Shanghai Natural History Museum: Avoid It Like The Plague!
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Just having left the Shanghai Natural History Museum, I must say that my experience wasn't great at all; I didn't want to create sensational headlines out of thin air.
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Having taken an early train, fortunately, there wasn’t an overwhelming crowd.
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What disappointed me most were the few free exhibitions within the museum.
- These exhibits were redeemable with a ticket right after passing the entry checkpoint around 9:15 AM but only through a mobile website known as “Official WeChat Account.” (For foreign friends: WeChat accounts are somewhat similar to Apps or Mini Programs in China and are widely used for appointments, information acquisition etc.)
- The key point is that each individual required a ticket, no exceptions for children.
- Then came the issue: one cell phone number, pay attention now, a single cell phone number could only make reservations for up to two persons!
- After booking tickets for myself and my child, I attempted to register another number using the ID of our elderly parents, but the network proved uncooperative.
- Asking nearby staff, she said, "You can cancel your current reservation and then book all at once so adults and children all have their tickets." I repeatedly asked her, "Is this really okay?" She assured me it wouldn't be a problem.
- Yet, canceling my current reservation blocked any new reservation attempts on the system.
- Seeking help at the service desk, they told me to wait for a call back after contacting a supervisor. Our family still hadn’t gotten a response when we finished watching a paid-for movie show instead.
- Finally, seeking help at the ground floor service desk and detailing the whole situation again. Their response was more of the same, directing us to wait for their contact.
- A quick call did come through with some humorously dismissive news, saying that my tickets couldn’t be re-reserved because of my own earlier cancellation. I was frustrated!
Without the misleading advice from the staff, would I have made this ill-fated gesture? At least someone in the family could enjoy the exhibit, had everyone not been let down. How infuriating!
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Moreover, no one took care of the large puddle of water on the floor. As I narrowly missed tripping on it, I noticed someone slowly came by cleaning it up later on. It's terrifying to even think about an elderly person or a child slipping and falling there. What if it had happened?
Advice to those who might visit (especially foreign visitors, please pay extra attention!):- Regarding Booking Entry Tickets to Free Exhibition:
- Enter first, then reserve on the Official WeChat Account with Chinese mobile number, in the morning before 9:15 AM.
- Most importantly, one real Chinese cell phone number can only be used for two-person booking at most! If you're coming with more than three members like a family of four, prepare multiple Chinese phone numbers in advance if possible (like asking friends in China), just in case. Make sure every phone has the popular messaging app called WeChat installed.
- About Following Staff’s Suggestions:
- If given any advice involving sensitive cancellations or changes, consult other staff as well, or ignore it when unsure. This is truly a lesson hard learned.
- Safety Tips:
- Be alert while moving about in less lit areas with slippery floors, particularly where people gather.
Overall, the exhibition itself was quite enthralling, enriching. However, it did cast a shadow of disappointment due to my encounters with some staff and the inefficient management. This was my first impression of Shanghai… sigh, rather disappointing.
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To prevent scalpers and allow more guests to enjoy the free activities, there are limits on participation. The staff member in the blogger's picture is super nice and helpful. I've often forgotten my locker combination or couldn't open it; other staff would make me wait until closing, but he always helped me get it open.
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You've been there quite a few times, encountered many 'other staff members,' and yet you still have a consistently good impression. I, however, can't consider someone's attitude 'good' if all they do is apologize while constantly insisting I was the one who canceled the reservation.
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I think the Zhejiang Natural History Museums are pretty good – there's one in Anji and one in Hangzhou, and they're both free.
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Just telling it like it is.
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A 'blacklist for life' item for Chinese people.