The Sānxīngduī Museum, 40km north of Chéngdū in Guǎnghàn (广汉), exhibits relics of the Shu kingdom, a cradle of Chinese civilisation dating from 1200 BC to 1100 BC. Some archaeologists regard these artefacts, which include stunningly crafted, angular and stylized bronze masks, as even more important than Xī'ān's Terracotta Warriors. Art and archaeology buffs will need at least a half day here.
Throughout the 20th century, farmers around Guǎnghàn continually unearthed intriguing pottery shards and dirt-encrusted jade carvings when digging wells and tilling their fields. However, war and lack of funds prevented anyone from investigating these finds. Finally, in 1986, archaeologists launched a full-scale excavation and made a startling discovery when they unearthed the site of a major city dating back to the Neolithic age in the upper reaches of the Yangzi River (Cháng Jiāng). The oldest civilizations before had been believed to be concentrated around the the Yellow River (Huáng Hé).
Buses to the site depart Xīnnánmén bus station (¥15, 11/2 hours, six daily, from 8.30am to 3pm). Alternatively, buses from Chéngdū's Zhāojué Sì station (¥12, 11/2 hours, 7am to 8pm) head to Guǎnghàn's tourist bus station (广汉客运中心), then transfer to local bus 6 (¥2, from 7am to 6pm) for the remaining 10km to the site.
A bus from the site back to Zhāojué Sì station leaves at 4.10pm, otherwise buses depart the tourist bus station for Xīnnánmén every 10 minutes (¥16, from 6.40am to 6.50pm).
