat grand theatre, a 400-seat small theatre, and the country's first waterscape theatre, it regularly hosts an array of thrilling performances.

🕒 Free admission: The second Sunday of each month, 10 am – 2 pm

⛳ Address: No 159 Baiyin Road, Jiading New City, Jiading district

🚇 Transportation: Bus Jiading Line 14, South Yumin Road Baiyin Road Station

3. SFYY Dream Garden

Spanning approximately 46,000 square meters, the SFYY Dream Garden is a picturesque year-round oasis located in the suburbs of Shanghai. It's an ideal spot for both locals and tourists to learn about, appreciate, and immerse themselves in the beauty of horticulture.

🕒 Free admission: The second Friday of each month

⛳ Address: No 1398 Luheng Road, Minhang district

🚌 Transportation: Bus Pujiang Line 4, Lusheng Village Health Center Station

4. The Grand Halls

Home to over 70 distinctive art pieces, including Chinese paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, photography, and seal engraving, the Grand Halls opens its doors to the public on the last Saturday of each month. Visitors can reserve their spots through its official WeChat mini program.

🕒 Free admission: The last Saturday of each month

⭐ Reservation: Book through the "世界会客厅TheGrandHalls" mini program, with slots available from the 20th of each month at noon

⛳ Address: No 8 North Bund Road, Hongkou district

🚇 Transportation: Metro Line 12, International Cruise Terminal Station

5. Shanghai Jingju Culture Center

Step into the historical Shanghai Jingju Culture Center, where Building No 1 — a three-story Western-style house built in 1921 — once served as the residence of Peking Opera master Zhou Xinfang. Today, it stands as a vital hub for learning, preserving, and promoting jingju (Peking Opera) arts and culture.

The center offers immersive VR and AR experiences, hands-on makeup workshops, and a variety of creative products, inviting visitors to delve into the lives of legendary performers and connect deeply with this traditional art form.

🕒 Free admission: Every Tuesday and Friday, 10 am – 4 pm (last entry at 3:30 pm, closed on public holidays)

⛳ Address: No 168 Yueyang Road, Xuhui district

🚇 Transportation: Metro Line 1, Hengshan Road Station

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