China Maritime Museum - Explore the Sea's History

Duration: 1 day Time: October Per person: 200 yuan With whom: Friends Activities: Photography, Free travel, Weekend trip Author visited these places: China Maritime Museum Shanghai Dishui Lake Donghai Bridge Published on October 20, 2021, 11:10 AM Preface The China Maritime Museum is one of the few museums in Shanghai bearing the title of ‘China’ and is currently the only national-level maritime museum in our country. This newly opened museum in 2010 encompasses all the functions of a modern museum. Here, you will find a 1:1 scale replica of the treasure ship that Zheng He sailed on his voyages to the Western Seas, as well as modern ship models. Visitors can learn essential sailor skills such as tying sailor knots through interactive sessions. Here, visitors seem to constantly travel between ancient and modern times, experiencing different eras of navigation. Would you like to take a look together? The China Maritime Museum, located in the Lingang New City area where high-rise buildings are not many, can be seen from afar with its two white sails. This is the China Maritime Museum that I would like to share with you today. It consists of a two-story base building and two side buildings. The highlight of the entire building is the two steel structure central sails standing on the two-story base building, each about seventy meters high. The architectural shape is like two white sails, highlighting the maritime theme, innovative and visually striking. Tour Guide The museum’s exhibition area is divided into three levels. The first level features the Maritime History Hall, Ship Hall, Sailor Hall, and the Fishing Boat and Fishing Special Exhibition Area. The second level features the Navigation and Port Hall, Maritime and Marine Safety Hall, Military Navigation Hall, and the Navigation Sports and Leisure Special Exhibition Area. The museum also has an astronomical hall, a 4D cinema, and a children’s activity center. The recommended tour order is to take the escalator down to the first floor after entering to start the visit. The museum offers free guided tours on weekends and holidays, usually once in the morning and once in the afternoon for each exhibition hall. It is recommended to follow the guide’s explanation to visit in order. The quality of the guides here is very high. They can not only easily explain most of the maritime history but also know each exhibit in the museum like the back of their hand. The museum is free to the public on specific dates such as International Museum Day on May 18th and China Maritime Day on July 11th. First Impression Upon entering the museum’s lobby, the first thing that catches the eye is a Fujian ship completely made according to ancient craftsmanship. The construction of this ship is based on historical records and follows ancient craftsmanship. The stern has two stern buildings, and there is a raisable deck, three masts, and three sails, with the main mast being 26.6 meters high. The structure uses traditional Chinese shipbuilding techniques such as mortise and tenon connections and watertight compartments.
The Fujian ship, one of the four major ancient Chinese ship types and the most famous ocean-going vessel, is believed by experts to be the type of ship Zheng He used during his voyages to the Western Seas. The value of this ship is not merely for tourists to observe; it can also be boarded for a tour and participation in various interactive activities. The area in front of the Fujian ship features China’s independently designed and completed aircraft carriers, destroyers, and other main battleships, stirring emotions in visitors. The Maritime History Hall is divided into three exhibition areas: ancient, modern, and contemporary, with a timeline as the main thread and technology as the secondary thread. It showcases the invention and evolution of Chinese maritime technology through the introduction of buoyancy, rafts, wooden boats, sails, oars, rudders, and compasses. Visiting here is not only an opportunity for children to gain knowledge but also for adults to learn about the history and facts of navigation. A pure gold Spring and Autumn period warship is exquisitely crafted, with lifelike actions of soldiers on the deck and in the cabin upon close inspection! Not far away, the ‘Daming Hunyi Tu’ is the oldest existing, largest-sized colored world map drawn by the Chinese, and the earliest to depict Africa. The original is stored in the First Historical Archives of China and is too fragile for display or reproduction. There are only four replicas of this map in the world, making them extremely valuable. The Ship Hall is divided into two parts: ship structure and equipment, and shipbuilding. It showcases the structure, equipment, and construction of ships, allowing visitors to clearly understand the ship’s structure and the functionality of shipboard equipment. Interactive elements, environmental simulations, audience participation, and artifacts are combined in the exhibition. A 1:6 scale high-fidelity cross-sectional model of a large 10,000-ton cargo ship, about 25 meters long, spans two exhibition spaces. Based on the book ‘Ship Politics’, a Ming dynasty clipper ship is restored at a 1:2 scale. The Mariner Hall mainly displays artifacts and documents reflecting the work and life of mariners. Visitors can also experience the feeling of being a captain through the operation of the museum’s navigation simulator. The Navigation and Port Hall primarily displays marine environments, instruments, and technical materials that have ensured the navigation of ships from ancient times to the present, including terrestrial navigation, celestial navigation, and radio navigation. It also showcases a large number of artifacts and objects reflecting ports and waterways. The Maritime and Maritime Safety Hall consists of two independent exhibition areas: maritime affairs and maritime safety. Maritime affairs showcases the evolution of maritime affairs and maritime regulatory enforcement through artifacts and supporting text. The Maritime Safety Hall displays maritime rescue, salvage, and anti-piracy topics through artifacts, models, multimedia, and electronic maps.

