Shanghai museums gearing up for May 18

Museums in Shanghai are offering a range of special deals to visitors this month to celebrate International Museum Day on May 18.

At selected times from May 17-19, 122 public and private-funded venues will open free of charge. The number taking part in the promotion is about 20 more than last year, with the China Maritime Museum, Aurora Museum and Shanghai Auto Museum among the new additions.

Opening for the first time on May 18 will be the Shanghai Songze Relic Museum in Qingpu District's Songze Village and the Suzhou Creek Industrial Civilization Exhibition Hall in Putuo District.

The former tells the story of the early development of Shanghai and the lives of its people, while the latter details the industrial and cultural development along the Suzhou Creek over the past 100 years.