Shanghai History Museum serves up some hot coffee

Shanghai History Museum is hosting its second coffee carnival in its backyard near the People's Square from Oct 26-29.

The museum has opened the square between its two wings of the main buildings on Nanjing Road West to the public, and presented a marketplace featuring coffee and urban lifestyle stalls, where 36 exhibitors are offering their freshly brewed coffee, drip coffee, freeze-dried coffee powder, as well as pastries, handicrafts and lifestyle brands.

Shanghai has more coffee shops than any other city in the world, said Qiu Zhengping, deputy director of the museum. "It's safe to say that coffee has become an indispensable part of the urban culture of the city, with its historical connotation."

The museum also released a collecting notice at the opening of the carnival, calling on public donations of vintage coffee ware, advertisements and documents and other coffee-related objects with historical significance. "In 2025 we plan to hold a coffee-themed exhibition," Qiu said, "and the objects collected from the public will be part of the exhibition."