Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum is located in Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. As an archaeological museum for the protection, research, and display of Jinsha culture and ancient Shu civilization, it covers an area of 300,000 square meters with a total construction area of about 40,000 square meters. The scenic area features precious cultural relics such as gold wares, jade objects, and ivory unearthed from the site, completely presenting the urban landscape of the ancient Shu Kingdom from the 12th century BC to the 7th century BC, serving as an important witness to the ancient civilization center of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
History and Culture
The Jinsha Site, the first major archaeological discovery in China in the 21st century, was rated as one of the "Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China in 2001" and is now a key national cultural relic protection unit and one of the first batch of national archaeological site parks. Dating back about 3,200 to 2,600 years, the site is highly likely to be another political, economic, and cultural center that rose on the Chengdu Plain after the decline of the Sanxingdui civilization, jointly selected with the Sanxingdui Site into the China World Cultural Heritage Preliminary List.
The site has revealed important remains such as large building foundations, sacrificial areas, residential sites, and cemeteries, with unearthed cultural relics including gold, bronze, jade, and ivory objects. The thousands of tons of ivory and thousands of wild boar tusks and deer antlers are particularly shocking, making it one of the sites with the richest gold and jade wares and the densest ivory in the world.
The main period of Jinsha culture spans the late Shang Dynasty to the Western Zhou Dynasty, forming four stages of ancient Shu civilization development together with the prehistoric city site cluster on the Chengdu Plain, the Sanxingdui Site, and the Warring States ship coffin tombs. This proves that the Chengdu Plain was the origin center of the upper Yangtze River civilization and an important organic part of the Chinese civilization, providing key evidence for the establishment of the theory of "pluralistic unity" in the origin of Chinese ancient civilization.
Main Attractions
Relic Hall
The Relic Hall, the excavation site of large sacrificial activities at the Jinsha Site, is the best-preserved and longest-continuing sacrificial remains in China. Supported by 15 steel columns, the hall retains 90% of the unexcavated cultural relic area, allowing visitors to intuitively observe the sacrificial scenes of the ancient Shu Kingdom and feel the religious atmosphere of 3,000 years ago.
Exhibition Hall
The Exhibition Hall is divided into five galleries: "Ancient Homeland" restores the ecological environment 3,000 years ago through modern technology; "Silhouette of the Royal City" displays the farming life and class differentiation of the ancient Shu people; "Unbroken Heaven and Earth" reproduces mysterious sacrificial rituals; "Thousand-Year Relics" exhibits the museum's treasure pieces such as the Sun God Bird gold ornament, gold mask, and Ten-section Jade Cong; "Interpreting Jinsha" combs the development context of ancient Shu civilization, comprehensively presenting the historical value of Jinsha culture.
Ubame Forest
Located in the southeast corner of the museum, the Ubame Forest is a landscape composed of more than 60 pieces of ebony unearthed from the Jinsha Site and the Chengdu area. These ebony pieces carbonized over thousands of years have witnessed the ecological changes in the ancient Shu region, serving as a landscape with both scientific and artistic values.
Jinsha Deer Park
Jinsha Deer Park is a popular spot for parent-child interaction, where visitors can have close contact with sika deer, understand the symbolic significance of deer in ancient Shu culture, and experience the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Food
Jinsha Time Cafe
Located on the basement floor of the Exhibition Hall, the cafe provides convenient light meals and tea services, accommodating 100 diners simultaneously. Service hours are from 9:00 to 17:30, suitable for visitors to quickly replenish energy.
Chen Po Po Traditional Cuisine
Located at No. 20 Jinze Road, this restaurant features traditional Sichuan cuisine, recommending classic dishes such as Mapo Tofu and Twice-cooked Pork, with an average consumption of about 60 yuan per person, an ideal place to experience authentic Sichuan flavors.
Chen Mapo Tofu (Qingyang Avenue Branch)
As a century-old brand, it specializes in spicy and savory Mapo Tofu, made from tender tofu and minced beef stir-fried with Sichuan pepper and chili, known as the "Soul of Sichuan Cuisine," with an average consumption of about 80 yuan per person.
Shu Jiu Xiang Hot Pot (Qingyang Avenue Branch)
A well-known hot pot chain brand offering spicy red soup, mushroom soup, and other soup bases, with signature dishes including fresh tripe and duck intestines, with an average consumption of about 120 yuan per person, suitable for visitors who prefer bold flavors.
Tickets
The ticket price is 70 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "金沙遗址博物馆" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Open from 9:00 to 18:00 (entry stops at 17:30) from Tuesday to Sunday; closed on Monday (except for legal holidays). Opening hours may be adjusted for major events or special circumstances, subject to the official announcement of the scenic area.
Tour Route
Recommended route: Main Entrance → Relic Hall (visit the ancient Shu sacrificial site) → Exhibition Hall (follow the order of "Ancient Homeland → Silhouette of the Royal City → Unbroken Heaven and Earth → Thousand-Year Relics → Interpreting Jinsha" to learn about cultural relics) → Ubame Forest (view the thousand-year-old ebony landscape) → Jinsha Deer Park (parent-child interaction) → Exit. The whole journey takes about 2.5 hours, allowing a systematic experience of the historical context and archaeological charm of Jinsha culture.
Transportation
- Bus: Take buses No. 7, 82, 83, 100, 105, 123, 147, 212, 339, G58, etc., and get off at "Jinsha Site Museum Station."
- Metro: Take Metro Line 7 to "Jinsha Museum Station," and walk for about 5 minutes from Exit C to reach the museum.
- Self-driving: The museum has an underground parking lot at No. 227 Qingyang Avenue, with a parking fee of about 10 yuan per hour.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Relic Hall: The most complete ancient Shu sacrificial site in China, with 90% of cultural relics preserved under 15 steel columns, allowing an intuitive experience of sacrificial scenes 3,000 years ago.
- "Thousand-Year Relics" Gallery of the Exhibition Hall: Admire the museum's treasure pieces, including the Sun God Bird gold ornament (0.02 cm thick, 20 g weight), gold mask (19.5 cm wide, 11 cm high), and Ten-section Jade Cong (29.6 cm high).
- Ubame Forest: A landscape composed of more than 60 pieces of thousand-year-old ebony, witnessing the ecological changes of ancient Shu, suitable for photo souvenirs.
Tour Tips
- Recommended visiting seasons: Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) when the climate is mild, suitable for outdoor visits.
- Make an appointment to purchase tickets in advance through the official WeChat public account "Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum" to avoid queuing during holidays.
- Rent a voice guide (20 yuan per unit) or hire a docent (100 yuan per session) to deeply understand the historical stories behind the cultural relics.
- Carry valid documents such as ID cards to enjoy preferential policies; parent-child visitors can prioritize visiting Jinsha Deer Park and reserve 30 minutes for interaction.
- After the visit, go to nearby Chen Mapo Tofu or Shu Jiu Xiang Hot Pot to taste Sichuan cuisine and experience in-depth play combining "food and culture."
Notes
- Smoking and touching cultural relics are prohibited in the museum; do not use flash when taking photos (especially in the Exhibition Hall).
- The floor of the Relic Hall is a glass walkway; it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes and avoid running or pushing.
- Feeding with self-brought food is prohibited in Jinsha Deer Park; use the feed provided by the scenic area (10 yuan per portion).
- There are many visitors during holidays; it is recommended to visit off-peak (fewer people from 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning) and keep personal belongings safe.
- During the epidemic, comply with the scenic area's epidemic prevention requirements (such as wearing masks and presenting health codes), subject to the daily announcement.