On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

Shanghai Museum, People’s Square · People’s Square Museum, 1F–3F · Shanghai · –

Key facts

GUAN makes in-depth guides to time-limited special exhibitions: each selected work has commentary and audio in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese and English, and every key fact cites its source.

Dates
Jul 9, 2026 to Nov 14, 2027
Venue
Shanghai Museum, People’s Square · Huangpu · Shanghai
GUAN guide
12 selected works with text and audio in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and English; free
Highlights
Artifacts from the Americas explore the beliefs, daily lives and art of ancient civilizations.

Artifacts from the Americas explore the beliefs, daily lives and art of ancient civilizations.

In-depth audio guide

Plan your visit

Closed during the exhibition
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Held at the People’s Square Museum. Reserve admission in advance and check the official booking page for hours and sessions; this show is not at the East Museum. Usually closed on Mondays, except public holidays. Dated closures for 2027 await confirmation of holiday arrangements; check the official schedule before a 2027 visit.

Works (12)

  1. 1-1. Olmec Colossal Stone Head 4 Olmec culture (maker unknown) · Basalt (per the museum’s description) · Early Preclassic period, 1200–900 BCE · Museo de Antropología de Xalapa — A basalt face of about 4.5 tonnes, thought to portray a particular ruler.
  2. 1-4. Las Limas Monument 1 Olmec culture (maker unknown) · Green serpentine (per the museum’s description) · Middle Preclassic period, 1000–600 BCE · Museo de Antropología de Xalapa — A cross-legged youth holds out an infant with jaguar features on both forearms.
  3. 2-1. Stela 51 of Calakmul Maya culture (maker unknown) · Stone; the consulted official sources do not name the stone · Late Classic period, 731 CE · Museo Nacional de Antropología — A king stands on a captive in this stela, set up in 731.
  4. 2-3. Anthropomorphic Pottery Incense Burner Pedestals Maya culture (maker unknown) · Pottery with remains of Maya blue and red pigment (per the museum’s description) · Late Classic period, 600–900 CE · Museo Nacional de Antropología — Divine faces stack upward like a tree joining earth and sky.
  5. 2-6. Stone Ballgame Panel Maya culture (maker unknown) · Stone; the consulted official sources do not name the stone · Classic period, 250–900 CE · Museo Nacional de Antropología — Two nobles kneel on one knee, a huge rubber ball between them.
  6. 3-4. Incised Conch Trumpet Teotihuacan culture (maker unknown) · Conch shell, incised · Early Classic period, 150–250 CE · Zona arqueológica de Teotihuacan — A crocodile floats across this shell; each time it sounded, creation was replayed.
  7. 3-5. Greenstone Figures Teotihuacan culture (maker unknown) · Greenstone; the consulted official sources do not identify the mineral · Early Classic period, 200–250 CE · Zona arqueológica de Teotihuacan — These two green figures were buried together at the far end of a tunnel under a pyramid.
  8. 4-1. Effigy of Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of the Underworld Aztec culture (maker unknown) · Ceramic in two joined parts, once covered with painted stucco (per the museum’s description) · Late Postclassic period, 1480 CE · Museo del Templo Mayor — A clay figure slightly taller than a person embodies the ruler of the underworld.
  9. 4-2. Almena in the Shape of a Conch's Section Aztec culture (maker unknown) · Clay (per the museum’s description) · Late Postclassic period, 1200–1521 CE · Museo del Templo Mayor — A conch shell cut in half becomes a roof ornament more than two metres tall.
  10. 5-4. Ai Apaec and His Battles at Sea Moche culture (maker unknown) · Ceramic flaring bowl · 350–850 CE (Moche culture date range) · Museo Larco, Lima - Peru — A rattling clay bowl paints a hero’s journey under the sea, his death and his return.
  11. 5-8. Frontal Headdress with Plumes Chimú culture (maker unknown) · Gold and sodalite · 1100–1470 CE (Chimú culture date range) · Museo Larco, Lima - Peru — Feline, bird and serpent: three sacred animals meet in one gold headdress.
  12. 5-10. Dragonflies and Feline Head Inca culture (maker unknown) · Ceramic pitcher (urpu) · 1400–1532 CE (Inca culture date range) · Museo Larco, Lima - Peru — A long-necked Inca jar: a feline head peers from its shoulder, dragonflies circle its body.

Questions

Is there an audio guide for On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas?

Yes. GUAN selected 12 works from the exhibition, each with text and audio in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and English. All of it is free.

When is On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas on?

Jul 9, 2026 to Nov 14, 2027.

Official website

Sources for this page

On now and opening soon in Shanghai