Plan at a glance
Location and tickets
The Museum of the Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits is at No. 226 Zhongzhou Middle Road, the Old Town District of Luoyang. The entrance is underground beneath Zhouwangcheng Square. The reference adult ticket price is CNY 30, and advance booking is usually not required. Opening hours are about 08:30–18:30, with entry ending 30 minutes before closing. The museum is closed on Mondays, and public-holiday arrangements may change.
How much time to allow
Allow about 30 minutes for the chariot-and-horse-pit ruins alone; allow about 1–1.5 hours if adding the Eastern Zhou Royal City History and Culture exhibition and any guided explanation available that day. The museum is in the city center and fits easily into an Old Town or city-center museum itinerary.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
The original-site chariot and horse pits
The chariot-and-horse-pit gallery presents burial remains from 39 chariots and 70 horses at the original site. Its core display is a chariot drawn by six horses. Follow the underground slope and corridor to see the arrangement of the pits, the scale of the ruins and their connection with Zhou-dynasty ritual systems.
Eastern Zhou Royal City history exhibition
The eastern gallery introduces the history of the Eastern Zhou Royal City and Luoyang, helping establish a timeline before you enter the chariot-and-horse pits. If volunteers in red vests are offering explanations, they can help visitors understand ritual details such as “the Son of Heaven rides with six horses, while a feudal lord rides with four.” Service times and staff availability depend on the arrangements that day.
Who this suits
History and archaeology enthusiasts can complete both the chariot-and-horse pits and the history exhibition. For city visitors with limited time, the 30-minute highlights route still covers the ruins themselves. Families with children can choose a time with an explanation, allowing children to see the excavated remains first and then understand the chariot system.
Build your day
30 minutes: Direct route to the chariot pits
After going down to the underground galleries, head directly to the chariot-and-horse-pit exhibition. Follow the corridor to see the six-horse chariot and the surrounding burial remains, then return to the exit. The higher part of the corridor is good for seeing the overall layout, while the railing offers closer views of the chariot and horse remains.
1–1.5 hours: History plus ruins
Visit the Eastern Zhou Royal City History and Culture exhibition first, then enter the chariot-and-horse-pit gallery and follow the corridor to see the royal six-horse chariot and other remains. After entering, ask whether free volunteer explanations are available that day and adjust the gallery order around the scheduled time if necessary.
Connecting with city-center attractions
The museum is near Xigong Snack Street and Wangcheng Park. After leaving, continue the city itinerary on foot or by car. Luoyang Museum is about 8 kilometers away, and the two museums have separate tickets and entry documents.
Get there
Metro and bus
Take Metro Line 1 to Zhouwangcheng Square Station. Exit from Exit D and walk about 2 minutes to the entrance in the above-ground square. Bus routes 81, 52, 56 and 69, among others, stop at “Zhouwangcheng Square.” For travel in the city center, the metro is usually the easier option.
Parking
The museum is in the city center, where parking is limited. When driving, consider parking at a nearby shopping center such as Xindu Hui and walking from there. If continuing to Luoyang Museum, allow additional time for city roads and parking.
Know before you go
Tickets for the two museums are separate
Buying a ticket for the Museum of the Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits does not grant entry to Luoyang Museum. The former joint-ticket policy was canceled at the beginning of 2026. The two museums now sell tickets and verify entry separately, so make a separate reservation for Luoyang Museum.
Explanations and pace
The chariot-and-horse pits are the museum’s most important gallery, and a quick loop can miss the arrangement of the ruins and their ritual background. After entering, ask about a volunteer explanation or rent an audio guide before deciding how long to spend in the history gallery and the chariot-and-horse pits.