In the wake of Nazi persecution of Jews, over 20,000 refugees arrived to Shanghai from Europe, using visas issued by Chinese and Japanese diplomats. while most of them did not settle in China after the end of World War 2, their brief stay left an on forgettable mark on the city. Most of the Jews were restricted to the Hongkou district. Many refugees wrote memoirs and provided accounts of their impressions of Shanghai which was both a safe haven for them and a deep cultural shock.

Through their narratives and cherished artifacts, they documented Shanghai as it was in the mid-20th century. This tour of the Jewish Refugee museum will focus on how the story of Jewish refugees preserved a historical memory of everyday life in Shanghai, and how it was experienced by Europeans who arrived here without prior knowledge of China.

The museum has also recently opened the renovated synagogue on premises, which will be visited at the end of the tour.

All visitors must present ID (either Chinese ID or foreign passport). After purchasing your tickets, please reach out to provide your ID number.