Learn More About Ancient Americas Civilizations at Shanghai Museum

The highly anticipated exhibition "On Top of the World Tree – Ancient Civilizations of the Americas" is finally set to make its grand debut this week.

Hosted by the Shanghai Museum, this is one of the world's largest thematic exhibitions dedicated to ancient American civilizations. It will open to the public on Thursday and run through November 14.

Nearly 3,000 selected artifacts will be on display, offering visitors a journey through the rich cultural heritage of Central and South America.

Spanning across almost three thousand years from 1200 BC to the 16th century AD, from the earliest recorded civilizations of the Olmecs, through the other civilizations of the regions such as Maya, Teotihuacan and Aztec, the exhibition puts the spotlight on the colorful, yet less known cultural significance of the ancient Mesoamerica.

Many of the Mexican and Peruvian artifacts will be leaving the borders of South America for the first time; a perfect chance to witness and learn more about the ancient civilizations of the Americas, here in Shanghai.

Ancient civilizations in the Americas are often associated with doomsday prophecies and shrouded in mystery, but the true ancient America was a complete and internally consistent system of native civilization: a mature system of hieroglyphics, invention of mathematics with a concept of zero, precise calendars, and a 20-based numerical system.

This exhibition breaks away from the traditional linear narrative of categorical displays and instead adopts the cosmic view of these ancient Americas civilizations and links the temporal and spatial contexts of that time period.

It combines high-precision physical reconstructions with multimedia exhibits, showcasing immersive imagery of the Quetzalcoatl Pyramid's "Descent of the Serpent" at Chichen Itza, the reconstruction of Mayan Emperor Pakal's sarcophagus tomb, a projection sandbox of the Avenue of the Dead of Teotihuacan, and aerial views of the terraced cliffs of Machu Picchu, also known as the "Lost City of the Incas."

If you go

Date: July 9-November 14

Admission: US$10.9-21.79

Venue: Shanghai Museum (People's Square) 上海博物馆人民广场馆

Address: 201 People's Avenue, Huangpu District 黄浦区人民大道 201 号