The new site of the Yin Xu Museum (殷墟博物馆新馆) is located in Anyang City, Henan Province, China, nestled along the banks of the Huan River and facing the remains of the Yin Xu Palace and Temple across the river. Covering a total area of 175,000 square meters, the museum’s architectural footprint spans 51,000 square meters. The main building, standing at 22 meters tall and 146 meters wide, comprises four floors, including one underground level and three above ground.
Yin Xu is historically significant as the first documented capital city site from China’s Shang Dynasty late period, supported by archaeological excavations and oracle bone inscriptions. With ongoing enrichments in archaeological findings at Yin Xu, the original museum was insufficient to meet the needs for protection and exhibition. In November 2020, construction commenced for the new site of the Yin Xu Museum. By February 2024, the museum opened its doors. Featuring eight exhibition halls, it stands as the first national museum dedicated to comprehensively showcasing the civilization of the Shang Dynasty.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Yinxu Museum
- Vlog about Yinxu Museum
- Other Attractions in Anyang Downtown
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.30; Last admission: 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0372-5993308 |
Location and Transportation
The new site of the Yin Xu Museum is located at the intersection of Fangzhi Road and Shachang Road in the Yindu District of Anyang City, Henan Province, China. To get there, you can take bus X59 and get off at Yindu Bridge Stop (殷都桥站).
Highlights of Yinxu Museum
The first floor primarily exhibits “Exploring Shang Civilization,” presenting Yin Xu as the starting point and cornerstone of Chinese civilization, elucidating the developmental trajectory of Shang civilization. The second floor focuses on “The Magnificent Shang Civilization,” providing a panoramic display of the significant achievements of the Shang Dynasty in politics, military affairs, agriculture, handicrafts, writing, and urban construction. The third floor delves into “The Global Shang Civilization,” grounding itself in an international perspective to expound upon the global significance of Shang civilization.
In addition to the main exhibitions, the Yin Xu Museum also hosts several thematic exhibitions. The first-floor “Yin Xu Chariot and Horse Relic Exhibition” showcases, for the first time in a concentrated manner, 23 unearthed chariots from Yin Xu, vividly reconstructing the magnificent scene of bustling chariots and neighing horses. The “Wang Ji and the Four Directions” thematic exhibition focuses on displaying Shang Dynasty artifacts from provinces such as Shandong, Anhui, Hunan, Sichuan, Hebei, and Hubei.
The “From Where Comes Chang – Special Exhibition on the Yachang Tomb in the Huayuanzhuangdong Area of Yin Xu” unveils the tragic story of the iron-blooded military general Yachang from the Shang Dynasty. The “Who is the Zie – Special Exhibition on the Oracle Bones from the Huayuan Village East Area of Yin Xu” deciphers the codes of civilization, reconstructing the image of “Zi” in the Shang Dynasty, Visitors can observe the standardized inscriptions on oracle bones, neat and beautiful, depicting the life of the “Zi” in a diary-like format. Zi had close ties with Shang King Wu Ding and Fu Hao, wielding supreme authority over other sons and vassal lords of the Shang Dynasty. The oracle bone inscriptions “journal-style” showcase the daily lives of “Zi,” involving rituals, tributes, military affairs, hunting, feasting, and music and dance.
