Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai (must see)

Located in what was once the cotton exchange, this is the largest natural history museum in China. It covers an area of 12,880 square meters and is divided into 4 sections.

The Shanghai Natural History Museum is housed in a grand British style colonial building. The stained glass windows in the lobby and mosaic flooring are the only remaining parts of the historic structure. It was converted into a museum in 1956 and the department of animals was opened in 1960. It has 240.000 exhibits consisting of plants, animals, Stone Age objects found in China and minerals. The museum seeks to educate visitors about the evolution of mankind.

One exhibition hall is devoted to objects showcasing the History of the Ancient Animals. There is a stuffed Mamenxi dinosaur placed in the atrium that is over 140 million years old with a length of 22 meters. The Hall of ancient anthropology has objects unearthed and restored to show the stages of evolution. The hall of animals has stuffed Chinese animals and rare species like the Yellow River Mammoth, a giant Salamander, a Giant Panda and an alligator from the Yangtze River. The museum also has a library with an impressive collection of documents and books on natural history.

Why You Should Visit:
Very affordable tickets (but short queue), free lockers to use, clean toilets, comfy in-house cafe with a good selection of food, and an interesting gift shop.
There is also the man-made landscape garden INSIDE the building and even an enclosed terraced garden with waterfalls that gives an awesome atmosphere.

Tip:
Head to the top first and then work your way down.
Check out the Jing'an Sculpture Park outside the museum – really nice and cool!