Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital
二里头夏都遗址博物馆
The home of 'the earliest China,' displaying treasures of the Xia dynasty such as the turquoise dragon-shaped object and the bronze jue with knob decoration.
The Erlitou site in Yanshi District is believed to be the capital of the late Xia dynasty. It has yielded China's earliest palace complex, the earliest network of urban main roads and the earliest group of bronze ritual vessels, and it is known as 'the earliest China.' The museum, which opened in 2019, displays a turquoise dragon-shaped object (the 'Chinese dragon'), a bronze jue with knob decoration, a bronze plaque inlaid with turquoise beast-face motifs, pottery and jades, and it has a model of the palace area. Admission is free but booking is required, and it is closed on Mondays. It is about 30 km from the city center, reached by car or taxi, and is often visited on the same day as the White Horse Temple and the Han-Wei Ancient City.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00; closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site
- White Horse Temple
- Hometown of Xuanzang
- Mausoleum of Emperor Guangwu of Han
- Luze Guild Hall (Luoyang Folk Custom Museum)
- Luoyi Ancient City
- Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall of Luoyang
- Guanlin Temple