Shanghai Aquarium Guide 2026: Tickets, Hours & Visiting with Kids

Must-Visit Spots in Shanghai

Shanghai Aquarium with a Baby

Ticket Prices, Booking, & Review

Exploring humid and hot Shanghai,

are you wondering where to go?

I visited in the summer,

and since I was traveling with my baby,

our options felt even more limited.

However, the Shanghai Aquarium,

a fantastic spot in Shanghai that we recently explored,

offered a comfortable indoor escape from the heat,

where we could marvel at a diverse array of marine creatures.

It was also perfect for pushing a stroller,

and its location near the Oriental Pearl TV Tower

made it incredibly accessible.

It was truly special to show my little one real-life alligators, fish, and penguins,

creatures we had only seen in books, and both my child and I found it utterly captivating!ᰔ

🌊 1. Shanghai Aquarium

Basic Information

📍 Location: Near Lujiazui Oriental Pearl TV Tower

🕘 Operating Hours: Daily 9:00~18:00

(Last admission 17:30)

💰 Ticket Prices: Adult 160 CNY

Child 110 CNY (Free for children under 1m)

During peak seasons like summer and New Year's,

you might even find extended evening hours,

so be sure to double-check the operating hours on the day of your visit!~

I found it quite unique that the distinction between adult and child tickets

is based on a height of 1 meter!

👉 2. How to Book

💻 Booking Tips

✨ While you can purchase tickets on-site,

wait times can be quite long,

so I highly recommend booking online in advance.

✨ Also, if you pay with Alipay on-site,

there's an additional 9.6 CNY service fee.

Booking ahead is definitely the way to go!

Once you've booked, prepare your e-ticket

or electronic voucher in advance,

and simply present it along with your passport at the entrance

for immediate entry.

Ticket prices are approximately ~$24 for adults

and ~$16 for children.

Keep this handy info in mind! 🤍

🐟 3. Shanghai Aquarium Highlights

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✅ Exhibiting up to 300 Species of Marine Life

Comprising a total of 9 exhibition zones,

the China Zone, in particular,

expertly recreates the natural characteristics and water environment of the Yangtze River basin.

Beyond that, the exhibition spaces are thoughtfully categorized by continent and climate,

including the Arctic, deep sea, and Africa, and it was absolutely thrilling to see everything from penguins to various marine mammals!

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✅ Home to China's most diverse collection of

sharks!

I was truly surprised by the sheer number of

sharks, far more than I expected! 😲

Somang was absolutely fascinated

watching them.

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✅ The 155m Underwater Tunnel

The absolute highlight of things to do in Shanghai

is this underwater tunnel, one of the longest in the world!

It's 155 meters long,

and you can witness marine life in 360 degrees

all around you.

However, the escalator

moves very slowly, and

it gets incredibly crowded, making it

very difficult to take photos without other people in them.

That was a bit of a shame.

🐠 4. Feeding Schedule

If you visit each zone

according to the schedule,

you can watch the marine animals

being fed.

I've organized the times in the table below, so be sure to check it out~

Creature	Exhibit Zone	Morning	Afternoon
Spotted Seal Spotted Seal	Coldwater Coldwater	9:45– 9:55	14:15–14:25
Penguins	Antarctic Antarctic	10:00–10:15	14:30–14:45
Open Ocean Open Ocean	Deep Ocean Deep Ocean	10:30–10:45	15:00–15:15
Schooling Seas Schooling Seas	Deep Ocean Deep Ocean	10:50–11:00	15:20–15:30
Shark Zone	Deep Ocean Deep Ocean	10:50–11:10	15:20–15:40

👉 Feeding Schedule

🍼 5. Our Review: Shanghai Must-Visits with a Baby

Aquariums are said to be

a place that stimulates all of a baby's senses:

sight, sound, and touch.

The sight of jellyfish moving in the water,

with their captivating colors and lighting,

had Somang completely captivated and watching with immense interest.

I also said to Somang,

"Hello fish~ Hello shark~"

It was wonderful to chat and connect with my baby,

and spend such a joyful time together.

Since she couldn't walk yet,

I thought Disneyland might be too much for her.

So, we opted for this instead.

Seeing Somang gaze with such focus and interest,

filled me with pride.

Although it was a bit challenging with the crowds,

it was perfect for pushing a stroller and avoiding the heat with a baby.

Its location right in Shanghai city means great accessibility,

and best of all, it's right next to the Oriental Pearl Tower,

making it ideal for combining with other sightseeing!

✨ Recommended for those who...

✔️ Are looking for places to visit in Shanghai where you can escape the heat

✔️ Want to enjoy sightseeing with your baby in Shanghai

✔️ Love aquariums

✔️ Desire an experience that's both educational and fun

Thanks to the diverse marine life and

the underwater tunnel,

both Somang (who's just turned one) and we had an absolutely wonderful time.

I'd always wanted to visit an aquarium because it's said to be great for baby development,

but it was a shame there wasn't a suitable one close to home in Korea.

So, it was fantastic to finally experience it on this Shanghai trip.

✨ Just a heads-up, it can get quite crowded even on weekdays,

which was a bit challenging.

So, going early in the morning might be a good idea!ᰔ

For places to visit in Shanghai with a baby,

I highly recommend the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium!❣️

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