Yizhou Fossil Museum

Yizhou Fossil Museum

The Yizhou Fossil Museum is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Yizhou Fossil Museum in Yixian County is a national AAA-level tourist attraction. Established in 1994, it is the first paleontological fossil museum in Liaoning Province and also a mysterious museum showcasing ancient life forms. It consists of five sections: the Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition Hall, Animal Exhibition Hall, Plant Exhibition Hall, Science Education Film Hall, and Calligraphy & Painting Exhibition Hall. Currently, the largest well-preserved dinosaur fossil in Liaoning Province—the Yixianosaurus—and fossils such as the cervical vertebrae of sauropod dinosaurs are displayed in the Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition Hall. The museum houses 75 science education panels that vividly illustrate the entire process of life evolution.

The Yizhou Fossil Museum has a total of five exhibition halls:

1. Dinosaur Exhibition Hall

This hall mainly displays the Yang’s Jinzhou Dragon. A new simulated Mesozoic dinosaur scene has been created, featuring a landscape painting of the Mesozoic era painted by a professional artist and a touchscreen device providing dinosaur knowledge, greatly enhancing its educational and entertaining value. The Yang’s Jinzhou Dragon is the crown jewel of the Yizhou Fossil Museum. Discovered in 2000 in Baitaigou Village, Toutai Township, Yixian County, it is the largest well-preserved dinosaur fossil in Liaoning Province. Named after Academician Yang Zhongjian, known as the “Father of Chinese Dinosaurs,” this dinosaur belongs to the iguanodontid family, measuring approximately 4.5 meters in length and 2 meters in width, and is still considered a juvenile. Its discovery filled the gap of never having found large dinosaur fossils in western Liaoning and played a significant role in understanding the origin and evolution of iguanodontids. The simulated Mesozoic landscape includes a three-dimensional restored model of the Yang’s Jinzhou Dragon, along with fossils from the Jehol Biota such as Psittacosaurus, Jeholosaurus, and dinosaur eggs, complemented by landscapes like banyan trees and lawns. The hall is surrounded by large oil paintings depicting the panoramic view of the Mesozoic era, vividly showcasing the thriving world of dinosaurs 125 million years ago.

2. Animal Exhibition Hall

The Animal Exhibition Hall primarily displays important fossil specimens such as the Zhonghua Shenzhou Bird, Confucius Bird, skin-covered Psittacosaurus, and Jehol Creodont. Dim lighting effects are used to enhance the mystery of the fossils. Yixian County is the place where the world’s first bird took flight. The Yizhou Fossil Museum highlights the Zhonghua Shenzhou Bird specimen in the second-floor Animal Exhibition Hall. This specimen was identified by the renowned Chinese paleontologist Dr. Ji Qiang and has been the subject of international papers. The Animal Exhibition Hall mainly exhibits various animal fossil specimens from the Jehol Biota discovered in the Yixian region, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, insects, fish, gastropods, and bivalves.

3. Plant Exhibition Hall

The Plant Exhibition Hall recreates the ecological landscape of various plant species in western Liaoning over 100 million years ago. The north side of the hall features a plant ecological landscape area, equipped with ecological landscape diagrams (original works by local expert Zheng Shaolin), various petrified wood specimens, and petrified wood slices with growth rings, vividly showcasing the primeval forest landscape. Highlights include the world’s first flower from western Liaoning—Liaoning Ancient Fruit, a specimen gifted by the renowned Chinese paleontologist Academician Sun Ge. The exhibition area also features important angiosperm fossil specimens such as the China Ancient Fruit, and gymnosperm fossil specimens from Yixian such as the Ginkgo without stalk. Other displays include mosses, articulates, true ferns, cycads, ginkgos, conifers, and angiosperm fossils.

4. Science Education Film Hall

The museum has introduced a complete set of science education films on the origin of life from the Tianjin Natural History Museum and produced 75 science education panels, presenting the history of Earth: the origin of life throughout various geological eras including the Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic (Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous), and Cenozoic. The hall is also equipped with a large-screen projector and multimedia teaching facilities, allowing for the continuous screening of dinosaur-related science films and hosting academic conferences of various sizes, providing an excellent platform for scientific research and educational activities.

5. Calligraphy & Painting Exhibition Hall

Over the years, the Yizhou Fossil Museum has hosted many distinguished guests and collected numerous calligraphic and painting works by notable figures. The collection includes the authentic inscription “Liaoxi Branch of China Geological Museum” handwritten by the former Vice Premier of the State Council; calligraphy pieces left by former Minister of Geology and Mineral Resources Song Ruixiang, Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee Zhai Taifeng, Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee Zhao Zongnai, Director of the Development Research Center of the State Council Sun Shangqing, and former Minister of Justice Zou Yu. Provincial leaders across different terms, including Gu Jinchi, Quan Shuren, Xu Shaofu, Sun Qi, Xiao Zuofu, Guo Tingbiao, Zhao Xinliang, Gao Jizhong, and Xu Deming, have also inscribed calligraphy for the Yizhou Fossil Museum.