Shanghai Science and Technology Museum is a large museum in Pudong, Shanghai, close to Century Park, the largest park within the inner districts of the city. It is one of China's most-visited museums. It received 1,351,000 visitors in 2020, despite a fall of attendance of 72 percent from 2019 due to restrictions and reduced tourism imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
Century Square was built in 1995, and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum was planned for its western side as a key project for popularizing science in the Yangtze Delta region. As part of the Huamu Civic Center, it was also intended to help drive Pudong's continued development away from Lujiazui and other neighborhoods along the banks of the Huangpu River. The museum completed its conference and meeting halls in time to host the APEC Leaders' Meeting on 20 & 21 October 2001, receiving Chinese paramount leader Jiang Zemin, Russian president Vladimir Putin, and US president George W. Bush.
The Science and Technology Museum completed its first phase of construction and opened its exhibits to the general public on 18 December 2001. Its initial themes were the harmony of nature, mankind, and technology (, Zìrán, Rén, Kējì) and its first five exhibition halls were devoted to "Heaven and Earth", "Life", "Wisdom", "Creativity", and "the Future".
The second phase of the project opened in May 2005, at which time it was the first science and technology museum authenticated to meet ISO 9000/14000 quality and environmental standards. Between its opening and 2010, it attracted 19.5 million visitors. The children's area and Light of Wisdom exhibition were renovated from January to May 2010, ahead of the Shanghai World Expo held that year. Initially named a AAAA-rated tourist attraction by the CNTA, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum has since been upgraded to AAAAA status. US president Barack Obama held a town hall meeting with Shanghainese students at the Science and Technology Museum on 16 November 2009 during his state visit.
Administration
The SSTM is not a purely public institution, but a foundation under public administration funded by private businesses in Shanghai. These include the Pudong Development Bank, the Shanghai Science and Technology Investment Corporation, Beijing Zhijin Venture Capital, and Top Group. The foundation also administers other scientific museums in Shanghai, such as the Shanghai Natural History Museum and Shanghai Planetarium.
Architecture
The original design of the museum was managed by Shanghai-based Creative Star Digital, who planned it to accommodate 2–3 million visitors per year. It cost 3.75 billion ($180 million) with an investment of 1,755 billion. The museum building is an ascending spiral rising from one to five floors, intended to symbolize scientific and technological progress. The enormous glass sphere at its center denotes the rise of life out of water. Its grounds cover an area of , with a floor space of . of this is used for the exhibition space. The museum's HVAC was digitized and advanced enough for its time that it was once considered for a separate exhibit of its own.
As part of Pudong's Huamu Civic Center, the museum building helps anchor the southern end of the district's principal thoroughfare Century Avenue, facing onto the Century Square, with its underground shopping area and subway station. Century Park lies nearby and, together, the complex has helped rebrand the district and encourage luxury housing developments in the surrounding area.
Exhibitions
The museum is dedicated to the popularization of science, with an intended theme of the harmony of "Nature, Mankind, and Technology". Like the overall building design, the original exhibits were designed by Creative Star Digital.
It has 13 main permanent exhibitions and 4 science-themed cinemas. The exhibitions are:
Spectrum of Life: A natural exhibit which imitates the scenery of Yunnan Province and displays its diversity of creatures. Earth Exploration Cradle of Design or Designers where visitors can use CAD/CAM to design and build small things Children's Rainbow Land Light of Wisdom Home on Earth Information Era World of Robots Light of Exploration is an exhibit which showcases human scientific achievements of the 20th century. Human and Health Space Navigation World of Animals Spiders Exhibition
The Chinese Ancient Science and Technology Gallery showcases ancient Chinese inventions and works. The Explorers' Gallery features Chinese and foreign explorers. The Academicians' Gallery features contemporary scientists from China, particularly Shanghai.