Museum guide
China Maritime Museum Shanghai 2026: Tickets and Hours
China Maritime Museum Shanghai guide for 2026: opening hours, real-name tickets, passport notes, Lingang transport, ships and family routes.
Last verified: 2026-07-11
China Maritime Museum is China's first national-level maritime museum. Its six major halls cover navigation history, ships, seafarers, ports, maritime safety and naval history, supported by large models and interactive engineering displays.
At a glance
| Adult admission | RMB 30 |
| Booking | Advance real-name ticket required |
| Hours | 09:30–16:00; last entry 15:30 |
| Closed | Mondays, except holidays |
| Passport | Accepted in official event systems; standard checkout needs live testing |
| Time | 3–4 hours |
Location
Address: 197 Shengang Avenue, Lingang, Pudong. Take Line 16 to Dishui Lake, Exit 2, then Bus 1096 to Huanhu West 2nd Road / Shengang Avenue.
It is roughly 54.9 km from the Bund, 56.9 km from Jing'an Temple, 28.6 km from Pudong Airport and 63.8 km from Hongqiao Airport in a straight line. Treat it as a Lingang half-day or full-day destination.
What to see
Chinese Navigation History: a timeline from ancient to modern navigation, alongside the development of sails, rudders, compasses and shipbuilding.
Ships: structure and construction, including a two-story, 1:6 cutaway model of a large cargo ship.
Seafarers: life and work at sea, with a container-ship bridge simulator.
Navigation and Ports: maritime environment, celestial and radio navigation, ports and waterways.
Maritime Affairs and Safety: regulation, rescue, salvage and piracy.
Military Navigation: naval history and warship models.
The museum also has fishery and marine-sport zones, a dome cinema, 4D theater and children's area.
China Maritime Museum tickets
The museum lists RMB 15 student/teacher tickets and RMB 10 tickets for visitors aged 60–64, with several free-admission categories requiring proof.
Book through the 中国航海博物馆 WeChat account under 报名购票, or through partners listed by the museum such as Ctrip and Dianping/Meituan. The dome cinema and 4D theater are separate purchases.
Because the museum is far from central Shanghai, solve the ticket question before you commit to the Lingang trip. The Shanghai attraction booking guide explains the safest booking order for foreign-passport visitors.
Foreign-passport guidance
Official free-day registration has explicitly accepted passports and foreign permanent-resident IDs, but the standard visitor page still contains China-ID-focused wording. Check the document menu before committing to the long journey. If the passport option is unavailable, call 021-68283691. Never enter a fabricated Chinese ID number.
Suggested routes
Two hours: Navigation History → Ships → Seafarers.
Four hours: all six halls plus one film or current temporary exhibition.
For a Lingang day, combine it with Dishui Lake. Adding Shanghai Astronomy Museum makes a demanding full day and requires advance tickets for both.
Who should go
China Maritime Museum is best for visitors with a specific interest in ships, ports, navigation, maritime trade, or large technical museums. It can also work for families who want a spacious indoor attraction away from the central crowd, especially if they are already planning a Lingang day.
It is not a convenient filler stop. The museum is far southeast of central Shanghai, and the travel time changes the whole shape of the day. If you only want one easy museum between the Bund, Yu Garden, and Jing'an, choose a central museum instead.
What can disappoint visitors
The main disappointment is distance. On a map, Shanghai's metro makes Lingang look connected; in practice, the ride is long enough that you should treat the museum as the anchor of a half day. Food, weather, and return timing matter more here than they do for central museums.
English support may vary by gallery and exhibition. If the technical details matter to you, check whether guide devices, signs, or current exhibition materials are available in English before making the trip.
How to combine it
The natural pairing is Dishui Lake, Lingang waterfront, or Shanghai Astronomy Museum on a very full Lingang day. Pairing Maritime Museum and Astronomy Museum can be rewarding but tiring; start early and check both ticket rules. Do not add this museum to a Bund or People's Square day unless the museum itself is your priority.
Facilities
The museum lists scheduled free interpretation in selected areas, rental audio guides, wheelchairs, strollers and walking aids. Food areas are on Floor 1. Call 021-68283691 or 021-38287777 for current assistance.