Like a strong magnetic field, it’s hard to forget the moment you learn about Sanxingdui. Watching documentaries and reading ‘Shan Hai Jing’ to understand and approach it, today I really came here! My heart is surging, a myriad of flowers blooming, afraid that the heartbeat will break the silence around, crossing thousands of years of time to meet with the ancient Shu Kingdom, beauty can be so concrete. The process of life is so slow and patient, the artifacts unearthed from Sanxingdui are too amazing and unique! Bronze standing figures, bronze human faces, bronze masks, bronze divine trees… Where have I seen such a site before? The details of Sanxingdui artifacts are endless, there are too many unsolved mysteries, the ancient Shu civilization is thriving, and it’s worth a long journey to explore. Introduction to Sanxingdui Sanxingdui site was discovered in the late 1920s, it is the largest, longest-lasting, and richest ancient cultural site found so far in the southwestern region of China, known as the ‘Ninth Archaeological Wonder’. It is about 4500-2800 years old, covering an area of 12 square kilometers. The discovery of the Sanxingdui site has strongly proved the existence of the ancient Shu Kingdom three to four thousand years ago, and the diversity of the origin of Chinese civilization. Introduction to the Sanxingdui Museum The Sanxingdui Museum is located in the northeast corner of the Sanxingdui site, in the historical and cultural city of Guanghan, Sichuan Province, on the west side of the river by the ducks, 38 kilometers south of Chengdu. The basic exhibition consists of two major exhibition halls, ‘Comprehensive Hall’ and ‘Bronze Hall’, with a display area of nearly 12000 square meters. The display combines science and art, reflecting the brilliant and splendid Sanxingdui as the source of the Yangtze River civilization and the root of the Tianfu culture. Sanxingdui, discovered in 1929 and excavated since 1934, has gone through more than ten excavations, especially in 1986 when two sacrificial pits were discovered, and thousands of rare treasures were unearthed. Visitor Information In the off-season, you can buy tickets directly, but in the peak season, you need to book tickets in advance on the WeChat public account or the official website of the Sanxingdui Museum. The ticket window at the museum’s visitor center only handles park tickets (excluding exhibition visits) and policy-based preferential tickets. If you encounter a peak period, the exhibition hall has a limited flow and does not allow re-entry. Opening hours: 08:30, stop selling tickets: 17:00, closing time: 18:00, ticket price: 72 yuan, you need to bring your ID card with you, scan the ID card to enter and exit, you can buy on-site or online (you still need to queue to exchange tickets on-site if you buy on Ctrip). Audio guide Sanxingdui Museum number with explanation function, all artifacts will be explained, a WeChat account pays 10 yuan. If you hire a professional guide, the price ranges from 40 to 178 yuan depending on the level of expertise. Traffic information The distance from Chengdu to Sanxingdui is less than 30 kilometers, with convenient transportation, National Highway 108, Chengdu-Mianyang Expressway, Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan Intercity Train, and Baoji-Yaan Railway can all reach it.
High-speed train: Take the Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan intercity train to Guanghan North Station, then transfer to Bus No. 1 and change to Bus No. 10 at Liuyang Mingyuan to arrive at the Sanxingdui Museum Station. Direct scenic spot shuttle: Board at the Wuhou Temple service point in Chengdu (departs at 11:30 AM daily) or at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base service point (departs at 12:30 PM daily) for a one-stop, barrier-free round trip. Pre-visit recommendation: The documentary ‘Sanxingdui: Vanished and Revived’ offers an in-depth look at the archaeological materials related to Sanxingdui. Chen Kun’s ‘Shine, Chinese Civilization’ is also recommended.
The museum exhibition consists of two halls: Hall One is a comprehensive hall that includes pottery, jade, bronze, and gold artifacts. The most famous items from Sanxingdui, such as the gold mask, gold scepter, celestial tree, large jade bi, and large standing figure, are all displayed here. Hall Two is the Bronze Artifact Hall, where the unique bronze masks and bronze human heads from Sanxingdui are displayed, all unearthed in 1986.
A must-see is the bronze standing figure, a 1.8-meter-tall bronze figure standing on a 0.8-meter-high pedestal. This is one of the most representative artifacts of the ancient Sanxingdui kingdom and is also a rare large bronze figure from ancient civilizations worldwide.
The large bronze celestial tree, displayed in the central hall of the comprehensive exhibition hall, is one of the museum’s ‘treasures’ and is one of the largest ancient bronze artifacts in the world, adorned with numerous complex and mysterious decorative elements.
Among the many bronze masks unearthed at Sanxingdui, the bronze mask with vertical eyes is the most peculiar and majestic, standing at 0.66 meters tall and 1.38 meters wide. It is one of the most well-known and mysterious artifacts of the ancient Shu civilization.
The bronze sun-shaped object, resembling a ‘steering wheel’, depicts the sun’s light with five rays and a halo, a form never seen in previous unearthed artifacts.
The gold-faced bronze human head: In ancient Shu, gold was revered, and among the 57 bronze human heads, only four wore gold masks, indicating their highest status. Scholars suggest that the hairstyle may also be a symbol of status.
Bronze sacrificial altar: The bronze sacrificial altar unearthed from the No. 2 sacrificial pit has been reconstructed for study, with its structure from top to bottom representing the temple and mountain peaks, the shaman, and a pair of divine birds, symbolizing heaven, earth, and humanity, showcasing the ancient Shu people’s mythological cosmology.
Sanxingdui cultural and creative products: The cultural and creative products of Sanxingdui are incredibly charming! With its ‘mystery’ and ‘uniqueness’, the Sanxingdui IP has become very popular, playful yet profound, full of humorous drama. The cultural and creative周边 products live up to expectations, offering a wide variety of creative products at affordable prices and high cost-performance ratio.
Within the courtyard of the Sanxingdui Museum, the small house amidst the vast forest is the cultural and creative shop. Inside the shop, you can find basic cloth bags, ornaments, fridge magnets, cups, and even bronze figurines playing mahjong. They are also depicted in various forms related to the culture of Sichuan and Shu. Additionally, there is a series featuring Sichuan cuisine, such as ice cream and mooncakes. ‘Not just a museum’ is the developmental vision of the Sanxingdui Museum, and we sincerely hope that Sanxingdui will continue to thrive.
Related Content：
Explore the China Maritime Museum and Hear the Tales of the Sea
Jiangnan Song City: Scenic Beauty, Hakka Cradle, and Fun in Ganzhou!
[Echoes in the Valley] May 5th Labor Day Trip to Qingpu Museum, Kizil Grottoes Murals, Printing Museum, Fiquan Mountain Site, and Nanhui Museum
Summer Vacation in Shanghai: Must-Visit Spots to Bookmark
Exploring the Roots of Shanghai: The Charm of Songjiang as an Internet Sensation
Follow Xia Ningbao to the Jiangnan water town – Zhujiajiao Ancient Town.