The Military Navigation Hall displays a large number of various warship models and naval flags. This is not only the favorite of children, but even adults find it hard to move on when they arrive here. All kinds of exquisite models and ships are really exciting. For military enthusiasts, the submarine area is also very attractive. Here, the restored submarine section is the main scene. Tourists can enter the simulated submarine and observe the periscope, focus simulation, measure distance, and even simulate combat situations. Interaction is also one of the important functions of museums. Compared with the pure indoctrination and preaching embodied in text, pictures, and physical exhibitions, interactive experience has changed the previous one-sided preaching form and allows everyone to experience on the spot, so as to have a personal feeling for the functions and times of exhibits. In the Maritime Museum, similar interactive experiences can be seen everywhere. As long as you are interested, the on-site staff will teach you to tie various sailor knots! During important holidays every year, the venue will conduct outdoor interactive experiences from time to time. Children have the opportunity to try to simulate the feeling of a ship going to sea by operating a remote-controlled sailing ship. To make reservations and learn more about wonderful activities, you can follow the ‘China Maritime Museum’ and make reservations in the ‘Activity Reservation’ menu. There is also a children’s activity center specially designed for children in the museum. Children who are tired from watching can come here to play. In the rich interactive experience, learn some knowledge about ships, sea voyages, and terminal transportation. There are realistic simulated driving, little porters, virtual aquariums, submarine periscopes, simulated drivers, etc… I didn’t expect that there is such a large children’s activity center reserved in the museum. It is quite considerate. You can even change into nautical-themed clothing in the role room and become a ‘captain’, ‘mermaid’, etc., and take stickers with your parents. In the shopping area in the atrium on the second floor, you can find smaller ship models and surrounding products to meet the needs of tourists who want to collect some scenic warships or nautical souvenirs. There is a dining area and a coffee shop on the first floor for tourists to have appropriate supplies and rest. Special recommendation 1: The special exhibition of cultural relics unearthed from the ‘Taixing’ shipwreck currently held at the China Maritime Museum is the first large-scale exhibition on the theme of the ‘Taixing’ shipwreck in China. The ‘Taixing’ shipwreck is also known as the ‘Titanic’ of the East. It is the largest Chinese wooden sailing ship discovered by archaeology and also the shipwreck with the most complete cultural relics salvaged so far. The exhibition area is divided into four parts: departure and shipwreck, exploration and salvage, auction and repurchase, research and restoration, deeply revealing the past and present life of the ‘Taixing’ shipwreck. More than 400 salvaged porcelain pieces are exhibited to fully present the overall appearance of the porcelain unearthed from the ‘Taixing’ shipwreck.
In the special exhibition area, more than 100 fine pieces of Dehua kiln from the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties and even contemporary times are on display simultaneously. It is reported that this exhibition will last until January 3, 2022. Friends who are interested in this Oriental ‘Titanic’ should not miss it. Special recommendation 2: The temporary exhibition ‘Red Memory, Blue Sailing: Special Exhibition to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China’ is on special display at the China Maritime Museum. The exhibition is divided into six parts, namely ‘Pioneering the World’, ‘Seafarers’ Loyalty Forges the Soul of the Sea’, ‘Ships Traveling Thousands of Miles to Connect the World’, ‘The People’s Navy Sailing the Vast Oceans’, ‘Roots and Green Leaves Share the Same Destiny’, and ‘Realizing the Chinese Dream’. (It is reported that this special exhibition has ended, and the pictures and text are for reference only). The exhibition brings together more than 110 pieces/sets of exhibits. It shows the earth-shaking changes in China’s maritime cause construction from five dimensions of overseas students, seafarers, shipping, navy and overseas Chinese in the early 20th century, tells the Chinese red maritime story to the audience, and promotes the red maritime spirit. The exhibition uses historical materials and cultural relics to concisely display the moving stories of the Chinese People’s Navy fearing no difficulties and sacrifices, adhering to the front line of escort, and safeguarding the safety of international shipping trade and overseas Chinese. One of the highlights of this exhibition is the display of model ships reflecting contemporary important maritime equipment. Including 300,000-ton ultra-large oil tankers, 21,000 TEU container ship COSCO ‘Universe’, China’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier ‘Shandong’, the first ship of Type 055 guided missile destroyer ‘Nanchang’, Type 075 amphibious assault ship, Type 094 nuclear submarine and other ship models. These important maritime equipment are important physical witnesses to the takeoff of China’s shipbuilding industry and an important material basis for the Chinese nation to realize a’maritime power’. Unfortunately, the exhibition date is limited. Friends who arrive late may not have time to see the exhibited contents. So I specially share the exhibited contents with everyone. Of course, the China Maritime Museum itself will also hold many special exhibitions from time to time. Friends who are interested should pay attention to the recommendations of the ‘China Aerial Photography Museum’ in time. Postscript: Address: No. 197 Shengang Avenue, Lingang New City, Pudong New District, Shanghai (near Dishui Lake). Opening hours: 9:30 – 16:00. Admission stops at 15:30. Closed on Mondays (except holidays). Ticket price: 30 yuan/person for adults, 15 yuan/person for student tickets, 10 yuan/person for the elderly aged 60 – 69. Children under 1.4m, the elderly aged over 70, active servicemen, retired cadres, disabled people, seafarers, families of martyrs, firefighters, and members of the museum association can visit for free. Transportation guide: Public transportation: Exit 2 of ‘Dishui Lake’ station on Metro Line 16, and transfer to ‘Route 1096’ to ‘Shengang Avenue, West Second Ring Road around the Lake’ station, and then walk to the China Maritime Museum.
Self-driving route: Outer Ring Road S20 (towards Pudong Airport) → S2 Shanghai-Lushi Expressway (towards Donghai Bridge) → Exit at Lingang New Area. After getting off, go straight along Shengang Avenue to the China Maritime Museum.

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