On International Museum Day (May 18, 2026), the Capital Museum will launch a blockbuster exhibition called "Maize, Gold, Jaguars — A Grand Exhibition of Ancient Mayan and Andean Civilizations", as part of the museum's "Exchange and Mutual Learning among World Civilizations" (世界文明交流互鉴) series. This stunning exhibition will break records in the history of the museum, for both the number of exhibits and the scale of cooperating institutions.

Early bird tickets for the exhibition, each priced at 88 yuan, will be available until May 8. Tickets can be purchased via the official WeChat account and mini-program of the Capital Museum.

As Beijing's first-ever exhibition on Mayan and Andean civilizations so far, it will feature immersive experiences and a cohesive narrative, covering three major exhibition halls and other public spaces at the Capital Museum, with a total area of nearly 10,000 square meters, making it the largest exhibition in the museum's history. About 800 precious cultural relics spanning 3,000 years of history will offer visitors an immersive cultural feast showcasing the Mayan and Andean civilizations.

The exhibition, unprecedented in scale and rich in highlights, is divided into three sections.

Section One: "World of Mayans"

Building on previous touring exhibitions, this section has assembled an additional collection of cultural relics from Mexico, with 90 percent of them on display in Beijing for the first time. 

A rabbit relief seal

"Earth Supporter" statue

A jaguar-shaped flag stand

A polychrome pottery cup with human images    

Section Two: "Treasures of the Kings"

This section will, for the first time, present archaeological discoveries from the royal tombs of Sipán, part of the most important archaeological findings in South America in the 20th century. Visitors can learn about the burial customs of Moche nobles and the exquisite metal craftsmanship of the Moche culture. Eighty percent of the relics are coming to China for the first time, and 50 percent of them are leaving Peru for overseas display for the first time.

A ceramic ware depicting craftsmen smelting metal objects in a furnace 

A gold frontlet 

A gold earring with a deer pattern

A feline-shaped pottery jar

A gold alpaca statue

Section Three: "Spirits of Nature"

This section will use a narrative approach to describe the emotional bond between humans and animals. All exhibits in this section are coming to China for the first time. 

"Figure in Leopard Print" pottery statue

A pottery bowl with a bird pattern

A monkey-shaped seal

"Figure Playing Musical Instrument" pottery statue

"Dancing Dogs" pottery statue

Alongside the exhibition, the museum will launch an experience space highlighting cultural creativity. In the public area on B1, immersive scenes have been created with elements such as jaguars, solar calendars and pyramids. Visitors can collect stamps free of charge. More than 300 types of creative souvenirs will be available for purchase, and a VR experience will take you back to the ancient Mayan sacrificial site. The culinary offerings are something you can not miss. Under the guidance of Mexican and Peruvian chefs, ancient-style corn juice and cocoa drinks will be offered, alongside a selection of Beijing's local snacks.

The biggest highlight will be the immersive puzzle-solving game "Unlocking the Triple Codes of Ancient American Civilizations" (解开美洲古代文明的三重密码). With an NFC wristband, a scepter and other tools, you can have a glimpse of ancient American civilizations through interactive puzzles both inside and outside the exhibition halls, online and offline.

(Source: Beijing Fabu)