Yinxu Palace & Ancestral Temple Site
殷墟
The core area of the Yinxu World Heritage Site, where the royal palaces and ancestral temples of the late Shang dynasty stood, and where the oracle bone script was discovered.
Yinxu was the capital of the late Shang dynasty. Systematic excavations that began in 1928 are regarded as the beginning of modern Chinese archaeology, and the site was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2006. The palace and ancestral temple site lies around Xiaotun Village on the south bank of the Huan River and is the core area open to visitors. Here you can see a replica of a Shang great hall (Yi-20), built on rammed-earth foundations, marked remains of Shang palace foundations, the Fu Hao Tomb (the only intact Shang royal tomb, where you can go down into the burial chamber), the oracle bone storage pit (Pit YH127) and the chariot and horse pit exhibition hall. On the north bank of the Huan River is the Yinxu royal tomb site, where you can see large tomb passages and sacrificial pits. The two sites are about 4 km apart, and tickets may be sold separately or as a combined pass, so follow the scenic area's official announcements. It is recommended to visit the Yinxu Museum before the site to deepen your understanding. City buses run directly here, and a taxi takes about 15 minutes.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–18:00 (shorter in winter; per park announcements)