Museum guide
Power Station of Art Shanghai: Hours & Tickets 2026
Power Station of Art Shanghai opening hours and tickets for 2026, with current-exhibition checks, WeChat booking, passport notes and transport.
Last verified: 2026-07-11
Power Station of Art is normally open 11:00-19:00, with last entry at 18:00, and closes on Mondays except national holidays. Admission is free or paid depending on the current exhibition.
Power Station of Art, or PSA, occupies a converted power plant on the Huangpu riverfront. It is mainland China's first public contemporary-art museum and the main venue of the Shanghai Biennale.
PSA does not offer the same experience every month. Check the current exhibition before making a dedicated trip.
At a glance
| Admission | Free or paid depending on exhibition |
| Hours | 11:00–19:00; last entry 18:00 |
| Closed | Mondays; open on national holidays |
| Time | 2–3 hours |
| Metro | South Xizang Road, Lines 4/8, Exit 2; about 15 minutes on foot |
Location
Address: 678 Miaojiang Road, Huangpu District. Approximate straight-line distance: 4.3 km from the Bund, 5.3 km from Jing'an Temple, 30.5 km from Pudong Airport and 15.1 km from Hongqiao Airport.
Why visit
The enormous turbine-hall scale suits installations that would not fit in a conventional gallery. The industrial structure and chimney are attractions in their own right. During the Shanghai Biennale, PSA becomes one of the city's essential art destinations.
Power Station of Art tickets
Paid exhibition tickets are available at the first-floor service desk or through the official 上海当代艺术博物馆 WeChat account. Policies vary by exhibition.
The museum's general concession policy lists ISIC as an accepted student document. Discounted tickets are normally bought on site with proof. Verify that a specific exhibition participates before relying on the discount.
If you are unsure whether to use WeChat, Trip.com-style platforms or the on-site desk, start with the Shanghai attraction booking guide. It covers the common foreign-passport booking traps.
Foreign visitor notes
Free exhibitions are straightforward. For paid exhibitions, carry the passport and order confirmation. If WeChat is unavailable, the on-site desk may be the only alternative, subject to ticket availability. English interpretation varies by exhibition.
Suggested visit
90 minutes: one main exhibition and the public industrial spaces.
Three hours: two exhibitions, architecture, bookshop and riverside.
If the program is small, combine PSA with World Expo Museum or a Huangpu riverside walk.
Who should go
Power Station of Art is strongest for contemporary-art visitors, architecture fans and anyone who likes large industrial spaces. The building can make a good visit even when you are not familiar with the artists, especially during major exhibitions or the Shanghai Biennale.
It is not the safest museum choice for a first-time visitor who only wants a predictable overview of Shanghai or China. The experience depends heavily on the current exhibition calendar. If the main show does not interest you, Shanghai Museum East, Museum of Art Pudong, or World Expo Museum may be easier choices.
What to check before crossing town
Open the current exhibition page and answer three questions before you go: is the main exhibition open today, is it free or paid, and does it require a timed ticket or WeChat purchase? This matters because PSA can swing from an essential art stop to a very short architecture visit depending on the program.
If you cannot use WeChat smoothly, leave time for the service desk and accept that same-day paid exhibition tickets may depend on availability. Bring your passport and student proof if you plan to ask about concessions.
How to combine it
PSA pairs naturally with World Expo Museum, China Art Museum, or a Huangpu riverside walk. It also works as a quieter counterweight to a morning around Yu Garden or the Bund, but do not stack it after a heavy museum morning unless the current show is a priority. Contemporary installations can take more energy than their room count suggests.
Facilities
The museum offers lobby storage, wheelchairs, strollers, Wi-Fi and a first-floor café. Bags larger than A3 size must be stored. Galleries can feel cool for artwork conservation. Flash photography is prohibited; some exhibitions prohibit all photography.