Shanghai Literature Museum Opens to the Public

The Shanghai Literature Museum officially opened its doors to the public on August 27, 2026, marking the culmination of a 14-year journey from initial proposal to completion. Located at the intersection of Jiangxi North Road and Wujin Road in Hongkou District, the museum complex comprises one main building and three heritage-protected historical structures, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the city’s profound literary heritage, according to Xinhua News.

A Literary Landmark in the Making

The museum’s origins trace back to 2012 when the idea was first proposed, with construction officially beginning in August 2022. The project was designed as a “National First-Class Literature Museum” and represents a significant milestone in Shanghai’s cultural development. The complex spans approximately 14,000 square meters of above-ground floor space and has collected over 100,000 pieces of modern and contemporary literary materials.

The choice of location is deeply symbolic. Hongkou District was historically a gathering place for literary giants including Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, Mao Dun, Ba Jin, Ye Shengtao, Ding Ling, Xia Yan, Zheng Zhenduo, and Shi Zhecun. The site itself includes the former Zhao Family Garden, a well-known public space in the 1920s-1930s that Sun Yat-sen visited three times, now a fifth-batch Shanghai Outstanding Historical Protection Building.

Five Permanent Exhibitions Tell Shanghai’s Literary Story

The museum features five permanent exhibition areas that break from traditional linear museum narratives. As Zhou Limin, Deputy Director of the Ba Jin Former Residence, explained in an interview with Wenhui Daily, “The multiple exhibition halls reflect the distinctive characteristics of Shanghai literature: it grows together with the city, it is the headquarters of Chinese left-wing literature, the leader of urban literature, a meeting point of world literary trends, and a benchmark of mutual prosperity with drama and film.”

The five exhibition areas include “Time·Shanghai,” featuring the “24 Hours of Shanghai” installation with a customs house clock as its central visual symbol; “Left-Wing·Shanghai,” highlighting Shanghai’s role as the headquarters of China’s left-wing literary movement; “Metropolis·Shanghai,” showcasing Shanghai as a leader of Chinese urban literature; “Light & Shadow·Shanghai,” exploring the relationship between literature and drama/film; and “World·Shanghai,” presenting Shanghai as a hub of Sino-foreign literary exchange.

A Tribute to Lu Xun

2026 marks the 145th anniversary of Lu Xun’s birth and the 90th anniversary of his death. The museum’s main building features the characters “Shanghai Literature Museum” taken from Lu Xun’s own calligraphy in the first-floor lobby, while the fourth floor hosts the “Lu Xun and Left-Wing Literature Series Exhibition.”

The opening coincides with the “2026 China Literature Ceremony·Lu Xun Literature Week,” which began on August 25 at Lu Xun Park in Hongkou District. As Xinhua News reported, the Lu Xun Literature Award ceremony is being held in Shanghai for the first time. Sun Ganlu, Chairman of the Shanghai Writers’ Association, noted that “Mr. Lu Xun spent the last 10 years of his life in Shanghai, and Shanghai has the responsibility to transform this spiritual resource into momentum for contemporary cultural development.”

Reading Spaces and Public Engagement

The museum is designed to be accessible and welcoming. Admission is free with no advance reservation required for individual visitors, and opening hours are 9:30-17:30 (last entry at 17:00), closed on Mondays except public holidays.

To bring readers closer to literature, the museum features multiple reading spaces, including the Ba Jin Library, a “museum within a museum” that first opened on November 25, 2024; the Maritime Study on the second floor; the Malanhua Picture Book Library for children; and the Starlight Hall digital exhibition space. As People’s Daily noted, the museum is designed as “a place where visitors can both view exhibitions and read.”

“We hope to break the boundaries of traditional museums, ‘give our hearts to readers,’ and create a borderless literary space that resonates with the city and merges with readers,” said Zhou Limin.

A Cultural Milestone for Shanghai

The opening of the Shanghai Literature Museum represents more than just a new cultural venue—it is a testament to Shanghai’s enduring literary legacy and its commitment to preserving and promoting that heritage for future generations. The museum joins a broader cultural ecosystem in Hongkou District, which has become a focal point for literary tourism and cultural activities.

As the “Summer Literary Feast” series of activities launches alongside the museum’s opening—including immersive poetry reading concerts, author dialogues, maritime literature walks, and literary markets—the museum aims to connect its exhibitions with the city’s streets and daily life. The Shanghai Hongkou District Government has highlighted the district’s deep literary roots, noting that the area’s cultural landmarks have become integrated into the urban fabric.

With the Lu Xun Literature Award ceremony scheduled for August 28 and the museum now open to the public, Shanghai is cementing its position as a living center of Chinese literary culture—where the past and present of Chinese letters converge in a space designed for readers, writers, and all who appreciate the written word.