Reality show promises cultural adventure across the Americas

The premiere event for the eighth season of the hit travel reality show Divas Hit the Road was held at the Shanghai Museum, with chief director Li Chao and the full cast in attendance. This season's lineup features Hong Kong cinema icon Sandra Ng, acclaimed actress Yin Tao, Taiwan singer-actress Ariel Lin, actresses Zhou Dongyu and Wang Ke, as well as rising actor Deng Wei.

The new season will take viewers on a 27-day expedition across Mexico, Peru and Argentina, offering an immersive look at the breathtaking natural scenery and profound historical and cultural heritage of the Americas.

The Shanghai Museum served as the show's cultural advisory partner, playing an integral role in both pre-production planning and on-site filming. In January, the museum formally established a strategic partnership with Hunan Broadcasting System Media Group Co Ltd, joining forces to explore innovative approaches to cultural dissemination.

"We want the museum to be more than just a place for exhibitions; we hope it becomes an integral part of people's cultural lives. Our goal is to allow more visitors to step into history and gain a deeper appreciation of civilization through enjoyable and accessible experiences. This new season is a wonderful example of what our cross-sector collaboration can achieve," said Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum.

The museum is currently hosting the exhibition On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas, which features 1,129 sets — totaling nearly 3,000 artifacts — on loan from museums and cultural institutions in Mexico, Peru and China. The exhibition surveys key pre-Columbian civilizations across the Americas — the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Aztec, and Inca — whose material heritage spans this broad timeframe.

"The cast traveled to the ancestral sites of these civilizations in Mexico and Peru, where they delved into the stories behind the artifacts and ruins," Chu noted. "Here in the galleries of the Shanghai Museum, their journey finds its echoes."