Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan

Introduction of Sanxingdui Culture

Name in Chinese: 三星堆博物馆

Location: 40 km south of Chengdu

Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 (ticket sales end at 17:00)

Bronze Exhibition Hall: 8:30-18:30

The Sanxingdui culture is a fascinating relic from 3-5 thousand years ago. For a long time, people believed that the ancient Shu dynasty was nothing more than a myth, but the discovery of Sanxingdui turned that notion on its head. The artifacts found at this site indicate that this dynasty did in fact exist, and that it was highly advanced. But what happened to it? The question remains unanswered, and there are many other mysteries surrounding Sanxingdui waiting to be unearthed. From its origins to its continuation, and from the meaning behind its artifacts to the way they were created, there is so much we have yet to discover.

Sanxingdui, found in Guanghan City, Deyang, Sichuan Province, was unearthed in the late 1920s. It remains the most extensive and enduring ancient cultural site with the most profound cultural significance discovered in Southwest China thus far. In 1986, the discovery of the No.1 and No.2 sacrificial pits of Sanxingdui revealed thousands of precious cultural relics, causing a sensation, and considered as one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Important relics such as the eastern and southern city walls, Moon Bay small city, and palace foundations were subsequently discovered, clarifying the distribution range of the ancient city.

The Sanxingdui Museum, established on the Sanxingdui archaeological site, is a large modern museum that was founded in August 1992 and officially opened in October 1997. The museum has two main exhibition halls, the "Comprehensive Hall" and the "Bronze Hall," which cover an exhibition area of almost 12,000 square meters. Recently, a new "Restoration Hall" has been added to showcase the restoration process and promote cultural preservation knowledge to the public. It features cultural relics unearthed from the newly discovered sacrificial pit at the Sanxingdui site since 2019.

Excavation and archaeological research may be our only hope of uncovering the secrets of this incredible culture. If you have a passion for history and cultural relics and are not content with just reading about them in books, then why not visit Sanxingdui and "get involved."

Check out the tours from Chengdu including Guanghan Sanxingdui: Chengdu Tours, Vacations, Day Trips

Travel tip for visiting Sanxingdui Museum

 1.  Visit the Comprehensive Hall (Exhibition Hall 1) first to explore the ancient Shu culture, pottery, and bronze wares. The Bronze Hall (Exhibition Hall 2) and the Cultural Relic Restoration Center are at a similar distance from the Comprehensive Hall, but it is recommended to start with the Bronze Hall, where you can see impressive displays of the Bronze Mask and Large Vertical-Eyed Mask.

2.  A visit to both halls should take at least 2 hours each, and the entire scenic area should take at least 5 hours. For an immersive experience, set aside a full day for exploration. If you're just there for a quick tour and photo opportunities, 3 hours is enough.