Shanghai Planetarium Tickets & Hours (2026)

Shanghai Planetarium is the name most English-speaking visitors search for; its official English name is Shanghai Astronomy Museum. The two names refer to the same major museum in Lingang, not the older Shanghai Astronomical Museum on Sheshan.

Tickets cost RMB 30 for adults. Standard hours are 09:30-17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and the museum normally closes on Mondays except national holidays. Every visitor needs a real-name booking and foreign passports are accepted.

It is in Lingang, far from central Shanghai. Confirm admission before traveling.

At a glance


Adult admission	RMB 30
Student admission	RMB 15 with accepted proof
Hours	09:30–17:00; last entry 16:00
Closed	Mondays, except national holidays
Standard release	Most recently verified: seven days before, excluding visit day, at 09:30
Dome cinema	Separate ticket; commonly released at 10:00
Passport	Foreign passports officially accepted
Time	4–6 hours plus transport

Location

Address: 380 Lingang Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Take Line 16 to Dishui Lake and walk roughly 15 minutes.

It is approximately 55 km in a straight line from the Bund, 57.2 km from Jing'an Temple, 27.9 km from Pudong Airport and 64.3 km from Hongqiao Airport. Do not confuse it with Shanghai Astronomical Museum on Sheshan.

What to see

Home begins with the night sky and locates Earth within the solar system and Milky Way.
Universe explores space-time, light, gravity, elements and life.
Journey tells the history and future of human astronomy and space exploration.

Additional highlights include Chinese Astronomy, Curious Planet for children, Voyage to Mars, the 23-meter 8K dome cinema, the Xihe Solar Tower and Wangshu Observatory. Telescope access depends on weather, time and separate programming.

Shanghai Planetarium tickets for foreigners

Use the “上海科技馆自然博物馆天文馆门票” WeChat mini program, the Shanghai Astronomy Museum WeChat account or the official ticket portal.

Every visitor, including those eligible for free admission, needs a real-name booking. Recheck the live release schedule for your dates because holidays and evening events can use different booking windows.

If this is your first attraction booking in China, read the Shanghai attraction booking guide before paying or reserving. It explains when to use official channels, Trip.com-style platforms, WeChat mini-programs and hotel backup help.

Foreign passport entry

Select the foreign-passport document type and enter the details exactly. Bring the original passport. Official notices have specifically confirmed that foreign visitors may enter after verification with their foreign passport.

Overseas phone numbers and international payment methods may behave differently by booking channel, so keep an official support or third-party booking route as backup.

If the passport or phone step fails

Keep 上海天文馆 (Shanghai Astronomy Museum), the selected date and the exact product name ready when asking official support or your hotel for help. Admission and a dome-film session are different products: a cinema order alone should not be treated as proof that you can enter the museum.

If the booking form does not accept your passport or overseas number, stop before entering substitute identity details. Ask the museum which legitimate channel supports your documents, and confirm the completed order names every visitor. This guide has not demonstrated a successful checkout with every overseas phone number or bank card.

Before leaving central Shanghai: confirm museum admission, any separate film ticket you want, the passport, the route to Lingang and the return. If admission is unavailable, choose a central museum alternative with a confirmed entry route rather than taking the long journey to negotiate at the door. Architecture viewed from outside is not a substitute for a museum ticket.

Opening hours in 2026

The standard opening hours are 09:30-17:00, with last entry at 16:00. The museum normally closes on Mondays except national holidays. Recheck the official ticket system for holidays, evening events, dome cinema sessions and weather-dependent observatory access.

Dome cinema

The dome cinema is not included in general admission. Buy admission for the same date first, then select a film and session. Evening events can use a different ticket release time. Film/theater refunds are stricter than admission refunds; same-day film purchases are currently non-refundable.

FAQ

Is Shanghai Astronomy Museum the same as Shanghai Planetarium?

Yes. English listings often call it Shanghai Planetarium, while the official English name is Shanghai Astronomy Museum. Do not confuse it with Shanghai Astronomical Museum on Sheshan.

What are the opening hours for Shanghai Astronomy Museum?

The standard hours are 09:30–17:00, with last entry at 16:00. It normally closes on Mondays except national holidays, but special evening programs can use different hours.

Suggested routes

Three hours: Home → Universe → Journey → inverted dome/public architecture.
Five hours: Home → dome film → Universe → break → Journey → Chinese Astronomy.
Family: Home → Curious Planet → age-appropriate film/activity → Journey; leave the more abstract Universe gallery for later.

Nearby

Dishui Lake is suitable for a walk in comfortable weather. China Maritime Museum is also in Lingang, but the two museums together make a demanding full day, especially with children.