During the hot and humid days in Shanghai, outdoor activities can quickly lose their appeal. In Baoshan district, a variety of museums offer an ideal alternative, blending education, exploration, and engaging indoor activities. Here are two curated routes to help you and your children enjoy interactive experiences while staying cool.

Route 1: Cultural and creative experiences

1. The Museum of Shanghai University

This museum offers an engaging space for kids to explore Shanghai's heritage. On the second floor, a permanent exhibition highlights the Shanghai-style qipao and dialect culture. Interactive elements, such as AR try-ons and a holographic comedy show, bring history to life.

The third floor is dedicated to the legacy of Qian Weichang and the history of Shanghai University. It features the renowned scientist's manuscripts and personal belongings, while also tracing the university's century-long journey.

• Address: No 333 Nanchen Road
• Public transportation: Metro Line 7, Nanchen Road Station, Exit 2
• Parking: Available nearby; campus parking is not permitted
• Opening hours: Weekdays 9 am to 4 pm (July 7 to Sept 19)
• Admission: Free, ID required for registration

2. Shanghai Bainuo Chocolate Museum

Bainuo Chocolate Museum offers a delightful exploration of chocolate's history and production. Through holographic projections and interactive installations, visitors can trace cocoa's path from the rainforests to contemporary Shanghai.

The museum also features a chocolate-making workshop, where families can create and take home their own treats.

• Address: No 117 Jinqiu Road
• Public transportation: Metro Line 7, Nanchen Road Station, Exit 1
• Parking: Complimentary parking for 2 hours
• Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10 am to 5:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 9:30 pm (July 1 to Aug 31)
• Admission: Free, reservation required via the museum’s WeChat account (ID: BNChocolate)

3. Shanghai Baoshan International Folk Arts Exposition

This exposition celebrates intangible cultural heritage and global folk arts across eight exhibition halls, showcasing artistic treasures through multimedia displays that incorporate sound, light, and electricity.

Interactive activities, such as those focused on the Chinese "24 solar terms", dragon boat racing, and African drumming, provide a fun and educational experience for children.

In addition, kids aged 6-12 can register for the 2025 youth intangible cultural heritage study camp this August, offering hands-on experiences in traditional crafts such as cloisonne enamel, flower-and-bird painting, and straw weaving.

• Address: No 4788 Hutai Road
• Public transportation: Take the Jiatai Line bus to Gucun Park, then walk 800 meters
• Parking: Free
• Opening hours: Daily from 9 am to 4 pm
• Admission: 30 yuan ($4.17) for adults, 15 yuan for students. Advanced reservations are available via the official WeChat account (ID: ifae2010).

4. Wood Museum

The Wood Museum, the only institution in China dedicated to wood culture, highlights the artistry of wood carving and furniture design. Visitors can admire a thousand-year-old camphor tree root and explore an art exhibition inspired by Dream of the Red Chamber, one of China's four great classical novels.

The interactive area offers hands-on woodworking projects for families, such as bamboo wind chimes and ukulele making.

• Address: Block D, No 2751 Hutai Road
• Public transportation: Metro Line 7, Shangda Road Station, Exit 2
• Parking: 5 yuan per hour
• Opening hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays, last entry at 4:30 pm)
• Admission: 60 yuan for adults, 30 yuan for children. Advanced reservations are available via the official WeChat account (ID: zmjxinxin).

Route 2: Industrial and design adventures

1. China Baowu Steel Conference and Exhibition Center

This exhibition center was transformed from the core area of a 2,500-cubic-meter blast furnace, preserving and reimagining the architectural elements of ironmaking. The entire structure is bathed in a striking black and gold ambiance, with rusted gears casting mottled patterns in the sunlight.

This center functions as a versatile cultural space. The ground floor features a sleek, modern lobby, while an escalator ride to the second floor reveals the spectacular golden furnace platform. From the top level, visitors can peer down into the furnace's interior or gaze outward at the sweeping city skyline.

• Address: No 735 Changjiang Road
• Public transportation: Bus 52 to Wusong Gas Plant Station
• Parking: Free
• Opening hours: The center operates on an irregular schedule. For the latest updates, please consult the "Shanghai Furnace Park" WeChat account.
• Admission: 50 yuan

2. Yang Design Museum

Yang Design Museum, the first private industrial design museum in the country, offers an astonishing array of exhibits that defy the imagination. Its permanent exhibition hall displays thousands of items collected from around the world, ranging from traditional straw raincoats of the handicraft era to motorcycles of the industrial age and mobile phones of the digital era.

The museum's space is unified by a series of landscape installations. The pure, white backdrop creates a striking contrast with the aged industrial artifacts, highlighting the dynamic interplay between the past and the future.

• Address: Building C8, No 258 Changjiang Road
• Public transportation: Metro Line 3, Songfa Road Station, Exit 1
• Parking: 7 yuan per hour
• Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays, last entry at 5 pm)
• Admission: 60 yuan for adults, 30 yuan for students. Advanced reservations are available via the official WeChat account (ID: yangdesignmuseum).

3. China Industrial Design Museum

As the nation's first museum dedicated to industrial design, it chronicles China's evolution in manufacturing.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, visitors are greeted by vintage sewing machines and retro televisions, each evoking the stories and emotions of different eras.

The museum also offers engaging parent-child activities, including DIY workshops for hats, T-shirts, and model assembly.

• Address: 2F, Building 3, No 3000 Yixian Road
• Public transportation: Metro Line 3, Songfa Road Station, Exit 1
• Parking: 6 yuan per hour
• Opening hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays, last entry at 4:30 pm)
• Admission: 45 yuan for adults. Advanced reservations are available via the official WeChat account (ID: sidcchina)

Sources: "Qingchunbaoshan" WeChat account, Baoshan distirct government, museums mentioned above