People's Square is located at No. 120 People's Avenue, Huangpu District, Shanghai. It is the geographical center and the political and cultural core area of Shanghai. As an iconic public space in downtown Shanghai, it is an important landmark of Shanghai's city image. Covering a total area of about 140,000 square meters, People's Square integrates administrative, cultural and recreational functions, making it the most representative urban square in Shanghai. The square features a neat layout, symmetrically distributed along People's Avenue as its central axis. Surrounding the square are important buildings including the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Grand Theatre and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. The main green area of People's Square is about 60,000 square meters, the hard‑scaped square area is about 80,000 square meters, and the total construction area of various supporting buildings is about 23,000 square meters. Its core feature is the combination of urban administrative functions and public recreational use. It serves as both the administrative center of Shanghai and an important venue for citizens' daily leisure and cultural activities. It also connects well-known landmarks such as Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and Shanghai Museum, acting as a key hub linking Shanghai's core cultural and tourism resources.
History and Culture
The history of Shanghai People's Square dates back to the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. Its predecessor was the core area of the Shanghai Race Club, built in 1862 by the Shanghai Recreation Fund. It was once a recreational venue for foreign expatriates in old Shanghai and an important symbol of modern Shanghai’s colonial history. The racecourse covered about 520 mu, making it the largest racecourse in the Far East at that time, witnessing the urban development and colonial history of old Shanghai.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the racecourse ended its historical role. In 1951, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government renovated the area, demolished the racecourse buildings, and gradually planned and built People's Square, symbolizing that “the people are masters of the country”, positioning it as an urban public space. In 1994, Shanghai launched a comprehensive renovation project of People's Square, which was completed in two years. The function layout was re‑planned, green landscapes and public facilities were added, and surrounding cultural buildings were integrated, forming the current pattern.
Today, People's Square is not only the geographical center but also a microcosm of Shanghai's urban culture. Its transformation and development reflect the historical changes of Shanghai from a colonial city to a people’s city. It also carries the collective memory of Shanghai citizens and has become an important carrier of Shanghai’s urban spirit.
Main Attractions
Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum is located on the south side of People's Square, at No. 201 People's Avenue, Huangpu District. It covers a construction area of about 39,000 square meters, with 2 floors underground and 5 floors above ground. It is one of the key museums in China. Founded in 1952, the museum moved to its current location at People's Square in 1996. Designed with the concept of “a round sky over a square earth”, the building features a square base and a circular dome. The museum houses a collection of more than 1.02 million cultural relics in 31 categories, including bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, and jades. Among its treasures are the Western Zhou Dynasty Da Ke Ding, the Spring and Autumn Period Zizhong Jiang Plate, and the Northern Song Dynasty Chunhua Ge Tie. It is an important window for understanding ancient Chinese art.
Shanghai Grand Theatre
Shanghai Grand Theatre is located on the northwest side of People's Square, at No. 300 People's Avenue, Huangpu District. It has a total construction area of about 64,000 square meters, a height of 40 meters, and 10 floors. It officially opened in 1998. The architectural style integrates Chinese and Western elements, with curved glass curtain walls and marble facades. It contains three performance venues: a main theatre, a medium theatre and a small theatre. The main theatre can seat 1,800 spectators. As an important art performance venue in Shanghai, it regularly hosts high‑level performances including operas, symphonies and ballets, and is known as “the cultural pearl of Shanghai”.
People's Square Musical Fountain
The People's Square Musical Fountain is located in the central area of the square. Completed in 1994, it covers an area of about 600 square meters, equipped with 128 nozzles and 250 underwater colored lights. The maximum spray height can reach 28 meters. The fountain opens at scheduled times every day, presenting various water patterns with music and lighting effects. It is a popular spot for citizens and tourists, especially at night when the lights are on, becoming the visual focus of the square.
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is located on the east side of People's Square, at No. 100 People's Avenue, Huangpu District. It covers a construction area of about 20,000 square meters and officially opened to the public in 2000. With the theme of “City, People, Environment, Development”, the exhibition hall displays Shanghai’s urban planning history, current status and future through models, multimedia and interactive experiences. Its core exhibit is a 1:500 scale sand table model of downtown Shanghai, covering about 600 square meters, clearly showing Shanghai’s urban layout. It is an important platform for understanding Shanghai’s urban development.
Visiting Route
The recommended visiting route starts from Exit 1 of People's Square Metro Station, taking about 3–4 hours in total: first walk to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall (about 1 hour) to learn about Shanghai’s urban development; then walk to the central area of People's Square to watch the musical fountain (if open) and experience the leisure atmosphere (about 30 minutes); next go to Shanghai Museum on the south side (about 1.5 hours) to appreciate precious cultural relics; finally walk to Shanghai Grand Theatre on the northwest side to view its exterior, or purchase tickets in advance for a performance if interested (about 30 minutes). If time permits, you can walk east for about 5 minutes from People's Square to Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street to extend your trip.
Visiting Tips
- The best visiting seasons are spring and autumn (March–May, September–November), when Shanghai has a pleasant climate and the square’s greenery is at its best, with temperatures around 15–25°C, suitable for long outdoor visits.
- It is recommended to book Shanghai Museum 1–2 days in advance via its official WeChat account. The daily visitor limit is 8,000. Entry is free with ID after booking. Guided services include human guides and electronic audio guides.
- The musical fountain operates at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 daily, 15 minutes each time. Arrive 5 minutes early for a good view.
- The recommended duration is 3–4 hours, or up to 5 hours if you visit Shanghai Museum in depth, to avoid a tight schedule.
- There are many dining options around the square. You can go to East Nanjing Road business district, about 500 meters away, with various restaurants for different budgets.
Notes
- People's Square is a public open area. Pets, flammable and explosive items are prohibited. Unlicensed vending and leafleting are not allowed. Please follow the square’s management rules.
- Speaking loudly, touching cultural relics and using flash photography are forbidden inside Shanghai Museum. Luggage storage is available free of charge for large items.
- The square has a large flow of people, especially during holidays (such as Spring Festival and National Day), with a daily average of over 100,000 visitors. Take care of your valuables, the elderly and children.
- Do not step on the green areas. Public seats are for resting only; lying down or placing items on them is prohibited.
- In case of extreme weather (heavy rain, high temperature), some public facilities may be temporarily closed. Please check the weather forecast in advance and adjust your plan.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Metro Lines 1, 2 or 8 to People's Square Station. There are 18 exits in total. Exits 1, 2 and 8 lead directly to the core area of People's Square. Metro operates from 5:30 to 23:30.
- Bus: Take bus routes 18, 20, 37, 46, 49, 64, 108, 123, 145, 537, etc. to People's Square Station. Walk 50–200 meters to reach the square.
- Self-driving: There are underground parking lots around People's Square. The People's Square Underground Parking Lot is at No. 100 People's Avenue, Huangpu District. Parking spaces are scarce during the weekday morning rush hour (7:30–9:30). Public transport is highly recommended.
- Shared bikes: Multiple shared bike parking areas are available around the square, mainly along People's Avenue and East Nanjing Road. Please park in designated zones.
Opening Hours
The main square is open 24 hours a day, all year round. Surrounding attractions: Shanghai Museum is open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), closed on Mondays (except public holidays); Shanghai Grand Theatre is open 9:00–20:00 (adjusted on performance days), no regular closing day; Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall is open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), closed on Mondays (except public holidays); the musical fountain runs at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 daily, 15 minutes each time, suspended in severe weather (typhoon, heavy rain).
Admission
Free admission. City sightseeing bus tickets are charged separately.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.