Zhouyuan Site
周原
The birthplace and early capital of the Western Zhou dynasty, with abundant bronze and oracle bone finds. The Zhouyuan Museum stands beside the site.
Zhouyuan lies on a loess tableland at the junction of Qishan and Fufeng counties. It was the base of the Zhou people before they overthrew the Shang, and an important Western Zhou capital. The Book of Songs line “How fertile is the Zhou plateau” refers to this place. Large numbers of Western Zhou bronze hoards, oracle bone inscriptions and palace foundations have been unearthed here, and national treasures such as the Shi Qiang Pan were found at Zhouyuan. The Zhouyuan Museum displays bronzes, oracle bones, jade and roof tiles from the site, offering a direct window into the Zhou ritual system and Western Zhou society. The site itself is mostly excavation areas and farmland, so the museum is the main attraction. It can be combined into a day trip with the Famen Temple, about 20 km north, and the Temple of the Duke of Zhou in Qishan to the southwest. Self-driving or a chartered car is recommended because public transport is inconvenient. Museum opening hours and reservation rules follow local announcements. Eating a bowl of Qishan saozi noodles is a must.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–17:00; closed Mondays (check announcements)
Nearby sights
- Famen Temple
- Jiucheng Palace Site
- Temple of the Duke of Zhou
- Wuzhangyuan Zhuge Liang Temple
- Hengqu Academy
- Honghegu Forest Park
- Liuying Clay Sculpture Village
- Fengxiang East Lake