Sanxingdui Ruins
The Sanxingdui Ruins is one of the most important ancient remains not only in China but all over the world. This in itself is reason enough to visit the Ruins when in China.
If you want to see the Sanxingdui Ruins, it is located in the city of Guanghan, which is about 40 kilometers from Chengdu in the Sichuan Province. The Sanxingdui Ruins is best known for its large size, its rich cultural content, and the length of time it has been standing since it was created.
A Brief History of the Sanxingdui Ruins
The Sanxingdui Ruins were discovered when a farmer discovered some ancient relics in the area in 1929. Excavation to unearth the whole structure began since then and has attracted several generations of archaeologists, who become fascinated by the culture of Sanxingdui. The most interesting discovery was that of two major sacrificial pits, which were found in 1986.
This attracted widespread attention from academic circles all over the world. To this day, discoveries at the Sanxingdui site continue to have an enigmatic feel in them, partly because no texts have been unearthed and because no mention of the Sanxingdui culture have been found in the annals of nearby countries, thus a cloud of mystery over the entire area. Until today, the culture that produced the discovered artifacts continues to mystify archaeologists.
What Sanxingdui Ruins is Made Up Of
The Sanxingdui Ruins is made up of several large relic areas that are considered as the largest and most important ancient Shu cultural relic sites in the Sichuan province. The remains span a total area of 12 square kilometers in all. According to all that the archaeologists were able to find, the Sanxingdui Ruins housed actual life about 2,800 to 4,800 years ago. This means the people behind the enigmatic Ruins lived there during the late Neolithic age.
The Ruins are divided into Six Areas
1. Sanxingdui, near the southern bank of the Mamu River.
2. The Moonbend, a patch of land situated between the rivers Mamu and Duck.
3. Shi Zinao, which lies to the east.
4. Hen Liangzi, which lies to the west.
5. Xi Quankan, which lies to the south.
6. Dongsheng temple.
Visiting the Sanxingdui Ruins
If you are interested in visiting the Sanxingdui Ruins, the highlight of your visit will be the very unique Sanxingdui Museum, which is situated in the northeastern part of the Ruins. This is close to the Duck River. The museum covers a total area of 200,000 square meters and is equipped with modern facilities. The government invested over 30 million yuan in the construction of the museum, which boasts of a simple but very solemn style.
The Sanxingdui Museum, which is made up of four halls, is highlighted by a deformed spiral that reflects the historical and cultural art of the Sanxingdui culture.
- The first hall exhibits cultural relics that showcase the achievements of the Sanxingdui culture in various fields throughout its long history.
- The second hall showcases the symbols of various gods that were the center of the mysterious primitive religion of the Sanxingdui. This hall is dedicated to the religious, political, and social cultures of the ancient Shu.
- The third hall boasts of a special group of relics, which are considered to be the historic and artistic remains of the Shu people. Today, these are considered as national treasures, and are definitely a must-see.
- The fourth hall delves into the excavations and studies so far conducted on the site. It highlights the work that generations of archaeologists have so far poured into the discovery of the mysterious history of the area. The hall showcases over 50 years of work from experts originating locally and from abroad.
If you want to visit Sanxingdui Ruins in Chengdu, China Travel can tailor-make a tour including Sanxingdui Ruins in Chengdu, which can save your time, money, and trouble. Please feel free to tell us your tour ideas!
Location
It is located in the city of Guanghan, 40 km from Chengdu
Ticket Price
80 yuan
Opening Hours
Opening hours for the whole area is from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM while the exhibition hours at the museum is open from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The Bronze Exhibition Hall, however, is open until 6:30 PM.
More Tips
The tour of the Sanxingdui Ruins can be combined with Tours of other key areas in Chengdu such as the Panda Breeding Center. These tours usually go on for the whole day.