Shanghai exhibition spotlights ancient civilizations of the Americas

"On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" opened at the Shanghai Museum in Shanghai on July 9, 2026.

The exhibition is the sixth installment of the Shanghai Museum's "Dialogues with the World" series. It aims to offer a panoramic portrayal of ancient Central and South American civilizations, positioning itself as the largest and most comprehensive exhibition on ancient American civilizations ever held globally, with cutting-edge presentation technology.

Photo shows the "World Tree," whose prototype is Ceiba pentandra, the sacred tree of the Maya, at the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" exhibition at the Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Shanghai Museum)

Bringing together nearly 3,000 precious artifacts from leading cultural institutions in Mexico, Peru and China, the exhibition spans from 1200 B.C. to the 16th century A.D., covering major ancient civilizations of Central and South America, including the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Aztec and Andean cultures. Together, they present a complete genealogical spectrum of nearly 3,000 years of civilization in the Americas.

Spanning more than 7,000 square meters, the exhibition occupies the museum's People's Square venue and is divided into two major sections, one for Mesoamerican civilizations and one for Andean civilizations.

The exhibition will last until Nov. 14, 2027.

Photo shows a corner of the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" exhibition at the Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Shanghai Museum)

Photo shows exhibits at the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" exhibition at the Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Shanghai Museum)

Photo shows an exhibit at the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" exhibition at the Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Shanghai Museum)

Photo shows exhibits at the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" exhibition at the Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Shanghai Museum)

Photo shows exhibits at the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" exhibition at the Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Shanghai Museum)

Photo shows an exhibit at the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilization of the Americas" exhibition at the Shanghai Museum in east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Shanghai Museum)