International Table Tennis Federation Museum
The International Table Tennis Federation Museum in Shanghai showcases over 8,000 exhibits detailing the sport’s evolution, including historic equipment and memorabilia.
Planning your visit
Table tennis is China's national sport in a way few countries can match — the country has dominated it internationally for decades, and ping-pong diplomacy in 1971, when an American team's visit opened the way to Nixon's China trip, gave the game a genuine place in twentieth-century history.
The ITTF Museum moved from Lausanne to Shanghai in 2018, combining with the China Table Tennis Museum, and it holds over 8,000 exhibits covering the sport's development from Victorian parlour game to Olympic discipline: historic equipment, bats, balls, memorabilia and material on the great players.
The equipment's evolution is more interesting than expected — rubber surfaces, ball size and speed glue have all been regulated repeatedly to keep rallies watchable.
Practice tables let visitors play.
Allow ninety minutes. Bookable options include tours with practice sessions. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is International Table Tennis Federation Museum?
International Table Tennis Federation Museum is in Shanghai, China.
How long should I allow for International Table Tennis Federation Museum?
Allow ninety minutes. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book International Table Tennis Federation Museum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
