A botanical journey through ancient American civilizations

A botanical exhibition that merges ancient American civilizations is ongoing at the Shanghai Expo Culture Park, exploring the botanical foundations of Aztec, Maya and Inca cultures as a companion to the On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas exhibition at the Shanghai Museum.

Realm of the World Tree: Agave and its Friends — Plants of the Americas runs through Nov 14, 2027, showcasing over 300 American plant species across three themed pavilions at the Shanghai Greenhouse Garden.

"We created immersive installations in each pavilion that transport visitors into the worlds of Aztec, Maya and Inca civilizations," says Zhang Feng, head of planning and operations at the Shanghai Expo Culture Park.

Zhang says: "We made over 300 new plant labels specifically for species connected to American civilizations. This allows visitors to discover which plants originally came from the Americas and understand their cultural significance."

The first pavilion re-creates the arid highland ecosystems dominated by agave and cacti. Visitors enter through a cave guarded by a replica Olmec colossal head.

The second pavilion centers on the world tree, the cosmic pillar of Maya cosmology. According to Maya belief, the ceiba tree connects three realms. This tropical rainforest environment features native American species, including trumpet and rubber trees.

The third pavilion transports visitors to the highlands of the Inca civilization. Its centerpiece is a spectacular pair of alpaca topiaries dressed in traditional textiles — a 6-meter-tall mother and 3.5-meter-tall calf, their woolly coats composed of bromeliads.

"Alpacas held sacred status in Inca civilization, symbolizing harvest, peace and prosperity," Zhang says.

"The warm, humid greenhouse provides ideal growing conditions for bromeliads, whose delicate leaves create that fluffy wool appearance."

He reveals that the alpacas might undergo a costume change in autumn and winter, with additional bromeliad species planted from the head to the cheeks.

The exhibition centers on agave as its unifying theme, featuring over 30 varieties and demonstrations of traditional agave distilling techniques.

Beginning July 11, the greenhouse is hosting Echoes of Mayahuel, an immersive musical performance, every Saturday at 2 pm.

The 40-minute show follows a botanist through the three pavilions, weaving together the love story of the agave goddess Mayahuel and the feathered serpent god into a journey that connects plants, mythology and civilization. The performance is included with regular greenhouse admission at no extra charge.

"We want civilization to be more than static displays," Zhang says.

"By embedding live performances within these botanical scenes, visitors can experience a multisensory immersion — sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell — that brings ancient American cultures vividly to life."