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People's Square

The cultural heart of Shanghai

People's Square is the cultural and political center of Shanghai. Around the immense park are clustered the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, and local government offices. From People's Square, it is easy to reach Nanjing Road and the Jing'an Temple.

People's Square stretches over a huge tract of land that was formerly a horse racing track.

Located to the northwest is the Shanghai Art Museum, which occupies the former club building for the racetrack and specializes in contemporary artwork:

In the middle of People's Square, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center attracts architects and Shanghai enthusiasts with plans and models of Shanghai's urban development, as well as the Shanghai Grand Theatre, where one can enjoy artistic performances, music, opera, and dance.

To the southeast of People's Square is the Shanghai Museum, which specializes in China’s cultural treasures. The, the museum offers permanent exhibits of sculptures, traditional paintings, calligraphy, jade pieces, coins, and furniture from the dynasties of various Chinese Emperors. One should plan on spending about 1.5 hours when visiting the museum.

The Shanghai Art Museum and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center are open between 9 am and 5 pm. The last admission of the day is at 4 pm. The Shanghai Museum opens one-half hour later. The museums are open every day of the week, but the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is closed on Mondays.