Saturday Nights Just Got a Whole Lot Fluffier!
Capybaras, alpacas and California quails are about to make an unexpected appearance at the Shanghai Museum – and only after sunset.
The Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Zoo will hold "Spirit of the World Tree: Magic Nights with Adorable Creatures from the Americas" from July 11 to August 31.
Held every Saturday from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, the exclusive after-hours program will transform the museum into a lively encounter with the wildlife of the Americas, complementing the "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas" exhibition with an immersive blend of nature, culture and nighttime exploration.
Shanghai Zoo will display the animals from the Americas on the third floor of the Shanghai Museum at People's Square on Saturday evenings. They are not any protected wildlife species.
The museum aims to transcend the conventional exhibition experience of looking at items in display cabinets by bringing together cultural relics, animals, plants, food and people.
The exhibition offers animal encounters, immersive activities and innovative performances to experience the cultures of the Americas through sight, touch, and sound. Visiting the Shanghai Museum is like entering the American landscapes.
Visitors can view capybaras in the wetland ecology section. In recent years, capybaras have gained particular popularity among young Chinese. Alpacas, chinchillas, and guinea pigs can be seen in the Andean civilization section. While learning about the significant role animals had in ancient American civilizations, visitors may have the opportunity to touch fluffy alpacas.
The display will also feature reptiles including corn snakes and black kingsnakes. Through expert-led science educational activities, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about their ecological aspects in an immersive volcanic rock setting.
Visitors can envision the everyday lives of birds from the Americas by making connections between patterns on pottery and paintings and the turkeys and California quails they observe on site in the woodland environment part.
The Amazon rainforest will also be "moved" to the museum. From tropical vivariums, visitors can experience the rainforest aquatic landscape.
The micro-ecology section will have spiders and horned frogs in glass paludariums and terrariums.
The exhibition hall will feature corn, vines, cacti, succulents and other plants from the Americas. They will show the Americas' agricultural civilizations and natural landscapes while emphasizing human-nature harmony.
Visitors can take part in several immersive activities, ranging from turning an interactive star disk to listening to rainforest birdsong, flowing water, and ancient music through 3D surround sound. They can also write down wishes for a feather blessing activity.
The exhibition will also feature the original immersive short musical "Hi, YAX!" Inspired by the Yaxche Maya world tree, the performances will use light, music, and movement to make the museum visit feel more like a shared nighttime journey.
Ticket holders will also receive a limited-edition "Spirit of the World Tree" fridge magnet.
Shanghai Museum and Shanghai Zoo will provide experienced animal keepers, on-site veterinarians and medical professionals, and venue cleansing and air purification after each session to protect animals and visitors.
Pregnant visitors, those with immunological weaknesses, skin problems, or sensitivities to animal hair, grass, or insects should avoid touch. Visitors with allergies, asthma, or animal phobias should buy tickets cautiously.
If you go:
Date: July 11-August 31, every Saturday, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Tickets: 198 yuan for basic tickets, covering "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas" and "Spirit of the World Tree: Magical Nights with Adorable Creatures from the Americas," as well as immersive activities, the music short play "Hi, YAX!" and a limited-edition fridge magnet (a limit of 3,000 visitors per session); additional interaction tickets priced at 30 yuan per person, covering alpaca, capybara, corn snake or beetle interactions. Each interaction is limited to 50 tickets per session and must be purchased with a basic ticket.
Tickets go on sale at 8pm on June 25 through Trip.com. Visitors can search "Shanghai Museum" on the Trip.com app.
Venue: Shanghai Museum (People's Square) 上海博物馆人民广场馆
Address: 201 Renmin Ave, People's Square, Huangpu District
黄浦区人民大道201号
