Shanghai Natural History Museum

Honestly a bit disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high after reading all the rave reviews. The museum is big but a lot of the exhibits felt dated — some of the taxidermy animals looked dusty and the interactive screens were unresponsive. Also, the admission price is steep compared to other museums in Shanghai. I did enjoy the mineral and gemstone hall, but that alone wasn’t enough to justify the cost. A decent place, but I expected more.

Overall a solid museum with a lot to see. The giant dinosaur fossil display is impressive, and the biodiversity sections are informative. I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed — lots of school groups and families, which made some areas feel cramped. The cafe was also overcrowded. Still, the exhibits are top-notch. I’d recommend going early on a weekday to fully enjoy it. A good 4-star experience for me.

The architecture alone is worth the visit — the glass-walled spiral building with its green roof is stunning. Inside, the flow from one hall to the next feels like walking through a story of life on Earth. The African Savannah section with life-sized animals was my personal highlight. I could have spent an entire day just reading the detailed descriptions. Perfect for anyone who loves science and nature. Absolutely five stars.

One of the best museum experiences I've had in a long time. The exhibits are incredibly well-curated, covering everything from ancient fossils to modern biodiversity. The layout is intuitive, and there are plenty of hands-on activities for kids. I especially appreciated the clear English labeling — made it easy to follow. Only minor suggestion: add more seating areas near the popular displays. Otherwise, totally worth the trip.

Absolutely blown away by this museum! The sheer scale of the dinosaur skeletons in the central hall is breathtaking — my jaw literally dropped. We spent almost 4 hours here and still felt like we missed half of it. The kids were mesmerized by the interactive exhibits, and I loved the detailed dioramas of different ecosystems. Easily one of the best natural history museums I’ve ever visited. A must-see in Shanghai!

Honestly, I was a bit let down. For the ticket price, I expected more. Many exhibits felt dated and the descriptions were only in Chinese without English translations in some sections. The place was crowded and noisy on a weekday. The highlight was the dinosaur skeleton but other than that, it felt average. Not bad but not great either.

Overall a great museum with impressive displays. The dinosaur fossils are world-class. However, some of the interactive screens were not working, and the lighting in certain areas was dim making it hard to read the information panels. Also, the gift shop was a bit overpriced. Still worth a visit but expect some minor flaws.

Such an incredible experience. The museum is huge, so plan to spend at least half a day. The highlight for me was the human evolution section - very detailed and thought-provoking. I also appreciated the sustainability messages throughout. The café has decent snacks too! Will definitely return.

The architecture alone is worth the trip - the building itself looks like a giant nautilus shell! Inside, the exhibits are well-curated and educational. I especially loved the African savanna diorama and the gemstone collection. The layout is intuitive, and the lighting creates a fantastic atmosphere. One of the best natural history museums I've ever been to.

Absolutely blown away by this museum! The massive dinosaur skeleton at the entrance is breathtaking. I spent nearly 4 hours exploring every floor. The interactive exhibits are perfect for kids and adults alike. The butterfly room was magical! Highly recommend booking in advance to avoid long queues. A must-visit in Shanghai!

[
{
"username": "DinoRexFan_88",
"content": "Absolutely blown away by the dinosaur hall! The massive skeletal mounts are incredibly detailed, and the moving T-Rex model made my nephew scream with joy. The building itself is a work of art—like a giant nautilus shell. Spent nearly four hours here and still felt like I missed half of it. A must-see for any science lover!",
"rating": 5
},
{
"username": "GlobeTrotterSarah",
"content": "The architecture alone is worth the trip—this spiral-shaped museum is stunning from the outside and even more impressive inside with natural light flooding through the glass roof. The exhibits are well-curated, especially the African savanna diorama. My only complaint is weekend crowds; it was hard to get a good look at some displays. Still, a top-tier natural history experience in Shanghai.",
"rating": 5
},
{
"username": "CuriousKat_22",
"content": "Loved the hands-on areas where kids can touch real fossils and play with microscopes. The gemstone collection is beautiful but poorly labeled in English—I had to use my phone to translate a few signs. Also, the cafeteria food was mediocre and overpriced. Overall a solid 4 stars; great for families but could improve the visitor info.",
"rating": 4
},
{
"username": "NatureNerd_Rob",
"content": "The mineral hall and the ancient life section are absolutely top-notch—I could have stared at those glowing crystals for hours. However, the café ran out of water bottles by 1pm and the only option was a sugary soda. Also, some interactive screens were glitchy. For the admission price (¥30), it's still good value, but don't expect a flawless visit.",
"rating": 4
},
{
"username": "BudgetTraveler_Lee",
"content": "Honestly felt a bit let down. I paid ¥30 for entry, which is fair, but the permanent exhibits felt dated—lots of dusty taxidermy and faded dioramas. The "evolution" section was closed for maintenance with no notice online. I finished in under two hours, and the gift shop was just cheap plastic toys. Unless you're a die-hard dinosaur fan, I'd skip it.",
"rating": 3
}
]

This place is an absolute goldmine for anyone into geology and paleontology. The rock and mineral gallery is stunning, and the giant mammoth skeleton gave me chills. I loved the quiet corners where you can just sit and read the descriptions. Only downside is the gift shop—very expensive for basic keychains. Otherwise, one of my favorite museums in China.

I'd heard so much hype about this museum, but honestly it didn't live up to my expectations. The exhibits are okay, but many displays felt outdated—some labels were peeling off and a few interactive screens weren't working. For the ticket price, I expected a more polished experience. My kid was bored after the first hour.

As an illustrator, I came here specifically for the architecture and the taxidermy collection. The spiral building itself is a work of art! The butterfly and bird specimens are gorgeous. However, signage in English was sparse in some corners, and I had trouble figuring out the flow of the exhibition. Would be better if they added more guided arrows.

Great exhibits overall, especially the animal dioramas and the giant dinosaur cast. But I found the crowd control a bit annoying on a Saturday afternoon—so many people pushing around the popular displays. Also, the cafe was overpriced and the sandwich was dry. Still worth it if you go early on a weekday.

Honestly, this museum blew me away. The dinosaur skeletons are massive and the way they're displayed makes you feel like you're stepping into a prehistoric world. I spent almost 4 hours there and still felt like I could've stayed longer. The lighting, the layout, the sheer amount of specimens—everything is top-notch. A must-visit for anyone curious about natural history!