Central Plains

Erlitou Museum (Yanshi) Travel Guide

Xiadu Zhenxun · Turquoise Dragon · Lattice Pattern Bronze Ding

The Erlitou Museum is built next to the site of the Xia Dynasty capital, housing the earliest palace layout in China, the earliest urban main road network, and also that dragon-shaped artifact inlaid with more than two thousand pieces of turquoise, dating back 3,700 years.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonAll year

Suggested stay2 hours

Key highlightsTurquoise Dragon-shaped Vessel · Grid-patterned Bronze Ding · Restoration of the Palace City

TrafficChartered car in Luoyang city area about 40 minutes

RemindVisiting the Erlitou Site Park together requires half a day.

The Erlitou site is located in Zhai Town, Yanshi, and dates back approximately 3,750 years. It is considered by most scholars to be Zhenxun, the capital city of the middle to late Xia Dynasty. The museum is built on the east side of the site and opened in 2019. It is the most direct visit to understand 'China's earliest dynasty.'

Main Highlights

Turquoise Dragon-shaped Artifact

The treasure of the museum, about sixty-four centimeters long, is made from more than two thousand small pieces of turquoise inlaid to form a coiled dragon shape. The dragon's eyes are made of white jade, and its nose is turquoise. It was excavated from the owner of a high-status tomb, and the craftsmanship is so exquisite that it is hard to believe it was made over three thousand years ago.

Grid-pattern Bronze Ding and Palace Reconstruction

The grid-pattern bronze ding is one of the earliest known bronze ding in China. Though the casting is rough, its significance is considerable. Inside the museum, models reconstruct the palace of Erlitou and the 'well'-shaped road network—this square layout is the origin of the later Chinese capital city planning.

Suggested Route

Two-hour version: Preface Hall → First Dynasty → Capital City Planning → Turquoise Dragon-shaped Artifact Hall.
Combine with the Erlitou Archaeological Site Park and Yanshi Shangcheng to make a one-day tour along Luoyang's eastern line.

Practical Information

The museum is about thirty kilometers from downtown Luoyang. Public transport is inconvenient, so it is recommended to use a private car. The exhibition follows the main line of archaeological excavation, so it is suggested to first review the chronological framework in the Preface Hall. The museum is usually closed on Mondays, so confirm before departure.