Plan at a glance
Location, entrance and reservation
Erlitou Xia Capital Site Museum is south of Sijiaolou Village, Zhai Town, Yanshi District, Luoyang. Enter through the South Gate. Admission is free, but a real-name reservation through the official WeChat account of Erlitou Xia Capital Site Museum is required. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00, with admission ending at 16:00. It is closed on Mondays, and public-holiday arrangements may change.
How much time to allow
Allow about 1–1.5 hours for Gallery 2 and the main artifacts; allow about 2–3 hours for Galleries 1, 2 and 3, the digital exhibition and the Palace Ruins Park. The surroundings are relatively open, and reaching the ruins park requires a walk of about 2 kilometers or a battery-cart ride with a reference fare of CNY 10.
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
Xia-dynasty artifacts in Gallery 2
The “Magnificent Xia Capital” exhibition in Gallery 2 is the priority for a first visit. The original nipple-pattern bronze jue and the bronze plaque with an animal-mask design inlaid with turquoise are displayed here. The nipple-pattern bronze jue is the original represented by the replica at Luoyang Museum, so the relationship between the two displays should be kept clear.
The turquoise dragon-shaped object and the ruins park
The turquoise dragon-shaped object in the gallery is a replica, and the original is not in this museum. In the museum, view the replica together with the Xia-period ritual system and city layout. After leaving, walk to the Palace Ruins Park to see the archaeological setting and rammed-earth foundations; the building exterior and surrounding fields are also suitable for photographs.
Who this suits
Visitors interested in the origins of Chinese civilization, Xia and Shang history or archaeological excavation can plan the full 2–3-hour route. Visitors who enjoy architectural photography or want to avoid the crowds in the city center can schedule the museum exterior and ruins park for the morning or a cooler period.
Build your day
1–1.5 hours: Gallery 2 highlights
Enter through the South Gate and go directly to the “Magnificent Xia Capital” exhibition in Gallery 2. See the nipple-pattern bronze jue and the bronze plaque with an animal-mask design inlaid with turquoise first, then browse the displays near the exit if time remains. Leave by the same route after the visit. This works well as a separate outing from White Horse Temple or other city-center attractions.
2–3 hours: Museum plus ruins park
Start in Gallery 1, “The First Dynasty,” then visit Gallery 2 and Gallery 3, “Exploration of the Century,” before entering the digital exhibition. After leaving the museum, continue to the Palace Ruins Park, about 2 kilometers away on foot. In hot weather or if walking capacity is limited, consider the battery cart with a reference fare of CNY 10.
Transfer to the ruins park
The museum galleries and Palace Ruins Park are far apart. Before leaving the museum, confirm whether the battery cart is operating and where it returns. The ruins park is an archaeological setting outside the museum; follow the open route and do not enter closed areas.
Get there
Taxi and self-driving
The reference one-way taxi fare from Luoyang Railway Station or Luoyang Longmen High-Speed Railway Station is about CNY 50–60. If driving, navigate directly to Erlitou Xia Capital Site Museum, which has a parking lot. The journey from the city center is relatively long, so arrange the departure time after the reservation is confirmed.
Bus alternative
Bus routes 807 and 806 are public-transport options, but their frequency and operation are not very stable. Call 0379-67711057 before setting out to confirm the day’s timetable. A regular 807 bus stop is not the same as the tourist direct shuttle stop at the museum entrance, so confirm the destination and drop-off point when boarding.
Know before you go
Free admission and artifacts shared between museums
Free admission still requires an official real-name reservation; do not assume that tickets will be available if you arrive without one. The original nipple-pattern bronze jue is in this museum, while the turquoise dragon-shaped object here is a replica. Understand the display status of the two artifacts separately.
Food and drinking water
The museum is in a relatively remote location with few nearby dining options, so prepare drinking water and a simple snack before entering. In summer, the 2-kilometer walk to the ruins park and outdoor sun exposure add to the physical effort; whether the battery cart is operating depends on the arrangements that day.