Although　the　numerical　manifold　method　(NMM)　has　successfully　solved　many　solid　and　flow　problems,　it　has　scarcely　touched　upon　the　analysis　of　shell　problems.　A　shell　is　a　genuine　visible　manifold　in　the　real　world　and　in　principle　NMM　is　pretty　suitable　to　solve　shell　problems.　This　study　aims　to　fill　in　the　gap　by　employing　the　Naghdi　shell　model　to　establish　NMM　for　shell　analysis.　The　mathematical　cover　is　constructed　using　the　lines　of　curvature　on　the　shell　middle　surface　so　that　the　best　interpolation　precision　can　be　ensured.　Thereafter,　the　standard　4-noded　isoparametric　shape　functions　are　taken　as　the　weight　functions　subordinate　to　the　mathematical　cover.　Taking　advantage　of　the　favorable　features　of　NMM,　especially　the　facility　to　perform　the　p　adaptive　analysis　without　compromising　the　element　conformity,　a　high-order　NMM　model　is　employed　to　suppress　the　membrane　and　shear　locking　phenomena.　Several　typical　shell　benchmarks　have　been　analyzed　to　testify　the　performance　of　the　formulation　in　the　static　analysis　of　thin　shell　problems,　manifesting　that　the　proposed　method　can　yield　desirable　results　for　linear　thin　shell　problems,　thus　richly　deserving　the　word　＂manifold＂.