Beneath the clock tower, a compelling tour of the city’s journey to modernity
Shanghai History Museum whispers tales of empires risen and fallen, of struggle and triumph, of pride and wisdom, of grand dreams and a spirit of innovation. Here, within the walls of a storied edifice is the portal to the city’s illustrious past.
This icon of neoclassical architecture invites people to step through its doors and traverse the ages — from the Majiabang Culture that existed 6,000 years ago to the resonant beat of a modern city born through reform and development.
Every exhibit, every artifact reveals a piece of a long chronology that fascinates both locals and visitors alike.
The museum is housed in what was once the Shanghai Race Club — a prominent feature itself in the city’s history, built in 1933. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the venue on Nanjing Road W. housed various civic institutions, including Shanghai Library and Shanghai Art Museum, before becoming Shanghai History Museum’s home in 2017.
The building’s structure features an imposing red-brick and stone facade, Tashkent-style colonnades and an iconic tower with four large clocks beneath a spire. The architecture is a tribute to solemnity, simplicity and elegance.
The museum didn’t have a permanent location before. After moving in, it encompasses exhibition space across two main buildings and an open courtyard. Its collection includes more than 1,100 artifacts spanning archeology, politics, economic progress, culture and lifestyle. About 80 percent of the collection is on public display for the first time.
Among the exhibits that never fail to draw visitor interest are the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) furniture from the Pan Yunzheng Tomb and a bronze cannon that belonged to national hero Chen Huacheng (1776-1842), a