Louis Vuitton "Visionary Journeys": Booking the Giant Ship Without WeChat

English booking existsFree entry

There is a 114-metre ship parked in the middle of Nanjing West Road, its hull stacked with giant Louis Vuitton trunks. It's called The Louis, it's one of the most photographed things in Shanghai right now — and the exhibition inside is completely free. The catch: you cannot walk in. Entry is registration-only, and the QR code most visitors see on site leads to a Chinese mini-program that foreign phones can't easily use. There's a better way, and it takes two minutes.

The essentials

What you're actually visiting

The Louis was designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA: a 30-metre-tall ship "sailing" out of the mall's plaza, clad in trunk after giant trunk. Inside is a 1,200 m² two-floor exhibition tracing 170 years of Louis Vuitton's travel heritage — a mirrored atrium of vintage trunks, galleries on fashion and sport, and live savoir-faire ateliers where craftspeople work in front of you.

Floor 2 has a boutique with Shanghai-exclusive pieces (yes, there's an LV mahjong set), and floor 3 is Le Café Louis Vuitton — the first in China. Plan 2–3 hours for the whole thing.

The catch: registration-only entry

Walk-ups get turned away at the door, politely but firmly. Local visitors book through the "My LV" WeChat mini-program — which assumes a WeChat account, a Chinese phone number, and menus in Chinese.

The route for international visitors is the English web registration page:

1. Open the official LV registration page on your phone
2. Sign in with your email — a verification code is sent, no account creation, no WeChat
3. Pick a date and a one-hour entry slot
4. At the door: show your entry QR and your passport (ID checks are enforced; one QR per person; kids under 14 don't need their own booking)

Timing tips

• Weekend slots are usually gone about three days ahead. Weekday afternoons and evenings are the easiest to get.
• Cancelled slots tend to be re-released in the morning around 09:00 — worth a refresh if your date looks full.
• No strollers inside (checked at the entrance) and no luggage storage — come light.
• Photo spots: head-on view of the bow from the south plaza, and the mirrored trunk atrium inside.

Where Kora comes in

If you're chatting with Kora, you don't need to bookmark any of this. Ask about the LV ship and you'll get the registration link, the current entry rules, and a scannable QR to share with your travel mates — in one reply. Kora also keeps this page's facts fresh by checking before you go: exhibitions in Shanghai change booking rules without warning, and a guide written last month can quietly go stale.

And for the places where booking really is locked inside a Chinese app — no English page at all — Kora's concierge service books on your behalf. That's the difference between a guide and a local friend.

FAQ

Is the LV ship exhibition free?
Yes — exhibition, boutique, and building are free to enter. You only pay if you shop or sit down at Le Café.

Do I need WeChat to book?
No. The English registration page works with just an email address. Bring the QR it gives you, plus your passport.

How far ahead should I book?
2–3 days for weekends; same-day or next-day usually works midweek. Check for re-released slots around 09:00.

How long does a visit take?
About 2–3 hours including the boutique. Add time if you want Le Café — seats are limited and demand is high.