В музее собрано около 120 тыс. единиц хранения. Наиболее ценными являются коллекции изделий из бронзы, керамики, каллиграфия, мебель, нефритовые статуэтки, старинные монеты, картины, печати и скульптуры. Постоянно действуют 11 галерей и 3 специальных выставочных зала.
Шанхайский музей хранит предметы национального значения, в том числе один из трёх существующих образцов «прозрачных» бронзовых зеркал династии Хань.
As a large museum of ancient Chinese art, the Shanghai Museum boasts a collection of 140,000 precious relics, featuring bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy. The abundance and quality of the collection have enjoyed a high reputation both at home and abroad. The Shanghai Museum was founded in 1952，originally located at the old Shanghai Race Club, 325 West Nanjing Road, since when it has steadily developed. The museum was relocated in the old Zhonghui Building, 16 South Henan Road in October 1959. In 1992, the Shanghai Municipal Government decided to allocate People Square, the very center of the city, as the new site of Shanghai Museum.