The first floor of the exhibition area focuses on fish, amphibians, and Mesozoic reptiles. The centerpiece of the floor is a large installation displaying mounts of Tsintaosaurus, Mamenchisaurus, Tyrannosaurus, and a Monolophosaurus preying on a Tuojiangosaurus. Near the entrance of the exhibit, a collection of Cambrian fossils from Southern China are displayed. A model of a Dunkleosteus head is also installed. Further in the gallery, along with fossils of prehistoric fish such as Sinohelicoprion and Helicoprion, a preserved coelacanth from South Africa, Latimeria, is displayed in a glass case. At the other end of the exhibit, the displays focus on prehistoric flight. The holotype specimen of Microraptor is displayed on the wall, and multiple specimens of pterosaurs are installed along with crushed specimens of other reptiles, such as Hyphalosaurus. On the second floor, the exhibit fully focuses on Mesozoic life, starting with a mount of Sinokannemeyeria next to displays of other dicynodonts, like Lystrosaurus. The exhibit then focuses on dinosaurs, installing mounts of Archaeornithomimus, Probactrosaurus, and the designate museum treasure of the IVPP, a Lufengosaurus skeleton that was the first dinosaur fossil found in China. In display cases, fossils of Mamenchisaurus and Tienshanosaurus are set. Further in the second floor, a section of the exhibit is dedicated to dinosaur eggs. The gallery also displays many fossils with preserved feathers from Liaoning, including a composite fossil dubbed "Archaeoraptor". The floor also mounts a cast of a Shansisuchus along with the skull and neck of Vjushkovisaurus. The third floor focuses on Cenozoic mammals, with an installation of mounts of Stegodon and Platybelodon along with the skull of a woolly mammoth as the gallery's centerpiece. A mount of Rhinotitan is also displayed.
