Century Square

Updated June 26, 2025

## Century Square, Pudong – How to Actually Use This Giant Plaza on Your Shanghai Itinerary

Century Square (世纪广场) is a huge open plaza in Pudong’s Huamu civic district, sitting on Century Avenue between Century Park and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. It’s one of the city’s largest open-air squares (around 250,000 m²) and was built in the mid-1990s as part of Pudong’s push away from the riverfront into a new civic and cultural core.

If you’re already heading to the Science and Technology Museum or the famous underground “fake market” at AP Plaza, you’re effectively in Century Square—even if you didn’t realize it.

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## Where Century Square Is & What It Actually Is

– Location: East end of Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, close to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and Century Park.
– Nearest metro: Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station (Line 2), which sits directly under the square and is step-free/accessible.
– Entry fee: The plaza itself is free to enter.

The square was conceived as an open-air “time-themed” plaza linking Century Avenue, the Science and Technology Museum and Century Park into one continuous civic axis.

### Design highlights

– Largest open-air plaza in Shanghai: Local tourism sources describe Century Square as the city’s biggest open-air plaza, designed as a sculpture landscape with time as the central theme.
– “Eastern Light” sundial sculpture: At the entrance to the square is a large landscape sculpture inspired by a sundial, called Eastern Light. It uses over 24 tons of steel and thousands of meters of stainless-steel piping, symbolizing the passage of time across centuries.
– Urban axis: The square faces the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum on one side and lines up with Century Park on the other, forming a straight visual and pedestrian axis right through this part of Pudong.

At ground level, expect a broad, mostly flat expanse with paved areas, geometric lawns, occasional flowerbeds and tree-lined walkways rather than a traditional “garden park.”

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## What to Do at Century Square (and Right Under It)

### 1. Use the plaza as a calm, open-air break

For many visitors, Century Square is a welcome pause between shopping, museum time and metro transfers:

– Open views & photo spots: Reviews mention colourful flower displays in mid-April and a broad, park-like field that works well for photos, especially with Pudong’s skyline around you.
– Urban “forest” corners: Some sections feel like a small urban forest with benches and birdsong—useful if you need a breather from Shanghai’s denser streets.
– Evening atmosphere: Local travel platforms specifically highlight the night view as a reason to come—lighting and surrounding towers give the space more character after dark.

Because it’s an open civic square, there’s no fixed “programming,” but you’re likely to see informal activities: kids being drilled in sports or dance, small exercise groups, and people practicing photography.

### 2. Dive into AP Plaza – the underground fake market

Directly under Century Square and the Science & Technology Museum station is AP Plaza / A.P. Xinyang Fashion & Gifts Market, one of Shanghai’s most famous underground markets for replica goods and souvenirs.

Key facts:

– What it is: A large underground market specializing in replica/luxury-look items, fashion, bags, watches, phone accessories and generic souvenirs.
– Location: Inside/under Shanghai Science & Technology Museum Station (Line 2), under Century Avenue at the eastern end—essentially beneath Century Square.
– Typical hours: Roughly 10:00–20:00 daily, according to local listings and long-running guides.

Practical tips (based on recent reviews):

– Bargaining is expected: Vendors start with high prices and visitors routinely report paying 15–30% of the first asking price after negotiating.
– Go in with realistic expectations: Many goods are counterfeit or low-quality; multiple reviewers in 2024–2025 highlight that quality is mixed and that you should inspect items carefully.
– Timing: Weekday mornings are noted as quieter, with fewer crowds and more relaxed bargaining.
– Safety & comfort: Most visits are uneventful, but some reviewers mention pushy sales tactics and occasional harassment by aggressive touts—if anything feels uncomfortable, just walk away; there are many alternative stalls.

> Important note on counterfeits: AP Plaza is widely known for replica goods. If you prefer to avoid supporting counterfeit trade or you’re worried about customs checks when flying home, treat this as a browsing experience and focus on generic souvenirs or tailoring services instead of branded items.

