“Twin Star Illuminating the World-The Ancient Shu Civilization of Sanxingdui and Jinsha Sites Exhibition” Launches in National Museum of China

Release Time: 2026-01-18

On January 18, the exhibition of “Twin Star Illuminating the World-The Ancient Shu Civilization of Sanxingdui and Jinsha Sites” grandly opens in National Museum of China. This exhibition features over 200 exquisite artifacts unearthed from Sanxingdui-Jinsha Sites, and presents through four sections, “Secret Treasures”, “Dance of Man and God”, “Worship of Heaven and Earth”, and “Mutual Appreciation”. It vividly showcases the archaeological journey and rich cultural heritage of Sanxingdui-Jinsha Sites, reflecting the life and spiritual world of the ancient Shu people, revealing the close ties between the ancient Shu civilization and the Central Plains region as well as the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and highlighting the grandeur of Chinese civilization characterized by harmony in diversity and coexistence. The exhibition will last till August 18, 2026.

Jinsha Cultural Relics Displaying in National Museum of China, Echoes the Civilization from Chengdu Plain

Of the 108 cultural relics/sets on display from Jinsha Site Museum, 106 have been unveiled today and will remain on display throughout the exhibition period. The Gold Mask and the Sun and Immortal Birds Gold Ornament of the museum will be showcased in phases during subsequent periods-the exhibition of the Gold Mask lasts from April 18 to August 18, while the exhibition of Sun and Immortal Birds Gold Ornament is from June 13 to August 18. Coinciding with the museum’s temporary closure for its conservation and display enhancement project, 37 artifacts/sets are making their first exhibition outside Jinsha Site Museum, including representative artifacts like the Bronze Statuette of a Standing Human and Jade Zhang (a ritual artifact). After the exhibition concludes, all exhibits will be returned to Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum.

Additionally, over 1,000 cultural and creative products from Jinsha Site Museum, including 23 items, such as Double-ear Mask cups and Flowing Sand Refrigerator Magnet of Sun and Immortal Birds Gold Ornament fridge magnets, are displayed outside Jinsha Site Museum today. These items serve as cultural ambassadors, allowing visitors to take home a gift of ancient Shu while enjoying the exhibition.

The Exhibits Demonstrate Cultural Exchanges and the Unity of Diversity of Chinese Civilization

The ancient Shu civilization represented by Sanxingdui-Jinsha Sites is an important component of the pluralistic unity pattern of Chinese civilization. From the cultural relics exhibited from Jinsha Site Museum, visitors can see the continuous and in-depth cultural interactions between the ancient Shu region and the Central Plains and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It is worth mentioning that Jinsha Site is the most concentrated site for jade artifacts unearthed in China during the same period. Among all the cultural relics exhibited at this exhibition, jade artifacts account for nearly half, showcasing the cultural charm and exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Shu jade works. In addition, artifacts such as pottery he, jade ge, and linked-edged jade yue vividly reflect the cultural interactions with other regions of China and the inclusive, open, and innovative characteristics of the ancient Shu civilization.

In order to demonstrate the cultural exchanges across China more clearly , the exhibition of “Twin Star Illuminating the World” features artifacts from Sanxingdui-Jinsha Sites，alongside relics from Henan, Zhejiang, and Shanxi to present a dialogue of civilizations that transcends time and space jointly, allowing visitors to appreciate the profound accumulation and inclusive spirit of Chinese civilization intuitively.

As outstanding representatives of the historical and cultural heritage of Sichuan region, Sanxingdui-Jinsha Sites are shared spiritual and cultural treasures of all the people of China, profoundly reflecting the cultural lineage of the Chinese nation, which has always been closely connected and shared in beauty throughout the long history. In addition to the National Museum of China, visitors can now encounter the cultural relics of Jinsha Site at the “Golden Light Shines Miles Away-Special Exhibition on Bronze Civilization in Southwest China” in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum. Next, Jinsha Site Museum will take its collection of cultural relics to various domestic and international cultural institutions, including Sanxingdui Museum, Shanxi Museum, Hunan Provincial Museum, the Guadalajara Museum in Spain, and the National Guimet Museum of Asian Art in France, to meet the audience through exhibitions with different themes.