Yin Ruins is the site of the capital city of the late Shang Dynasty in China, and is the first confirmed capital city in Chinese history. It is located in Yindu District, Anyang City. A large number of valuable historical relics such as bronze ware and oracle bone inscriptions were unearthed from the Yin Ruins. The "Simuwu Da Fang Ding" weighing 875 kilograms is a precious bronze vessel; Oracle bone script, on the other hand, is the predecessor of ancient Chinese characters and scripts. Its discovery changed the archaeological chronicles of China and advanced the credible history of China with written records to the Shang Dynasty.
The total area of the Yin Ruins is very large, reaching 24 square kilometers. Tourists mainly visit the Yin Ruins Museum (now relocated to the new building of the Yin Ruins Museum), the ruins of the Yin Ruins royal tombs, and the ruins of the Yin Ruins palaces and temples. The signs inside the scenic area are very clear, and walking around based on these signs is very easy. The Yin Ruins Museum (New Hall), which opened in March 2024, displays a large number of unearthed cultural relics such as bronze, stone, and jade. However, precious cultural relics such as the "Simuwu Da Fang Ding" and the "Fu Hao Owl Zun" have already been transferred to the National Museum of China or the Henan Museum, where you can see replicas of the cultural relics.
The Yin Ruins royal tomb site within the scenic area is recognized by the academic community as the royal tomb and sacrificial site of the Shang Dynasty. A large number of oracle bone inscriptions, bronze ware, etc. were unearthed in the palace area, including the "Simuwu Da Fang Ding". Thirteen royal tombs, over 2000 accompanying tombs, sacrificial pits, and chariot and horse pits have been discovered here. In the eastern area of the Wangling Site, there are numerous sacrificial pits with many people (martyrs) and animal skeletons inside. It is a public sacrificial site for the Yin royal family to worship their ancestors.
The ruins of palaces and ancestral temples in the Yin ruins were the places where the Shang kings handled government affairs and lived. They are the most important sites and components of the Yin ruins, including more than 80 building foundations such as palaces and ancestral temples. To the west and south of the palace and temple ruins, there is an artificially excavated defensive moat that surrounds the palace and temple, playing a role similar to a palace city. The ancestral temple site is also one of the famous "classical city states" among ancient civilizations in the world.
There is also a tomb of the spouse of Shang King Wu Ding, "Fu Hao," in the palace and temple ruins area. This is a well preserved tomb of a member of the Shang royal family that can be linked to oracle bone inscriptions to determine the age, owner, and identity of the tomb. Sixteen "martyrs" were also found in the tomb chamber, and thousands of artifacts were unearthed, including bones, jade, and bronze ware.
In the eastern part of the scenic area, there is also a "Forest of Oracle Bone Inscriptions", which displays a large number of oracle bones in the form of inscriptions. Interested tourists can go and take a look.
Travel Tips
Address: No.1 Yinxu Road, Yindu District, Anyang City, Henan Province
Phone: 0372-31610220372-31610160372-3161008 (for academic consultation)
Opening hours: 08:00-17:00 throughout the year
Ticket:CNY90
