During the exhibition, the Shanghai Museum on People's Square is transformed beneath the symbolic canopy of the World Tree into an immersive environment inspired by the ancient Americas. Drawing on visual motifs including maize, jaguars, feathered serpents, and pyramids, the museum becomes a cultural landscape that evokes the civilizations on display. Occupying over 7,000m² of gallery space, the exhibition moves beyond a conventional chronological presentation by placing objects within their historical and cultural contexts to reveal the connections between different civilizations. High-fidelity reconstructions are combined with multimedia installations to create immersive experiences, including multimedia projections, immersive environments, and participatory installations inspired by ritual practice, sacred architecture, mythology, and a ceremonial ballgame. Together, these installations present both the engineering achievements and spiritual worlds of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, translating the concept of a "vertical cosmos" into an immersive spatial experience where archaeology and mythology converge.

Extending beyond the galleries, the exhibition unfolds across 10,000m² of immersive experiences, offering visitors far more than a visual spectacle. This journey through ancient civilizations engages all the senses. From the maize field outside People's Square to the towering World Tree rising through the Museum's central atrium, visitors are gradually immersed in the world of the ancient Americas as they move from outdoors to indoors. Sight, smell, and taste all become part of the experience. The Shanghai Museum also introduces an integrated cultural experience combining special exhibitions, cultural products, dining, social activities, and live performances, allowing every visitor to discover the way of experiencing the exhibition that appeals to them most.

The Shanghai Museum has partnered with institutions including Shanghai Zoo, Shanghai Expo Culture Park, and Chenshan National Botanical Garden to launch an integrated, multi-dimensional curatorial approach encompassing the interplay of "antiquities, historical figures, animals, plants and foods" in a citywide collaborative program inspired by the concept of the World Tree. Through these cross-institutional partnerships, the exhibition extends beyond the Museum to create a multidimensional cultural experience across Shanghai. The Shanghai Museum has also established a comprehensive "land–sea–air" model, featuring cross-sector ticket packages to enhance accessibility and audience engagement. Beyond the Museum, themed immersive consumption spaces have been created, fostering deeper integration between the exhibition and urban life. To accompany the exhibition, the Shanghai Museum will introduce over 3,000 exhibition-inspired cultural products, alongside Museum Nights, multifunctional leisure spaces, immersive VR experiences, dedicated dining and relaxation areas, and a wide range of educational programs and interpretive resources. During the exhibition period, themed metro trains, buses, sightseeing coaches, and Huangpu River cruises will further extend the exhibition's presence throughout the city, bringing the atmosphere of the ancient civilizations of the Americas to Shanghai.

SHANGHAI, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shanghai Museum will present "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas" (July 9, 2026 – Nov. 14, 2027 at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square), a major exhibition exploring the artistic, cultural, and spiritual traditions of ancient civilizations across Central and South America. Following the success of 'On Top of the Pyramid,' this exhibition features exceptional objects from Mexico and Peru, showcasing the ancient Americas' greatest achievements. Organized in partnership with museums and cultural institutions in Mexico and Peru, the exhibition features 1,129 groups of objects, nearly 3,000 pieces. Through an expansive presentation of archaeological and artistic material, it examines the development of ancient civilizations across Central and South America and their enduring cultural legacies.

Occupying more than 7,000 square meters of gallery space, the exhibition is organized into two complementary sections focused on the histories, artistic traditions, and material cultures of Mexico and Peru.

The first section, "Sacred Spaces: Civilizations of Ancient Mexico". Examining the relationship between belief systems, political authority, and artistic production, the presentation explores the cosmological frameworks that shaped ancient Mesoamerican societies. Through monumental works, ritual objects, and everyday artifacts, visitors are introduced to the intellectual and cultural worlds of these civilizations.

The second section, "Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru". As the largest exhibition on Andean civilizations ever presented in China, it is also among the most significant international touring exhibitions of Peruvian gold and silver artifacts. Tracing the development of societies across the Andes, the exhibition highlights the region's artistic achievements while examining the social, political, and spiritual systems that shaped its civilizations.

During the exhibition period, the Shanghai Museum on People's Square will be dedicated exclusively to the presentation. Inspired by the symbolic concept of the World Tree, exhibition design throughout the museum incorporates visual references drawn from the ancient Americas, including maize, jaguars, feathered serpents, and pyramids. To create an authentic ancient American ambiance, the venue becomes a 10,000 square meters immersive space, where visitors enter through a cornfield directly into the ancient landscape. Interpretive installations before the galleries introduce ancient America's landscapes, beliefs, and traditions. Starting June 1, 2026, international visitors can buy timed-entry tickets on Trip.com (ID required) or on-site at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square.