Shanghai Insect Museum

The Shanghai Insect Museum is affiliated with the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Its predecessor was the Insect Department of the Musée Heude, established in 1868 by French priest P. Heude, and was completed in Xujiahui in 1883. Due to the vast number of specimens and storage issues, a new Musée Heude was constructed on Rue Luban (today’s Chongqing South Road) in 1930. At that time, it was acclaimed as ‘the British Museum of Asia’ for its extensive collection of Chinese fauna and flora specimens. The Shanghai Insect Museum has successively presided over dozens of National Natural Science Foundation projects and conducted systematic taxonomic research on five major groups of insects, including proturans, locusts, termites, scale insects, flies, and horseflies. It has proposed many unique insights into the insect classification system and has participated in various scientific expeditions across the country, winning awards. The museum houses the Heliconius erato, known as one of the world’s most beautiful butterflies. Originating from Brazil and Peru, these butterflies are rare and highly precious. They are not only graceful in posture, with wings that spread like a peacock’s fan, but their wings also emit a shimmering light that changes color from deep blue to bright blue to light blue. The white vein patterns on their wings resemble inlaid jewels, shining brightly and captivatingly. Each specimen is valued at 360,000 yuan, and there are only three in China. The museum is open all year round from 09:00 to 16:30.

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