Museum opens doors for 168 hours to catch last glimpse of ancient Egypt

On Aug 11 and 17, two grand carnival events will take place, with interactive games, live Egyptian drum performances, Egyptian-themed cosplay parades, acrobatics, and magic shows.

Participants will be able to enter lucky draws to win round-trip tickets from Shanghai to Cairo and an eight-day all-inclusive travel experience in Egypt.

Most of the museum merchandise featuring Egyptian culture will be sold at half price during the final week.

Marketplace events will be held each day from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the public square in front of the Shanghai Museum's south gate, featuring renowned Shanghai brands that will showcase 200 types of snacks and other products.

The museum has introduced half-price tickets for late-night visitors during the final week. A total of 3,000 tickets priced at 74 yuan will be available each night. Visitors can enter the museum anytime from midnight to 6 am with a purchased ticket and stay for unlimited hours, according to Huang He, deputy director of the museum.

On Aug 11, the Shanghai Museum will launch a new book, Pyramids in China: Behind the Scenes of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization Exhibition. Compiled by the Shanghai Museum and published by Yilin Press, the book will reveal the challenges that were faced behind the phenomenal exhibition. The book will debut at the Shanghai Book Fair on Aug 13, and an electronic edition will also be launched.

"We have arranged the shift schedules for our staff and recruited volunteers to make sure no one will be overworked," Chu says. The museum will also arrange medical staff on duty throughout the 168 hours. "We will do everything we can to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff," he says.