Ever since 'A History of the World in 100 Objects' from the British Museum opened at the Shanghai Museum on June 29, visitor numbers have surged, averaging around 7,900 visitors a day - that's 79 visitors per object, if you want to look at it like that...
The Shanghai museum can only take a maximum of 8,000 visitors a day, and any more will prove a risk to both the exhibits and the public. In the first two days of the new opening, there were already 500 people in the queue outside waiting for the museum to open its doors at 9am; by 3pm, 8,000 visitors had already entered.
Fortunately, there is good news for those of you who just cannot stand crowds (or queues). From July 7 onwards, the museum will be opening on Friday nights from 6-9pm (usual closing time is 5pm). Using Shanghai Museum’s WeChat (SH-Museum), by clicking on 夜场预约, you can book a Friday night slot to visit the 100 Objects exhibit or 'Si Si Princess And Hungary: 17-19 century Hungarian Aristocratic Life.'
Spaces are limited each night and those who cannot turn up should cancel their booked slot as soon as possible, or incur the penalty of not being able book a visit again within the next three months. So sign up for a night at the museum - admittedly with less Ben Stiller than that phrasing would suggest...