Shanghai celebrates International Museum Day

A hundred and thirty-five museums in Shanghai opened free of charge on the weekend to mark the International Museum Day, which falls on May 18.

The city also announced on Saturday that five institutions have been newly recognized as First Grade Museums of China: Shanghai History Museum, Qian Xuesen Library, Shanghai University Museum, Jiading Museum, and Fengxian Museum. Shanghai now has 12 museums recognized as First Grade Museums of China.

By the end of 2023, Shanghai had registered 165 museums, which means there is one museum for every 15,000 members of the local population, far exceeding the national average, according to statistics released by the Shanghai municipal administration of culture and tourism.

The city also held a series of 18 outstanding exhibitions in the past year, and introduced three new museum-themed tourism routes in Huangpu district, which will take tourists through the rich history and cultural heritage of Shanghai.