### 3. Combine the square with the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

On the western side of Century Square sits the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, one of the most visited museums in China and a major family attraction.

– Theme: “Nature, Mankind and Technology,” with permanent halls on life sciences, Earth exploration, robotics, design and space navigation.
– Scale: About 98,000 m² of floor space, with more than 65,000 m² dedicated to exhibitions.
– Opening hours: Typically 09:00–17:15, closed on Mondays except public holidays (check the official site for current exceptions).

One useful reality check: several expert sources note that some exhibits haven’t been significantly updated since their original installation, even as of recent years. The building and core themes remain current, but specific displays may feel dated compared with the newest science museums elsewhere.

### 4. Century Park – the green side of the square

A short walk east from Century Square brings you to Century Park, the largest natural-style park within Shanghai’s inner districts.

– Why pair it with the square: You can easily build a half-day loop: Century Square → Science & Technology Museum → AP Plaza → Century Park.
– What to expect: Lakes, wooded paths, lawns and sports areas – a contrast to the hard surfaces of Century Square and the enclosed feel of the underground market.

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## How Long to Spend at Century Square

– Quick transit stop: If you’re just transferring or shopping underground, you might only spend 30–45 minutes on the surface.
– Full area experience: Local travel platforms recommend around 2–3 hours when combining the square with nearby attractions, particularly if you include time for photos, the museum and some shopping at AP Plaza.

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## Getting To & Around Century Square

### Metro

The easiest and most inclusive way to reach Century Square is via Shanghai Metro Line 2:

– Stop: Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (上海科技馆).
– Accessibility: The station is listed as accessible, with elevators and an island platform configuration, which is helpful for travellers with mobility needs, strollers or luggage.

From the platforms, follow signs to the museum and AP Plaza; you’ll come up directly into or next to Century Square.

### By taxi or ride-hailing

– Ask for “Shiji Guangchang, Pudong – near Shanghai Science and Technology Museum” to minimize confusion; many locals identify the area first by the museum, then the square.

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## When to Visit

– Spring (especially April): Reviews mention colourful flower beds and a more “park-like” feel in mid-April, with mild temperatures ideal for walking.
– Evenings year-round: Night views and city lights are consistently recommended; the square comes across as more atmospheric once the surrounding buildings are lit.
– Weekday mornings for shopping: If AP Plaza is on your list, weekday mornings see smaller crowds and easier bargaining.

Weather in Shanghai can be extremely humid in summer and raw in winter, so plan shade breaks (or quick escapes underground) during the hottest or coldest days.

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## Accessibility, Costs & Inclusivity

– Cost:
– Century Square → free.
– The plaza areas around it are public space; you only pay for museums, cafés or shopping.
– Mobility:
– The square itself is largely flat and paved; there are ample open areas suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
– The adjacent metro station is marked as accessible.
– Restrooms & facilities:
– Facilities are mainly inside the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Century Park and the underground mall, rather than in the open square itself, so plan breaks around those.
– Food options:
– Numerous cafés and restaurants exist in the broader Century Park/Science Museum area and within AP Plaza’s surroundings, according to local listings and reviews.

The area tends to draw a mix of local families, students, domestic visitors from across China and international travellers, especially those interested in science, shopping or simply exploring Pudong beyond the riverfront skyline.

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## What Might Be Outdated or Changing

To keep expectations grounded:

– AP Plaza tenant mix: Multiple sources confirm AP Plaza remains active as of 2024–2025, but stall holders, product selection and quality can change quickly. Any specific tailor or stall recommendations you see online may be out of date by the time you visit.
– Science Museum exhibits: Authoritative sources note that some exhibition halls haven’t been updated significantly since early 2000s installations, even though the building and branding remain in heavy use.

If your main goal is cutting-edge interactive science, consider the museum a solid but slightly dated experience. If your priority is the broader area—open plaza, underground market and nearby Century Park—Century Square still ties everything together as a very practical base in Pudong.

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Century Square

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Places to Stay Near Century Square"... well.. its big you will find a lot of good stuff .. my advise ... PLEASE."

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