Shanghai Egypt Exhibition: Your Ultimate 3000-Year Civilization Journey Guide
Must-Visit Exhibition Details
Recommendation Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Asia's largest scale Egyptian artifact exhibition, with 95% of artifacts making their China debut!)
Address: People's Square, 201 People's Avenue, Huangpu District (People's Square Museum)
Dates: Until August 17, 2025! Open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Late nights until 9:00 PM), Closed Mondays! Shanghai Museum
Tickets: 135 RMB per person (148 RMB on weekends. Discount tickets 74 RMB, children under 1.3 meters are free), various family packages available. Family packages offer better value! Remember to book in advance (tickets might not be available on-site)
Transportation: Metro Lines 1/2/8, People's Square Station, Exit 1, 5-minute walk
Unveiling a Global Spectacle
This exhibition stands as the largest-scale and highest-level ancient Egyptian artifact outbound exhibition globally, bringing together an impressive 492 sets comprising 788 precious artifacts from various periods of ancient Egypt.
Essential Preparation for Your Visit
- Pre-Exhibition Knowledge: It's highly recommended to read up on ancient Egyptian history and pharaohs before your visit to enrich your experience.
- Audio Guide: Consider renting a self-guided audio device for a more immersive understanding.
- Comfort is Key: The exhibition halls can be quite cool, so be sure to bring a jacket.
Navigating the Ancient Wonders
The exhibition is thoughtfully divided into three main halls, guiding you chronologically through Egypt's rich past. We suggest the following route:
Recommended Visiting Flow
If the initial hall, The Pharaohs' Kingdom, is crowded, you can adapt your visit by exploring The Secrets of Saqqara and The Era of Tutankhamun first, then returning to the first hall.
Hall 1: The Pharaohs' Kingdom
Embark on a 3000-year journey through ancient Egyptian civilization, starting with creation myths and unfolding across six distinct sections.
Section 1: Understanding Nature and Divinity
This section showcases ancient Egyptian perceptions of nature and their vast pantheon of deities.
Must-See Artifacts: Stele bearing the name of King Smenkhkare; the resurrected statue of Osiris; a pottery vessel adorned with boats, animals, and birds; a griffin plaque with dual serpents; a statue of Anubis.
Section 2: The Spiritual World of the Ancient Egyptians
Discover the profound beliefs that shaped Egyptian society.
Must-See Artifacts: Statue of Ramesses II, one of Egypt's most famous pharaohs; the kneeling statue of Hatshepsut, a legendary female pharaoh often compared to China's Empress Wu; statue of Shepenupenune, High Priestess of Amun; the Wadjyt collar; seated statue of Amenhotep II.
Section 3: Rituals, Magic, and Social Structure
Explore the intricate rituals, magical practices, and the hierarchical, pyramid-like social structure of ancient Egypt.
Must-See Artifacts: Statues of the High Priest Ptah and his wife; kneeling statue of Priest Ramesses holding a stele; a painted model of a solar boat; dragonfly-eye glass beads; various relief panels.
Section 4: The World as Depicted and Constructed
Examine how the ancient Egyptians represented their world and its knowledge.
Must-See Artifacts: Stone tablet with three scripts (crucial for deciphering hieroglyphs); statue of Thoth in the form of a baboon; stele presenting offerings to Thutmose III; painted false door of Mimi; papyrus showing geography; seated scribe statue.
Section 5: Egypt's Wider World Connections
Witness how ancient Egyptian civilization merged with the broader Mediterranean world, featuring some European influences.
Must-See Artifacts: Gilded mummy mask (noting the European features of the faces depicted); statue of an eagle-headed crocodile; bronze mongoose.
Section 6: Religious Life and Celebrations
Delve into the core of ancient Egyptian faith, exploring religious ceremonies and festivals.
Must-See Artifacts: Golden finger stall; Eye of Horus; wooden box containing 186 shabti figures; hippopotamus sculpture.
Hall 2: The Secrets of Saqqara
Saqqara, one of Egypt's most ancient and significant necropolises, is home to Egypt's first pyramid and numerous noble tombs and animal mummies, making it a site of recent, remarkable archaeological discoveries.
Sub-Section 1: Animal Offerings
Discover the animal deities offered as votive gifts to the gods.
Must-See Artifacts: Falcon god statue on a painted shrine; three scarabs; reclining calf statue (rumored to contain a real calf).
Sub-Section 2: The Cult of Bastet
Experience the worship of Bastet, the cat goddess embodying both fierce protection and gentle nurture.
Must-See Artifacts: Seated cat statue; standing statue of Bastet.
Sub-Section 3: The Role of Priests
Understand the vital role of high priests in serving the divine.
Must-See Artifacts: Painted wooden pyramid; painted wooden carving of Ptah-Sokar; Shabti bucket.
Sub-Section 4: Places of Worship
Explore the sites where ancient Egyptians offered their devotion and erected temples.
Must-See Artifacts: Painted anthropoid coffin; domed stele; fragments of a Hathor sistrum.
Hall 3: The Era of Tutankhamun
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, with its nearly 5,000 precious artifacts, was a globally sensational event, revealing unparalleled opulence.
Sub-Section 1: Tutankhamun's Ascension
Trace Tutankhamun's progression from a new king of the Eighteenth Dynasty to his divine status.
Must-See Artifacts: Head of Amun; standing statue of Queen Tiye.
Sub-Section 2: Amarna Period Reforms
Learn about Akhenaten's religious revolution, advocating for the sole worship of the Aten.
Must-See Artifacts: Colossal statue of Tutankhamun's father, Akhenaten; bust of Nefertiti, renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world; colossal statue of Tutankhamun, the owner of the famous golden mask.
Sub-Section 3: Return to Tradition
Discover Tutankhamun's reign, his relocation of the capital to Memphis, and his establishment of commemorative stelae, marking a return to traditional values.
Must-See Artifacts: Golden floral wreath; statue of Ramesses II with two goddesses.
