Shanghai Museums | Aurora Museum

| Aurora Museum. Shanghai Museums | Aurora Museum As a private museum comparable to a national museum, whether it’s the exquisite exhibits, the stunning architecture, or the comfortable viewing environment, I personally think it ranks first among private museums in Shanghai. First of all, the museum building itself is a work of art, designed by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, featuring wide staircases and a glass wall facing the Huangpu River. It is said to be the best spot to photograph the sunset over the river. The museum is located from the 2nd to the 6th floor, with the entrance on the 2nd floor. The 2nd floor displays Han and Tang dynasty pottery figurines, with very thoughtful exhibition design, lighting that doesn’t overpower but perfectly showcases the exhibits, and interesting selections. The 3rd floor exhibits jade, systematically showing the development, classification, and production of jade artifacts. The 4th floor displays porcelain, mainly blue and white porcelain. The 5th floor is a café, with a row of windows offering beautiful views of both sides of the Huangpu River. Some books outside the café can be read for free. You can rest here and enjoy the view and books even without purchasing anything. The 6th floor exhibits Buddhist statues, with a spacious exhibition hall unlike other museums’ replicas. ⛺【Local Must-See Spots】: 1⃣ Buddhist Statues: From early Gandhara Buddhist art to localized statues of the Northern Wei, Sui, and Tang dynasties, each one is awe-inspiring. 🙏 I personally love the Northern Wei style the most. 2⃣ Jade Exhibition: Spanning the entire ancient Chinese history from the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. 3⃣ Blue and White Porcelain: Masterpieces from official and folk kilns of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. I didn’t get to see this exhibition that day, but I will definitely catch it next time! 🏺 4⃣ Pottery Figurines Exhibition: Many people come mainly for this! Focused on the Han and Tang periods, the classic maid figurines look like they are sticking out their tongues playfully—super cute! 😜 🛬【Travel Tips】: 🍰 Highly recommended: The café on the 5th floor with a full glass wall offers an excellent viewing experience. You can sunbathe here in the afternoon and enjoy the sunset and night view of the Huangpu River in the evening. 🌅 It closes at 5 PM, which is perfect in winter when the sun sets early. 📸 Great for photos. 🟡【About Guided Tours】 ▫️ There is said to be a free guided tour at 3 PM, lasting about 2 hours. ▫️ You can also scan a QR code on-site to listen on your phone, and you can listen even after leaving the museum area. It’s valid for 24 hours after ticket purchase. Don’t miss it if you’re interested! 🟢【Photo and Check-in Spots】 ▫️ The white spiral staircase from the 1st to the 2nd floor ▫️ The 2nd floor lobby corridor, especially when sunlight streams in ▫️ The gray staircase, shooting down from the top floor, maximizes architectural aesthetics 🏠 Shanghai Accommodation Guide ✅ Near Nanjing Road Located in the city center, with convenient access to metro lines 1, 2, and 8. It’s also easy to get to other attractions and close to the Bund, which is within walking distance, but accommodation prices are a bit high. ✅ Near Tianzifang Transportation is also convenient here, with many small shops nearby to explore during free time. ✅ Near the Bund The night view here is super beautiful, with many luxury hotels, so accommodation prices are relatively high. ✅ Near Jing’an Temple Many small Western-style houses, with relatively expensive accommodation prices.