Guns, uniforms, motorcycles: To some these words instantly conjure up scenes in gangster movies – and they all figure prominently in the exhibits of the Shanghai Museum of Public Security.

If you have labored under the illusion that museums are boring, this place will turn all those assumptions upside down.

A thrilling place to check out: Shanghai Museum of Public Security. [Photo/WeChat account: SMPS-SHGABWG]

A tour of the Shanghai Museum of Public Security starts at its entrance, on the second floor of the building it is housed in, where you immediately start to learn about the history of the city's police force.

Each time a public security bureau upgrades its sign, the museum collects the old one and consequently there's a wall full of old signs on display, helping to visually showcase the development of law enforcement in the metropolis.

The third floor exhibits a large variety of items about criminal investigations, public security administration, traffic management and prison management.

There's also an exhibition of motorcycles from different eras which is extremely eye-catching, each bike showing how crooks were hunted down at speed. Here, people can also immerse themselves in the role of being a traffic officer. Elsewhere, in the indoor setting of a simulated metro station, visitors can have their pictures taken with police dogs.

A selection of some of the police motorcycles that are on show in the Shanghai Museum of Public Security. [Photo/WeChat account: SMPS-SHGABWG]

On the fourth floor, visitors can find the most precious exhibit of the museum: A pistol that belonged to Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), the pioneer of China's democratic revolution. Although the pistol looks commonplace, the stories behind it are definitely thrilling. Overall, the museum's collection of guns is large, while the police uniforms are also impressive.

At the museum, the different uniforms correspond to different historical periods and there are many fun facts behind the change of styles.

The pistol used by Sun Yat-sen. [Photo/WeChat account: SMPS-SHGABWG]

If you want to bring home a souvenir, the gift shop on the first floor won't disappoint you. The lovely teddy bears in police uniforms are very popular.

Open: 9 am-4:30 pm (Last entry at 4 pm); Closed on Mondays.

Address: No 518 South Ruijin Road, Xuhui district

No reservations are required. Visitors must bring an ID card.

Source: "SMPS-SHGABWG" WeChat account