The China Maritime Museum is centered around the theme of “maritime navigation” and is structured around “museum collections.” It features six main pavilions and twelve exhibition areas, along with facilities such as a spherical planetarium, a cinema, and an academic lecture hall. The museum covers a building area of approximately 2,000 square meters and houses around 260 physical exhibits, 130 photographs and video materials, 70 documents, 30 models, and 10 scene displays and sand tables.
Among the numerous exhibits, there are several rare treasures, including important historical documents such as crew certificates, ship nationality certificates, ship ownership certificates from the Republic of China period, and a nautical chart of the East China Sea from the 13th year of the Tongzhi era in the Qing Dynasty (1875).
The exhibition area is divided into three floors. The first floor features the Maritime History Pavilion, the Ship Pavilion, the Seafarer Pavilion, and a special exhibition area for fishing boats and fishing. The second floor houses the Maritime and Port Pavilion, the Maritime Affairs and Maritime Safety Pavilion, the Military Maritime Pavilion, and a special exhibition area for maritime sports and leisure, providing a comprehensive and vivid display of all aspects related to maritime navigation. Additionally, the museum includes a planetarium, a 4D cinema, and a children’s activity center.
Travel Information about China Maritime Museum
Tickets and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: ¥30. Free admission on May 18th and July 11th each year.
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Last entry at 3:30 PM). Closed on Mondays (except public holidays).
Getting There
Location: No. 197, Shengang Avenue, Lingang New City, Pudong New Area (near Dishui Lake).
Transportation:
Public Transport: Take Metro Line 16 to Dishui Lake Station (Exit 2), then transfer to Bus 1096 and get off at Huanhu West 2nd Road, Shengang Avenue Station.
By Car: From the Outer Ring Road S20 (towards Pudong Airport), take the S2 Expressway (towards Donghai Bridge) and exit at Lingang New Area, then follow signs to China Maritime Museum.
Attraction Rating
- Features: ★★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★
- Culture: ★★★★
- Scenic Beauty: ★★★★
- Excitement: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★
Useful Tips
- On the south side of the second floor, there is a planetarium that serves dual functions as a planetarium and a dome cinema. This high-tech digital dome theater combines education and entertainment. When films are shown, the dome surrounds the audience, immersing them in a dynamic, lifelike display of various atmospheric phenomena.
The museum also features a 4D cinema, where viewers can experience 3D images on a circular silver screen using polarized glasses. The motion seats are synchronized with the film’s storyline, offering various special effects such as drops, vibrations, back pokes, wind, water sprays, and leg tickles, providing a thrilling and immersive experience.
Highlights of Shanghai Maritime Museum
Maritime History Pavilion
The Maritime History Pavilion is a key exhibit at the China Maritime Museum. This pavilion is organized chronologically, divided into three sections: Ancient, Modern, and Contemporary. Alongside the chronological timeline, the pavilion subtly highlights the evolution of maritime technologies, showcasing advancements such as buoyancy and watercraft, dugout canoes, wooden ships, sails, oars, sculls, rudders, and the compass. This dual focus allows visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the inventions and development of Chinese maritime technology throughout history.
Children’s Activity Center
The Children’s Activity Center inside the museum features various interactive zones and exhibits, including a cartoon ship, Little Movers, a virtual aquarium, a magical telescope, interesting boats, role-playing areas, and a small shipbuilding workshop. The center also offers a variety of role-playing costumes, allowing both adults and children to dress up as captains, pirates, mermaids, and more for memorable photos.
If you’re visiting with children, you can also take them to the craft room, where they can create batik paintings, make jelly candles, build electric ship models, create small lighthouses, or even weave their own sailor’s knot.
Ship Pavilion
The Ship Pavilion is divided into two sections: Ship Structure and Equipment, and Shipbuilding. Through the dissection, introduction, and display of ship structures, equipment, and construction, the pavilion presents visitors with a clear and transparent blueprint of a ship. This is achieved by combining interactive elements, environmental simulations, audience participation, and the display of artifacts and real objects.
One of the highlights of the pavilion is a highly realistic 1:6 scale cross-sectional model of a large 10,000-ton cargo ship. This impressive model is about 25 meters long and spans two floors of the exhibition space, offering visitors an in-depth view of the ship’s inner workings.
Maritime and Port Pavilion & Maritime Affairs and Safety Pavilion
The Maritime and Port Pavilion primarily showcases the marine environment and the various instruments and technologies used throughout history to ensure safe navigation, including terrestrial navigation, celestial navigation, and radio navigation. The pavilion also displays a wealth of artifacts and real objects reflecting the history of ports and waterways.
The Maritime Affairs and Safety Pavilion is divided into two independent exhibition areas: Maritime Affairs and Maritime Safety. The Maritime Affairs section uses artifacts and supplementary graphics to illustrate the evolution of maritime administration and law enforcement. The Maritime Safety section features exhibits on maritime rescue, salvage operations, and anti-piracy efforts, using a combination of physical objects, models, multimedia, and electronic maps to provide a comprehensive overview.
Seafarer Pavilion & Military Maritime Pavilion
The Seafarer Pavilion mainly displays items and documents closely related to the work and lives of seafarers. At the center of the pavilion is a navigation simulator, modeled after the bridge of a large container ship. This simulator vividly showcases the characteristics of modern ship navigation, allowing visitors to experience what it’s like to be a captain by actively controlling the vessel.
The Military Maritime Pavilion is divided into two main exhibition areas: the development of the Chinese People’s Navy and knowledge about warships. The pavilion highlights various warship models, naval flags, and naval uniforms. A highly realistic submarine command cabin is also reconstructed within the exhibit. Additionally, outdoor displays include real naval artillery and other military equipment.
Food and Accommodation
The first floor of the museum features a visitor restaurant that offers simple Chinese snacks from a food cart during lunch hours. There is also a coffee bar that serves a variety of coffees, teas, and other beverages.
As the museum is located in a somewhat remote area, it is recommended to book a nearby hotel in advance if you plan to visit. Nearby hotels include:
- Home Inn Plus (Shanghai Lingang Ocean Park Dishui Lake Branch): Located at 441 Shuiyun Road, Nanhui New City, Pudong New Area, Shanghai.
- Vienna International Hotel (Shanghai Dishui Lake Ocean Park Branch): Located at 22 Carnation Road, Lingang New City, near Dishui Lake.
- Jinjiang Inn (Shanghai Lingang New City Branch): Located at 960 Huanhu West Road No. 2, Lingang New City.