The opening section, Arising from the Ocean, demonstrates how vertebrates originated as ocean-dwelling creatures and includes two Haikouichthys fossils found in Kunming, Yunnan province. The species is often heralded as one of the earliest-known vertebrates, living around 520 million years ago during the Early Cambrian period (538.8-509 million years ago). Often described by media as the "first fish "on earth, it is just 2 or 3 centimeters in length.
In the following section, Conquest of the Land, the Late Devonian period (385.3 to 359.2 million years ago) is brought back to life through vivid models. Over time, certain bony fish developed anatomical structures suited for life on land, ultimately evolving into the diverse groups of tetrapods found today, including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
The hall also features an exhibit that allows visitors to touch the fossilized remains of a dinosaur. Wang hopes the 600-square-meter newly renovated hall will inspire a new generation of children and paleontologists.
Among the many fossilized stars is a 26-meter-long Mamenchisaurus jingyanensis, a gigantic herbivore that lived around 150 million years ago and had one of the longest necks of its species. It is located in the center of the hall and is one of the longest dinosaur fossils ever found in China.
Besides fossils, there is a video of battles between a Yangchuanosaurus and a Tuojiangosaurus, two dinosaurs found in China, and between a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops. According to Wang, the video vividly depicts the prehistoric environment, plants and paleontological understanding of these significant dinosaurs.
