Goldfish have been hanging around China for about a thousand years. They started as regular carp, before people spent centuries breeding them into the strange little characters we have now, round ones, long ones, big-eyed ones, ones that look like they've had a very successful dinner.
At BFC's Goldfish Theatre, that history is spread across 10 rooms, with hundreds of live goldfish mixed in with projections, water, sound and changing lights. Some rooms are quiet and beautiful, others go pretty hard on the purple, green and red. The whole thing gets quite surreal at times. Just don't bring a flash, it's not allowed because of the fish.
Who Is It For
The obvious answer is people who like goldfish. It's easy with kids, works for a date, and doesn't require you to read a 10-page wall text before you're allowed to have an opinion.
It's also quite photo-friendly, although not necessarily in the way you'd expect. The whole exhibition is dark and flash photography isn't allowed, so getting a good portrait means waiting for the right light. The colours keep changing, and sometimes the fish look exactly like goldfish. Sometimes they look like they're starring in a low-budget sci-fi film. Weekdays are usually quieter.
How To Buy Tickets
Goldfish Theatre is at BFC South Zone, B2, and is open daily 10am-10pm, with last entry at 9:30pm. Tickets are 98rmb for one, 158rmb for two, 128rmb for one adult + one child, 178rmb for two adults + one child, and 49rmb for a child. Get your ticketshere.
![[The Big List] 50 Ways to Make the Most of Golden Week in Shanghai 2026](https://images.smartshanghai.com.cn/uploads/repository/2026/09/29/f40780ca-0dc5-4210-a9b7-28bcc6c91c99.jpg?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_424/quality,q_85/format,webp)
