Sanxingdui Museum

Overview

Sanxingdui Museum houses one of the most mysterious archaeological finds of the 20th century — a Bronze Age civilization that thrived 3,000–5,000 years ago yet appears in no Chinese historical records. Its alien-looking bronze masks and towering statues are unlike anything else in world archaeology.

Highlights

• Bronze Masks: Hauntingly stylized masks with protruding eyes and geometric features, up to 138 cm wide.
• Bronze Standing Figure: A 2.6-meter-tall bronze figure, the tallest Bronze Age statue ever discovered.
• Gold Scepter: A 1.42-meter gold-wrapped scepter with engraved fish and bird motifs.

History

First discovered by a farmer in 1929, systematic excavations in 1986 unearthed two sacrificial pits containing thousands of bronze, gold, and jade artifacts dating to around 1200 BC. Six new pits were discovered in 2020–2022, yielding hundreds more stunning artifacts.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The new museum hall (opened 2023) is essential — it contains the latest excavation finds.
• Tip 2: Located 40 km north of Chengdu; take the Sanxingdui express bus from Zhaojiasi bus station.
• Duration: 2.5–3 hours.