Shanghai Post Office Museum

Introdution to Shanghai Post Office Museum
The Shaghai Post Office Museum also know as the Shanghai General Post Office Building, It is the head post office of Shanghai, China. Built in 1924, the four-storey building is located at 395 Tiandong Road, at the north end of the Sichuan Road Bridge, on the banks of the Suzhou Creek.

History & Background
In the early years of the Republic of China (ROC), Shanghai was the center of China's postal network. In 1914, China joined the Universal Postal Union, and Shanghai was designated as the exchange for international mail. By the early 1920s, the previous premises of the postal administration was no longer adequate, and land was acquired on the north bank of Suzhou Creek for the construction of a new headquarters building. The building was situated within the Shanghai International Settlement, midway between the central business district and the Shanghai North Railway Station.

General Post Office Building viewed from across Suzhou Creek Built from 1922 to 1924 and designed by Stewardson & Spence, the building is in Classical style. After the Chinese civil war the building continued to house the headquarters of Shanghai's postal administration. From 2003, parts of the building, including the courtyard, was converted into Shanghai Postal Museum. Admission to the museum is free. Postal administration functions had moved out, but the retail post office operation continue from the trading hall (though that is now only a fraction of its original size). It is protected as a National Artefact Preservation Unit.

Architecture
Its two main facades use three-story high grand order Corinthian columns. The main door is on the corner, and is topped by a Baroque style clock tower. The sides of the clocktower aredecorated with three statuary groups. The central group features Hermes, flanked by Eros and Aphrodite, the god and goddess of love. On the second level is the 1200 square meter main trading hall, which was known as the "First Hall of the Far East". The foundations of the building used an ingenious system of tanks, which was filled and drained by water from neighbouring Suzhou Creek as water levels rose and fell. This ensured that the building remained stable and level despite changes in water levels.

What to see in Shanghai Post Office Museum
When you first get in ,you will probably couldn't belive what you see. There are a big hall with over 1200 square meters. This is definitely the biggest postal office hall you have ever seen. It could hold 6 basketball teams playing games at the same time. The museum actually is located on the second floor, which is about 8000 square meters. At the entrance, there is a navigation map in case tourists might get lost.

The most interesting part for you is the Stamps Collection Zone. Tourists are allowed to take picture with their favorite stamps. So many beautiful stamps, from the first stamps issued in China to heart-shaped French stamp, and other stamps made by special materials like silk stamp from Poland or wooden stamps from Swiss. There is one stamps that’s with chocolate scent, it’s so good to make you want to take a bite though. 

Transportation

Address: 250 North Suzhou Road, Hong Kou District ??????????250?

You can show a taxi driver the above address. To go by bus, take Sightseeing Bus 10.

Information

Address: No.3, Lane 123 Xingye Lu

Address in Chinese: ???123?3?

Nearest Metro Station: Huangpi South Road

Cross Street in English: near Madang Lu

Cross Street in Chinese: ????

Phone: 6385-7449

Opening Time:

Every Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, from 9:00 to 17:00 or 9 am to 5 pm. 

You can’t get in after 4 pm.