Shanghai Planetarium – Explore the Mysteries of the Universe

Shanghai Planetarium

The Shanghai Planetarium covers an area of approximately 58,000 square meters. The main building features an elegant spiral design, symbolizing “celestial orbits.” The unique round skylights, inverted dome, and dome theater create a “three-body” structure that illustrates the fundamental principles of celestial motion. The outdoor greenery mimics the spiral arms of galaxies and seamlessly connects with the “Starry Sky” park, highlighting the organic integration of architecture and ecology.

Inside, the museum houses around 70 meteorite samples and over 120 sets of cultural artifacts. It is also equipped with four advanced astronomical observation and celestial demonstration devices.


Travel Information about Shanghai Planetarium

Ticket Prices: General admission ¥30, Dome Theater tickets ¥40

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Last entry at 3:00 PM), Closed on Mondays.

Location: No. 380 Lingang Avenue, Nanhui New City, Pudong New Area, Shanghai.

Transportation: Take Metro Line 16 to Dishui Lake Station.

Attraction Ratings:

  • Scenic Beauty: ★★★
  • Romance: ★★
  • Excitement: ★★
  • Leisure: ★★★★
  • Features: ★★★★
  • Culture: ★★★★★

Highlights of Shanghai Planetarium

Inverted Dome

The Inverted Dome is one of the main architectural features of the planetarium. Its central apex consists of a massive inverted glass tension structure supported by a spherical aluminum alloy grid with a diameter of approximately 45 meters. This design allows sunlight to filter through the skylight and illuminate the central atrium.

Hanging from the bottom of the Inverted Dome is a Foucault pendulum, a scientific device used to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation. Surrounding the dome is a 720-degree long spiral ramp that ascends, creating a stunning visual effect. Additionally, a stargazing platform is located on the upper part of the dome’s roof, capable of accommodating around 40 people for observational activities.

Dome Theater

The Dome Theater in the museum features a massive spherical structure with an inner diameter of 23 meters and an outer diameter of 30 meters. Notably, half of the sphere is suspended above the ground, supported by six points on the sphere’s side, connected to the concrete shell below.

Between the sphere and the shell, there is a circular gap that allows sunlight to enter the interior, creating a “solar eclipse” effect on the floor of the theater. Inside the sphere, the theater is equipped with an 8K resolution dome projection system, an advanced laser performance system, and a stage performance system, providing a diverse range of films and immersive experiences.

Related Details:

  • “The Vast Sky” – Duration: 20 minutes. This film begins with the primordial chaos of the universe and narrates how humanity, guided by starlight, has journeyed from ancient myths to exploring natural laws, gaining a deeper understanding of nature and the cosmos.
  • “The Invisible Universe” – Duration: 25 minutes. The film highlights humanity’s need for instruments to explore the universe and convey its mysteries. The various devices we have invented serve as our additional eyes, enabling us to discover and explore the unknown cosmos.
  • “Time Travel” – Duration: 25 minutes. This film takes viewers on a journey through time to witness the birth of the universe. It covers biological clocks, sundial shadows, and the history of life on Earth. It also explores the life cycles of stars, the Big Bang, black holes, and time distortion caused by gravity.

Main Exhibition Areas

The main exhibition areas of the planetarium include “Home,” “Universe,” and “Journey,” offering a panoramic view of the cosmos and creating a multi-sensory exploration experience to help visitors build a comprehensive understanding of the universe.

“Home”: This section begins with a nostalgic look at the starry sky, using the world’s most advanced optical planetarium projector to guide visitors in gazing at the dazzling stars. Visitors then embark on a journey through space, marveling at the Earth, Moon, and Sun, strolling through the solar system, admiring precious meteorites, and eventually confronting the grandeur of the Milky Way to understand our position in space.

“Universe”: This area presents the wonders of the cosmos from five dimensions: space-time, light, gravity, elements, and life. Numerous interactive exhibits illustrate the principles of celestial evolution and movement.

“Journey”: This section constructs a brilliant river of scientific stars, showcasing humanity’s grand exploration of the universe and our aspirations for future astronomical developments and space exploration. It inspires profound reflection and insight among visitors.

Special Exhibitions Areas

The planetarium also features several specialized sections throughout other areas, including:

  • “Chinese Celestial Quest”: This section explores the history of Chinese astronomical exploration.
  • “Curious Star Balls”: A children’s playground designed to engage young minds in a fun, educational environment.
  • “Journey to Mars”: A sci-fi experience zone that immerses visitors in imaginative space travel scenarios.

Additionally, the planetarium offers educational activity areas such as:

  • Star Exploration Camp: Interactive programs that encourage hands-on learning about astronomy.
  • Meteorite/Creative Maker Lab: A space for experiments and creativity, focusing on meteorites and various scientific activities.

The special exhibition areas house approximately 70 meteorite specimens, including lunar, Martian, and Vesta meteorites. Notably, the collection focuses on observed meteorites, featuring items such as the Manggai meteorite and meteorite craters, as well as Chinese meteorites from Suizhou, Juancheng, and Nagqu. These exhibits are not to be missed.


Dinning and Accommodation

Inside the Shanghai Planetarium, the Galaxy Cafeteria offers a variety of tasty foods. Notably, many of the dishes are creatively shaped like planets, making them both delicious and visually appealing.

There are numerous accommodation options around the Shanghai Planetarium, mainly consisting of budget-friendly and convenient hotels.

  • Home Inn Plus (Shanghai Dishui Lake Yunjuan Road): Located at No. 795 Yunjuan Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, it is within walking distance of both Line 16 of the metro and the planetarium, offering convenient transportation.
  • Jinjiang Inn (Shanghai Lingang New City): Situated at No. 960 Huandao West 2nd Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai, this hotel is in the southeastern part of the city, near the East China Sea, and surrounded by various attractions.