An exhibition on ancient American civilizations opened Thursday at the Shanghai Museum in east China, showcasing artifacts that highlight dialogue across cultures and civilizations.
Named "On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas", the exhibition is destined to become one of the longest-running and most influential cultural events of its kind.
It showcases nearly 3,000 precious artifacts, comprising 1,129 sets, from cultural institutions in Mexico, Peru and China, dating from 1200 BC to the 16th century AD, and offers a panoramic view of the ancient civilizations of Central and South America.
The exhibits range from maize god figurines, magnetic parrot shoulder ornaments, and delicate Maya calendar bracelets to plush jaguar toys.
The exhibition will run until November 14, 2027.
Ancient American civilizations on display in Shanghai cross‑cultural exhibition
The South China Sea region showed stable marine ecological conditions in 2025, with improving coral coverage, healthy mangrove ecosystems and the return of rare species, according to two reports released by the South China Sea Bureau of the Ministry of Natural Resources on Friday.
The 2025 South China Sea Marine Ecological Early Warning and Monitoring Report and the 2025 South China Sea Marine Ecological Protection and Restoration Report were published at an event in Haikou City of south China's Hainan Province to mark the National Ecology Day, which fell on Saturday this year.
The reports indicated that the overall marine ecological status remained stable in the South China Sea region last year. Mangrove ecosystems were in good condition, with canopy coverage exceeding 75 percent.
For the first time, a comprehensive assessment of island reef ecological conditions was provided across the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands, covering nine reefs in detail. This has provided a fundamental basis for strengthening the classification, protection and management of islands and reefs.
The ecological conditions of the Xisha Islands are showing positive signs of recovery, while Huangyan Dao (Island) in the Zhongsha Islands features a unique and diverse ecosystem, the reports said.
In 2025, a total of 66 marine ecological restoration projects were carried out in the South China Sea region with a cumulative investment nearing five billion yuan (about 74.18 million U.S. dollars), according to the reports.
By the end of 2025, the region had designated marine ecological protection redline areas covering about 2.66 million hectares and marine protected areas spanning around seven million hectares.
South China Sea marine ecology stable in 2025: reports
