Shanghai Film Museum

Constructed on the original site of Shanghai Film Studio in Xuhui District, Shanghai Film Museum is mainly made up of four exhibition units, which are F1- Hall of Honor, F2- Film Workshops, F3-The History of Shanghai Film and F4- Memories in Light and Show. This museum tells the stories behind the film and introduces the legends in China’s film industry through exhibiting articles, manuscripts and costumes, playing videos and holding other interactive activities. After the visit, people will know the status of Shanghai film and understand why it is considered as the epitome of China’s film industry.

The Hall of Honor displays various achievements of Shanghai film during the last 100 years. More than 600 golden trophies and 30 groundbreaking records written on the wall directly show the important status of Shanghai film in the whole Chinese film industry. The popular display area on F1 is the Birth of the National Anthem, where visitors can hear three different versions of the Chinese anthem. If you want to have a general idea of Shanghai films, visit the area- A Century’s Splendor. Here you will be introduced top 30 classical Shanghai films through photos and written materials. By the way, drinks and souvenirs are sold on this floor.

F2 can fully satisfy your curiosity about the story behind the film. Numerous interactive devices make this floor the most interesting exhibition unit in the Shanghai Film Museum. In order to let visitors experience different steps of film making, F2 is divided into 6 display areas. They are Sound Stage 1, Postproduction Studio, Film Encyclopedia, Animation Film Studio, Make-up & Costume Studio and Stage 1.

In Sound Stage 1, visitors will see how the foreign movies are dubbed into the native language.

In Postproduction Studio, film editors will teach you how to use analogue devices to add sound effects, or how to use video clip tools to create attractive visual effects like montages.

Next is the Film Encyclopedia. This area is more like a laboratory because it focuses on introducing the imaging principles of movies. Also, visitors can try to operate the imaging equipment on their own.

You will never know how many efforts are needed in every frame of cartoons until you visit the Animation Film Studio. Here artists will demonstrate to people how to handle puppets and how to produce paper-cut, hand-drawn and Chinese painting animation.

Girls will definitely be attracted to the Make-up & Costume Studio upon noticing various makeup tools and other chemical materials. Here, the purpose of makeup is not to become pretty, but to become convincing. Together with costumes, makeup plays an indispensable role in shaping a vivid character in movies.

Another cool site on F2 is the Stage 1, where visitors can experience the whole process of recording a TV program we see nowadays.

As you can see, F3 aims to present how the film industry grew in Shanghai in the late 19th century and then became a powerful medium to promote Chinese culture. Six display areas are The Original Seeds of Cinema, Dream Factories, The Following River of Light and Shadow, The Eye-opening Experience, Dubbing Classical Films and Comic Fair.

In the Original Seeds of Cinema, many film scripts are the vivid reminder of the infant stage of film industry in China. Before long, Shanghai film ushered in its golden period during 1930s and 1940s. People will be briefed on the top 10 production companies and their representative works during this period in the Dream Factories. After the founding of New China in 1949, the film industry became even more thriving. Famous movies after 1950s, along with their shooting equipment, are mainly exhibited in the Following River of Light and Shadow.

In the Eye-opening Experience area, visitors will get close to another type of movie: science and education films. This area will show you what kind of equipment and techniques the filmmakers will use to conquer the extreme weather outdoors, so as to capture the amazing moments. This area also has an interactive activity. Visitors can choose a certain movie, pick up the receiver and listen while the according part on the sand table keeps flashing. This game simulates how it feels like when shooting a science film in the wild.

Everyone must have seen several dubbed films, but have you ever tried to dub a movie yourself? In the Dubbing Classical Films area, you can choose the movie you like and dub for your favorite character. Children’s dream of becoming an alien can be fulfilled by putting on electronic sounds here.

In the Comic Fair, visitors can pull out the drawers and appreciate the animation manuscripts inside. The most valuable manuscript in Shanghai Film Museum could be that of the Monkey King. The Monkey King is considered as the pioneering animation in China in the early 1960s. Here, all the manuscripts about its characters and scenes are well-preserved. People can feel the artists’ diligence from every stroke. Manuscripts of other animations like the Sergeant Black Cat and the Lotus Lamp also remind many Chinese of their childhood.

F4 in Shanghai Film Museum lays the emphasis on the legends in Shanghai film history, the representative movie scenes and the history of movie distribution. Five areas on F4 are the Avenue of Stars, Galaxy of Stars, Achievements of Masters, Nanjing Road in the Limelight, A Century’s History of Film Distribution and Exhibition.

Upon reaching the floor, visitors will pass through the Avenue of Stars. Surrounded by flashlights and cheers, you will truly feel like an actor/actress walking on the red carpet.

Then, in the Galaxy of Stars and the Achievements of Masters, visitor will see more than 480 people committed to the development of Shanghai film. They are introduced according to their different occupations such as producer, composer, screenwriter, director, actor, photographer and those in charge of postproduction. The display of their personal articles and the restoration of how they worked will let you understand that film making is not an easy task.

The Nanjing Road in the Limelight will bring you back to the last century. It’s worth explaining that Nanjing Road is the most prosperous area in Shanghai. This road and its surrounding alleys frequently appeared in many classical Shanghai films. Other buildings like Yong’an Department Store, Fei Da Café and Hu Jiang Photo Studio can also evoke a sense of nostalgia.

In A Century’s History of Film Distribution and Exhibition, all sorts of models, advertisements and banners will show you how the movies were released in different periods.

​ By Metro:
1. Take Metro Line 1 or Line 4, and get off at Shanghai Indoor Stadium (shang hai ti yu guan) stop. Leave the metro station from Exit 4 and walk north for 500m (550yd).
2. Take Metro Line 9 or Line 11, and get off at Xujiahui stop. Leave the metro station from Exit 2 and walk south for 500m (550yd).
3. Take Metro Line 3 and get off at Caoxi Road stop. Leave the metro station from Exit 2 and walk north for 1.5km (1mi).

​ By Bus:
1. Take city bus 42, 43, 50, 56, 122, 926, 927, 946 or 957, and get off at North Caoxi Road Yude Road stop.
2. Take city bus 703, and get off at North Caoxi Road Puhuitang Road stop.
 

Recommended Route	Take the elevator to F4, and then visit from F4 down to F1.
Openging Hours	9:00-17:00 from Tue. To Sun.; stop selling tickets at 14:30; closed on Mon. except public holidays
Ticket Fare	CNY60 per adult; CNY30 per child taller than 1.3m (4.3ft) and under 18 years old; Free for children shorter than or equal to 1.3m (4.3ft) or below 6 years old.