A Record-Breaking 42 Dinosaur Holotype Specimens. “Roars from Across China: China’s Dinosaur World Exhibition” Awarded the Great World Guinness “China’s Best” Title

On December 25, 2025, Shanghai Natural History Museum (SNHM, a branch of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum), held a special certification ceremony. “Roars from Across China: China’s Dinosaur World Exhibition” was certified for displaying 42 dinosaur holotype specimens in a single exhibition and was recognized as “the highest number of dinosaur holotype specimens on display (in a temporary exhibition).” The exhibition was officially awarded the Great World Guinness “China’s Best” record certificate, highlighting its scientific significance and high standard of exhibition presentation.

“Roars from Across China: China’s Dinosaur World Exhibition” is jointly organized by SSTM and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The exhibition brings together 118 representative dinosaur specimens and important models from 12 museums and scientific research institutions. Since opening to the public on May 31, 2025, the exhibition has welcomed nearly 400,000 visitors, generated more than 300 million topic impressions across online platforms, and received prominent coverage from multiple authoritative media outlets.

The core highlight of the exhibition lies in its collection of rare dinosaur fossils from across China. Particularly valuable among them are 42 dinosaur holotype specimens, including Lufengosaurus huenei, Microraptor gui, Anchiornis huxleyi, Asiatyrannus xui, and Gigantoraptor erlianensis. Holotype specimens serve as the original basis for species naming and research and possess irreplaceable scientific value. Achieving such a concentrated display of dinosaur holotype specimens in both number and variety in a temporary exhibition format is a first in China.