Shanghai · art museum
HOW Art Museum (昊美术馆, Hào Měishùguǎn)
HOW Art Museum is a private, contemporary-art space opened in 2017 inside the former Wujiaochang aircraft-hangar site in Pudong, Shanghai. Founded by real-estate developer Zheng Shusen, it leans into experimental, often Chinese-language solo shows (Chen Fei, Huang Yulong, He Xiangyu) rather than permanent-collection crowds. It is the Shanghai branch of a brand that started as HOW Store in 2014.
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Quick Answer
Is HOW Art Museum worth visiting?
A private contemporary art museum in Pudong with about 3,000 sqm of exhibition space, walkable in 90 minutes if you skip the gift-shop vortex.
Quick facts
| Category | art |
|---|---|
| Ticket | CNY 60 for adults (Tue-Sun), Free for children under 1.3m and disabled visitors (as of 2026, verify on official site) |
| Hours | Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30); closed Mondays (verify) |
| Recommended duration | 90 minutes for one show; 2 hours if you also browse the HOW Store retail annex |
| Best time to visit | Weekday afternoons (Tue-Thu) between 14:00-16:00 — smallest crowds and best natural light in the lobby gallery |
| How to get there | Metro Line 13 to Shibo Avenue (世博大道) Station, Exit 2, then a 10-minute walk north; or DiDi from People's Square for about CNY 45-55 (about 20 minutes off-peak). The museum sits inside the HOW+ Plaza near the former China Pavilion site. |
| English signage | yes |
Why visit
Most Shanghai art stops feel either academic (Power Station of Art, with 33,000 works) or celebrity (Long Museum West Bund). HOW is the smaller, scrappier third option: a private museum that takes risks on living Chinese artists before they get expensive, with a sleek, almost-retail sensibility that fits its retail-park location near Shanghai's art-design district. If you have a free half-day in Pudong and want something quieter than the West Bund cluster, this is the place — but set expectations: there is no permanent collection, so what you see depends entirely on the show running when you visit (verify the current exhibition on the official site before you go).
Collection highlights
- Open-plan, hangar-volume main hall (about 3,000 sqm) with reconfigurable walls for site-specific installations
- Ground-floor HOW Store retail annex — sells limited-edition prints and design objects, the museum's actual revenue engine
- Past solo shows by Chen Fei, Huang Yulong, He Xiangyu, and Feng Lianghong — all Chinese contemporary painters under 50
- East wing "Art Lab" used for video and sound installations, including past Cao Fei VR work
- Patio terrace overlooking Pudong's post-industrial skyline, accessible from the upper gallery
- Occasional free performance and artist-talk programs on Saturdays (verify)
Tips
- Check the current exhibition on howartmuseum.org before going — there is no permanent collection, so a quiet day depends on whether the show interests you
- HOW Store (the gift shop) is genuinely worth 20 minutes; it is not your usual museum gift-shop tat and the museum treats it as a programmatic space
- Skip the official WeChat-only ticket booth if you are a foreign visitor — the on-site counter sells tickets in cash and card without a Chinese phone number
- Combine with a walk south to the Power Station of Art (15 minutes by DiDi) for a half-day Pudong-Puxi art contrast; HOW alone feels thin on its own
- Photography is allowed without flash for most shows, but a few video works prohibit it — look for the small sign at the gallery entrance
Frequently asked questions
Is HOW Art Museum free to enter?
No. Adult tickets cost CNY 60 (Tue-Sun, as of 2026); children under 1.3m and visitors with disabilities enter free. Mondays the museum is closed (verify).
What is the closest metro station to HOW Art Museum?
Metro Line 13 to Shibo Avenue (世博大道) Station, Exit 2. From there it is about a 10-minute walk north to the museum inside HOW+ Plaza.
Does HOW Art Museum have a permanent collection?
No. Unlike the Long Museum or Power Station of Art, HOW shows only rotating temporary exhibitions, typically solo shows of living Chinese contemporary artists. Plan your visit around what is currently on.
Who founded HOW Art Museum?
Real-estate developer Zheng Shusen (郑秀森), who launched the HOW Store retail concept in 2014 and opened the museum itself in 2017.
How long should I spend at HOW Art Museum?
About 90 minutes for a single exhibition. Allow 2 hours if you also want to browse the HOW Store annex and the upstairs terrace.
Is English signage available at HOW Art Museum?
Yes. All wall texts, audio guides, and front-desk materials include English translations, and the front-desk staff can handle English ticket queries.
Can I take photos inside HOW Art Museum?
Yes, without flash for most exhibitions. A few video or VR installations prohibit photography — small signs at the gallery entrance mark these rooms.
What is the difference between HOW Art Museum and HOW Store?
HOW Store is the museum-adjacent retail space on the ground floor selling limited-edition prints, design objects, and artist merchandise — it predated the museum (launched 2014) and remains the museum's main commercial arm.
What is the best time of week to visit HOW Art Museum?
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoon between 14:00 and 16:00 — the smallest crowds and the best natural light in the main hall. Saturdays are livelier but often host free artist talks.
Is HOW Art Museum worth visiting with kids?
Mostly no. The exhibitions are adult-oriented contemporary art with little interpretation aimed at children, and there is no dedicated kids' zone. The HOW Store retail annex is the main kid-friendly draw.
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