Shanghai Auto Museum

Located in Shanghai’s Auto Expo Park, the Shanghai Auto Museum spans 28,000 square meters, featuring over 100 classic automobiles from nearly 50 brands, representing a century of automotive history. Divided into sections like history, collection, exploration, and temporary exhibitions, it offers visitors insights into the evolution of automobiles and their impact on society. Designed by the Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tongji University and IFB from Germany, the museum opened on January 17, 2007.

Planning your visit

The Shanghai Auto Museum was China's first, opened in 2007 in the Auto Expo Park at Anting, and it covers 28,000 square metres with over 100 vehicles from nearly 50 marques. The history section traces the automobile from the earliest machines through the century, with strong European and American holdings, while the collection hall displays significant individual cars.

What makes it more interesting than a standard classic car museum is its position. Anting is the centre of the Chinese automotive industry — SAIC is headquartered nearby, and the surrounding area has become the testing ground for electric vehicles and autonomous driving. The museum's exploration section addresses future mobility, and the district outside provides the live version.

It is well outside central Shanghai, reached on metro line 11, and the journey is long.

Bookable options include entry tickets covering the classic car exhibition, and combined tours pairing the museum with electric vehicle showrooms and robotaxi rides in the surrounding zone — an unusual format that puts the museum's historical arc directly against what is being built next door. Current availability is listed below.