The lost worlds of the ancient Americas are coming to Shanghai!

From July 9 this year to November 2027, Shanghai Expo Culture Park's greenhouse will host the "Realm of the World Tree: Agave and its friends" Plants of the Americas Show, a sprawling exhibition of more than 300 plant species from across the Americas, from towering agaves to silk floss and trumpet trees.

Inspired by the Aztec, Maya, and Inca civilizations, the show blends lush botanical displays with live performances, themed markets, and interactive events, presented alongside the Shanghai Museum's major exhibition on ancient American civilizations.

Hall 1 immerses visitors in a sun-baked landscape of stone and cactus. A colossal Olmec head, known as the "mother of Mesoamerican civilizations," greets visitors at the entrance, setting the stage for a journey through ancient America.

Deeper inside, a cactus forest hides five Aztec deity totem poles, symbolizing the civilization's deep reverence for nature and the cosmos.

At the heart of the hall, "The Life Journey of Agave" showcases over 30 rare agave species, including varieties used in traditional spirits, alongside an immersive display of ancient brewing techniques. Visitors can sample agave spirits on site or take home specialty bottles.

Hall 2 transports guests to a Maya rainforest, anchored by the towering World Tree. Maya glyphs suspended in midair link heaven, earth, and humanity, while two distinct experiences branch from the center: a rainforest trail filled with mythical beasts and deity statues for photo-worthy encounters with rain gods and corn gods, and an underwater treasure sequence following a "time capsule" narrative that recreates sacred cenote rain rituals.

The journey culminates at the Feathered Serpent pyramid, a towering symbol of Maya civilization, surrounded by dozens of tropical American plants, from cocoa trees to frangipani, creating a sense of lush abundance.

Hall 3 displays the world of the Inca. Llama plant sculptures in traditional Andean attire greet visitors among flowering columns, while a floating Machu Picchu rises above a water stage, allowing exploration of the ethereal lost city.

If you go:

Date: July 9, 2026-November 2027

Venue: Shanghai Greenhouse, Shanghai Expo Culture Park

Address: No.199, Jiming Rd, Pudong New Area 

Ticket Information:

General Admission

Weekdays: 98 yuan

Weekends & Public Holidays: 128 yuan

50% off for children, students, and seniors

Early-Bird Tickets

68 yuan per ticket

Available from 10am on June 5, 2026, while supplies last

Valid from July 9 to December 31, 2026

Ticket Purchase

Available through the Shanghai Expo Culture Park official WeChat Mini Program