Last week my friend, Janette, asked me if I would like to ‘Go and smash some stuff’. I replied with an emphatic ‘YES!’ before she’d even had a chance to explain where, when and how. Janette had heard about this place through a friend, and as I learned, she was a little unclear on the details herself.

With only an address to go by, we agreed to meet at the Shanghai DMC Shopping Centre in Huangpu. As with many sights and attractions in China, you never really know what to expect. So when the cab pulled up in the middle of Peoples Square Park, and the driver ushered me out of the car as though we’d arrived at my destination, I was more than a little confused! I couldn’t see a mall anywhere.

Janette was equally confused, and after we located one other, we soon discovered some stairs leading down into the DMC Shopping Centre. I’ve walked through People’s Park countless times, and never realised that below the tree-lined terraces and gardens of the Shanghai Museum and People’s Park there is a mall!

Upon entering the mall, we were surprised to find video game arcades, activity centres, tattoo studios and corridors filled with enormous electronic claw games in addition to quirky fashion shops, restaurants and a Starbucks.

After a quick look around, a few wrong turns and a baffled stare from a local when we asked him for directions, we located ‘The Relieve Stress Museum’, or as my translation app likes to call it, ‘The Shanghai Fantasy Decompression Hall’.

Tickets to the Relieve Stress Museum cost 29RMB ($6 Aus). The friendly attendant explained that for an extra 10RMB ($2 Aus) we could also visit ‘The Starry Magic Planet’ exhibition. We had no idea what ‘The Starry Magic Planet’ was, but for only 10RMB* we agreed to give it a go.

Behind the welcome desk, was a turn-style positioned directly in front of a closed door. As instructed, we both maneuvered ourselves through the turn-style and into the small triangle of space afforded to us and patiently waited for the door to be opened, still unsure as to what exactly we had paid to see.

As the door slowly opened, we stepped through and were instantly awestruck by the spectacle of millions of coloured lights stretching off into infinity in every direction.

Miniature globes appeared to defy gravity and float chest-high, softly glowing and slowly changing colour along to the music. It took a moment for my mind to come to terms with the spectre created by the mirrored room. The illusion of infinite space was so compelling it was impossible to determine where the walls were, without gingerly shuffling around, arms outstretched so as not to collide with one.

After spending what seemed like ages in this first space, we managed to find the mirrored door to the next. Overcoming our initial trepidation for what we saw beyond the doorway, we stepped into the next mindboggling optical illusion. We squealed with wonder and delight as we moved through each display. Each installation was different from the one before. An Instagrammers dream come true; illusions created by mirrors and lights, walls adorned in giant pink fluffy feathers, ball pits and twinkling LED screens it was hard not to get caught up taking photos.

Emerging from the Starry Magic Planet over an hour later, I already felt calmer, and more relaxed but we still had the Relieve Stress Museum to experience. This museum felt like a continuation of the first as we stepped through the next turn-style immediately after leaving Starry Magic Planet.

Here we encountered a wall of floor to ceiling squawking rubber chickens. We had lots of fun wildly squeezing them all until there was a cacophony of screeching. A little further in, hundreds of miniature rubber ducks are perfectly arranged on shelves as high as the ceiling. I’m unsure how a wall of ducks relieves stress but each to their own.

Continuing through the Relieve Stress Museum, we came across a pillow fight gallery and a sizeable see-through waterfilled mattress that had us rolling around in fits of giggles. A life-size kaleidoscope was the perfect opportunity to take some cool selfies. And we met Shinobi Bob (The rubber human punching bag) and relieved some pent up aggression by donning boxing gloves and dealing him a few jabs and left hooks before realising how terrible we are at boxing.

Turning the next corner, we finally arrived at the room we’d been looking for all along – it was time to smash some stuff!!! Before us, stood an enclosed room with a well-beaten 44-gallon drum in the centre, a mountain of smashed up debris; glass and plastic, sat piled against the opposite wall.

After suiting up in a protective synthetic jumpsuit, rubber boots and head & eye protection, we each picked up a baseball bat. Your ticket into the museum allows you to smash two bottles. We took turns placing our bottles on the 44-gallon drum. Initially nervous to swing and break the glass, but soon getting into it and pulverising them into thousands of tiny pieces that flew in every direction throughout the room.

Upon destroying your allotted bottles, you can purchase additional bottles or an item from a nearby display. We each chose a computer keyboard for 25RMB ($5Aus), but there are also computer screens for 225RMB ($45Aus) and lighting equipment 50RMB ($10Aus) among other things.

I found whacking the keyboard with a baseball bat more satisfying than smashing the bottles. Each whack resulted in the keys spraying off in all directions and made for some great slo-mo video!

All in all, I consider both The Relieve Stress Museum and The Starry Magic Planet well worth the 39RMB ($8Aus) entry fee. We went on a Wednesday and were surprisingly the only people in both venues, however, I can’t vouch for how crowded it may get on the weekend.

If you’re looking to relieve some pent up ‘2020’ stress and aggression, take some Instagram worthy photos or escape the summer heat, this immersive attraction is for you!

Full details can be found on Dianping, but if you don’t have the app, I’ve translated the basic information below.

*The Dianping listed ticket price for The Starry Magic Planet is 20RMB, although we were only charged 10RMB when purchasing the multi-ticket at the gate on a Wednesday.

The Relieve Stress Museum
Shanghai DMC Shopping Centre
221 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District
Level 1
Open Monday – Sunday
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Ticket Prices on Dianping (as at 17th June 2020):

Relieve Stress Museum
Adults 29.90RMB
Students 19.90RMB
Medical Staff Free

Relieve Stress Museum + Starry Magic Planet
Adults 49.90RMB

Relieve Stress / Starry Magic Planet / VR Experience / Bottle Package
Adults 59.90RMB