The Sanxingdui culture occurred between 2800 B.C. to 800 B.C., from Neolithic age: Dragon Hill culture to the end of Shang and early Zhou period.
The site of Sanxingdui, located at the city of Guanghan, 40km from Chengdu, Sichuan province, People's Republic of China, is recognized as the most important ancient remains of the Sichuan region for its vast size, long lasting period and enriched cultural contents.

The first Sanxingdui relics were discovered by a farmer in 1929 and in the next seventy years more were excavated. During this period, generations of archaeologists worked on the discovery and understanding of the Sanxing- dui culture. Sanxingdui culture.In 1986,two major sacrificial pits were found and they aroused widespread attention in the global academic circle.

The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic. No texts have been found, nor is there any mention of this culture in the records of other states, either during or after the late Shang period. Analysis of lead and other elements in the bronzes indicates sources similar to those of other cultures along the Lower Yangzi river basin. Some Chinese archaeologists and historians have attempted to link this culture with the later Shu culture, which was also centered in Sichuan. At this point, however, the unique culture that produced these artifacts remains a mystery.

First time visitors should read the "history" of Sanxingdui first and then visit the Sanxingdui "museum".