An exhibition showcasing the ancient Shu civilization has opened at the National Museum of China in Beijing, offering visitors a rare look into one of China’s earliest and most fascinating cultures. The exhibit, titled “Ancient Shu Civilization of the Sanxingdui and Jinsha Sites,” features more than 200 relics, including bronze figures, masks and other artifacts unearthed at the renowned Sanxingdui and Jinsha archaeological sites.
The exhibition, which opened on January 18, 2026, brings together treasures that highlight the artistic and cultural achievements of the Shu civilization, a society that thrived in what is now Sichuan province more than 3,000 years ago. Organisers hope the display will deepen public understanding of this ancient culture and its place in China’s broader historical tapestry. The show will run until August 18, 2026.
Visitors can see iconic objects such as bronze heads with golden masks and sun-shaped bronzeware, illustrating the craftsmanship and symbolic complexity of the Shu people. The exhibition has been positioned as a highlight of Beijing’s early-2026 museum season, reflecting growing public interest in cultural heritage and archaeological discoveries.
The Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites have yielded some of the most distinctive artifacts in Chinese archaeology, reshaping scholars’ understanding of early Chinese civilizations. The Shu culture was first brought to widespread attention following major discoveries in the late 20th century at Sanxingdui, where bronze masks and other ritual objects suggested a sophisticated Bronze Age society previously unknown to historians.