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.[4] 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.[3]
The Science and Technology Museum completed its first phase of construction and opened its exhibits to the general public on 18 December 2001.[5] Its initial themes were the harmony of nature, mankind, and technology (Chinese: 自然·人·科技, Zìrán, Rén, Kējì) and its first five exhibition halls were devoted to "Heaven and Earth", "Life", "Wisdom", "Creativity", and "the Future".[8]
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 9000/14000quality and environmental standards.[5] Between its opening and 2010, it attracted 19.5 million visitors.[5] The children's area and Light of Wisdom exhibition were renovated from January to May 2010,[9] ahead of the Shanghai World Expo held that year. Initially named a AAAA-rated tourist attraction by the CNTA,[5] the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum has since been upgraded to AAAAA status.[10] 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.
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.[12] It cost 3.75 billionRMB[1] ($180 million)[13] with an investment of 1,755 billionRMB.[citation needed][clarification needed] The museum building is an ascending spiral rising from one to five floors,[13] intended to symbolize scientific and technological progress.[5] The enormous glass sphere at its center denotes the rise of life out of water.[5] Its grounds cover an area of 6.8 hectares (17 acres),[5][13] with a floor space of 98,000 square meters (1,050,000 sq ft).[5] 65,500 square meters (705,000 sq ft) of this is used for the exhibition space.[citation needed] The museum's HVAC was digitized and advanced enough for its time that it was once considered for a separate exhibit of its own.[7]
As part of Pudong's Huamu Civic Center, the museum building helps anchor the southern end of the district's principal thoroughfare Century Avenue,[6] facing onto the 250,000-square-meter (2,700,000 sq ft) Century Square, with its underground shopping area and subway station.[citation needed]Century Park lies nearby and, together, the complex has helped rebrand the district and encourage luxury housing developments in the surrounding area.[6]
Exhibitions
A pianist in the "World of Robots" exhibition.Part of the "Home on Earth" exhibition.Part of the "Information Era" exhibition.
The museum is dedicated to the popularization of science,[5] with an intended theme of the harmony[8] of "Nature, Mankind, and Technology".[5] Like the overall building design, the original exhibits were designed by Creative Star Digital.[citation needed]
It has 13 main permanent exhibitions and 4 science-themed cinemas.[10] The exhibitions are:
Spectrum of Life: A natural exhibit which imitates the scenery of Yunnan Province and displays its diversity of creatures.[14]
The Chinese Ancient Science and Technology Gallery[5] showcases ancient Chinese inventions and works. The Explorers' Gallery[10] features Chinese and foreign explorers. The Academicians' Gallery features contemporary scientists from China,[5] particularly Shanghai.[1]
There was previously also an "Audio-Visual Discovery Paradise",[5] s small-scale hydroelectric power station, a 700 square meters (7,500 sq ft) rain forest, an aviary, an aquarium, and an earthquake center including a motive platform with video allowing visitors to experience simulated tremors.[13] The exhibitions are intended to "represent cutting-edge scientific development" using "innovative and unique exhibition methods"[5] but many have not been updated since their installation. This behavior is common in China, where museums often subcontract all their exhibits' designs to private firms without any longterm arrangement to maintain or update them.[16]
There are also two temporary exhibition halls.
The museum opened with 2 IMAX cinemas.[13] With the later addition of another two, the cineplex is the largest dedicated to science education in Asia, with 10,000 showtimes each year.[10] They are:[1]
The promotional video for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 shot several scenes on location in and around the Science and Technology Museum. Its futuristic appearance has made it a common setting for Chinese media.
^ ab=Tea-AECOM Museum Index, "Top 20 Museums Worldwide", published September 2021
^世纪公园-上海旅游景点Archived 2011-11-27 at the Wayback Machine(in Chinese)"Century Park is the largest natural park setting within the Inner Ring Road in Shanghai."
Tom, Steve (Oct 2002), "Shanghai Technology Museum"(PDF), ASHRAE Journal: BACnet Today, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, pp. 36–8.
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