Shanghai Natural History Museum
Museum Large natural history museum exhibiting biodiversity and fossils
On the edge of downtown, Shanghai Natural History Museum displays fossil specimens, dinosaur skeletons and regional ecology exhibits. Families and science-minded visitors come for paleontology halls, temporary shows and educational displays.
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Shanghai Natural History Museum is a major natural history museum in the city of Shanghai, originally founded in 1956. The institution moved into a new purpose-built building that opened to the public in 2015, substantially increasing exhibition and collection space.
The museum’s permanent displays cover paleontology, zoology, botany and mineralogy across multiple floors, with dedicated fossil galleries and biodiversity halls that explain evolution, ecosystems and species diversity. Exhibits are arranged to show comparative anatomy, fossil sequences and representative specimens from regional and global collections.
Established as a municipal natural history collection in 1956, the museum evolved through decades of collecting and research and relocated to a modern facility in 2015 to improve public access and accommodate large specimens. The newer building was designed to support expanded exhibitions, education and research functions.
The museum is located in the urban area of Shanghai and serves as one of the city’s principal museums of natural history, accessible from central districts by public transport.
- Founding and relocation: Founded in 1956 as a municipal natural history collection and moved into a purpose-built public building that opened in 2015, which expanded space for large specimens and public programming.
What to See #
- Fossil galleries: Dedicated gallery spaces for fossils and paleontology that display vertebrate fossils and interpretive material on evolution and earth history.
- Biodiversity halls: Biodiversity and zoology halls presenting taxidermy specimens, comparative anatomy displays and exhibits on regional and global ecosystems.
How to Get to Shanghai Natural History Museum #
Located in central Shanghai. Use Metro Line 1/2/8 depending on the exact site entrance; the museum is accessible by multiple bus routes. The building is walkable from People’s Square depending on which entrance is used.
Tips for Visiting Shanghai Natural History Museum #
- Allow at least two hours for the main exhibits - the collections are extensive and well-presented.
- The museum's new building (opened in 2015) has thoughtful layout; start on the ground floor and work up through the geological and biological displays.
- Weekend mornings can be busy with family groups; late afternoons are quieter.
Best Time to Visit Shanghai Natural History Museum #
Indoor attraction - pick a day when outdoor plans might be limited; spring and autumn offer comfortable city weather for walking between sites.
Weather & Climate near Shanghai Natural History Museum #
Shanghai Natural History Museum's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1078 mm/year), wettest in June.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (165 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (145 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (147 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is warm with highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C. Significant rainfall (131 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
