The Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆博物馆; Sānxīngduī Bówùguǎn), 40km north of Chengdu, exhibits relics of the ancient Shu kingdom, a cradle of Chinese civilization dating from 1200 BCE to 1100 BCE. Some archaeologists regard these artifacts, which include huge alien-like bronze masks and human figures with snake bodies and bird claws, as even more important than Xi'an's Army of Terracotta Warriors; they are certainly more whimsical.
The big tour groups start arriving from 10.30am, and by noon the museum is mad busy. Get here as early you can and do the upper floor first, followed by Hall 2 on the ground floor. The former is where you'll find the massive masks, a four-meter bronze "sacred tree," and all the stupefying burial and ceremonial implements. The latter has a host of intriguing gold masks and copper heads. Save Hall 1 on the ground floor for last, as it provides all the background information to what you've seen.
Book your visit early and plan to spend around three to six hours here. This is one of the few museums where overseas visitors without reservations will be turned away. Book tickets online at sxd.cn. Alternatively, joining a tour saves you the trouble of having to book yourself; it's also worth paying more for a proper docent.
A DiDi from downtown takes 80 minutes (¥120), and direct, hour-long buses also run from Chunxi Rd (春熙路, ¥25, 7am–4pm) bus station and Huajia Rd metro station (华桂路站, ¥18, 7.20am–4pm) and back. It's best to book your seat on WeChat.
