Shanghai Museum Unveils Massive Ancient Americas Exhibition

The exhibition, titled "On Top of the World Tree," moves away from traditional chronological displays by grouping 1,129 sets of objects to highlight shared cosmological concepts. Visitors encounter high-fidelity reconstructions and multimedia installations that recreate ritual practices, sacred architecture, and the ceremonial ballgame. This spatial design aims to bridge the gap between archaeology and mythology, transforming the museum galleries into a cultural landscape defined by motifs like maize, jaguars, and feathered serpents.

The project extends well beyond the museum walls, occupying 10,000 square meters of total immersive space that incorporates sensory elements like sight, smell, and taste. To foster citywide engagement, the Shanghai Museum partnered with the Shanghai Zoo, the Expo Culture Park, and the Chenshan National Botanical Garden. This collaboration integrates historical artifacts with living plants, animals, and local gastronomy, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the World Tree concept. Throughout the exhibition period, the museum has coordinated a "land–sea–air" promotional strategy, featuring themed metro trains, buses, and Huangpu River cruises to weave the ancient American theme into the fabric of daily urban life in Shanghai.