Shanghai art tour: Private day with museums and M50 studios

You choose which art venues to visit and how long to spend at each one.

A private full-day art tour in Shanghai covering contemporary and traditional art across five to six venues (from the M50 artist quarter to major museums) with a guide who speaks English or Chinese, hotel pickup, and an authentic local lunch included. You shape the itinerary based on what interests you most and how much time you want at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. M501h 30m · entry included
2. China Art Palace1h 30m · entry included
3. Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts1h · entry included

Explore Shanghai's diverse art venues

• Visit Rockbund Art Museum
• Explore M50 art district
• Tour Aurora Museum
• Visit China Art Palace
• See private art museum by Liu Yiqian
• Discover Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts
• Enjoy authentic local lunch

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel and moves through Shanghai's art landscape at your own pace. The M50 art district, housed in converted factories at 50 Moganshan Road since 2000, holds artist studios and galleries where you can watch creators at work. The Rockbund Art Museum rotates contemporary exhibitions with no permanent collection, so the experience shifts with each visit. The China Art Palace, built inside the former Expo 2010 pavilion, holds roughly 14,000 artworks spanning Chinese modern and contemporary pieces across one of Asia's largest art museums.

Your guide speaks English or Chinese and can recommend which venues fit your interests, whether that's contemporary work, historic jade and porcelain at the Aurora Museum, or the traditional crafts studios at the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, where artisans demonstrate ivory, jade and wood carving. An authentic local lunch is included, with your guide suggesting dishes based on your preferences and budget. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are accommodated. The air-conditioned vehicle and driver stay with you throughout the day, and you decide how long to linger at each stop.

The tour runs for eight hours total. All entry fees, taxes and transportation are included in the price. Tips to the guide and driver are recommended but not required.

What’s included

• All museum entry fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle with driver for eight hours.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• authentic local lunch with dishes tailored to your preferences and dietary needs.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Jennys China Tours

Is this one for you?Choose English if that's your working language, or Chinese if you prefer to follow the guide's commentary in Mandarin. Either way, the flexible itinerary means you spend your time on the art forms that matter to you most.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

Can I pick which art museums to visit on this Shanghai tour?

Yes. The itinerary is flexible based on your interests, so you and your guide decide together which venues to include (whether that's the Rockbund Art Museum, M50, the China Art Palace, the Aurora Museum, or the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts), and how much time to spend at each one.

What is the M50 art district in Shanghai?

M50 is an artist quarter at 50 Moganshan Road that began in 2000 when local artist Xue Song moved into cheap industrial space. Other artists soon followed, and the former factories and warehouses are now galleries, studios and design agencies where you can see creators working.

Is lunch included, and can you accommodate dietary needs?

Lunch is included and features authentic local dishes like dumplings and noodles, chosen by your guide based on your interests and budget. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are no problem.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes all museum entry fees and taxes, an air-conditioned vehicle with driver for the full eight hours, hotel pickup and drop-off, and an authentic local lunch. Tips to the guide and driver are recommended but optional.