Tianluoshan Site

Tianluoshan Site

The Tianluoshan Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tianluoshan Site is located at the entrance of Xiang’ao Village, Sanqishi Town, Yuyao City, and is another significant Hemudu Culture site newly discovered and excavated in Zhejiang Province. The site covers a total area of about 30,000 square meters, with cultural deposits over 3 meters thick, divided into six cultural layers, and dates back approximately 5,500 to 7,000 years.

The Tianluoshan Site is, to date, the best-preserved prehistoric village site of the Hemudu Culture in terms of its above-ground environment and relatively intact underground remains. It provides an extremely valuable research perspective, offering significant opportunities to enrich and refine the understanding of Hemudu Culture and to advance the overall scope of its archaeological study. The discovery of the Tianluoshan Site completes a historic leap from “point to area” in the spatial distribution of early Hemudu Culture sites along the Yao River basin, and holds groundbreaking value for studying the spatiotemporal distribution and social scale of Hemudu Culture. The multi-layered stilt-house structures as well as remains such as docks and log bridges found at the site are of key importance to the study of Hemudu Culture settlements. The stratigraphic deposits and cultural content of the Tianluoshan Site explain the notable differences in the early and late remains of Hemudu Culture while showing a relatively stable cultural core—thus effectively resolving academic debates regarding the cultural attributes of the early and late remains at the Hemudu Site.

The Tianluoshan Site Field Museum covers an area of over 20,000 square meters, with a construction area of more than 5,000 square meters, consisting of two parts: an exhibition hall for cultural relics and an excavation site display area. The museum’s exhibition hall displays 110 cultural relics, accompanied by light boxes and sculptures, introducing visitors to the basic information about the Tianluoshan Site. The excavation site display area follows the concept of displaying while excavating, preserving relics and artifacts across various levels so that visitors can experience the archaeological site firsthand and feel the unique atmosphere of archaeological work.

The Tianluoshan Site Field Museum is the first in China’s southern water towns to implement in-situ protection and display. It pioneered a new archaeological approach of building protective shelters before excavation. It not only provides superior working conditions for field archaeology but also makes it possible for the public to observe the archaeological process and learn about archaeology. The Tianluoshan Site Field Museum is currently at the forefront of Hemudu Culture research. Together with the Hemudu Site Museum, it will undoubtedly become a center for the study and display of prehistoric civilization in southern China.

Directions to the museum: After entering Yuyao City, follow S319 (Provincial Highway 61) to the intersection with Erliushi Village, Sanqishi Town. Turn north following the signs, then go forward about 200 meters to reach the site.

Address: Entrance of Xiang’ao Village, Sanqishi Town, Yuyao City, Ningbo

Type: Ancient Site Museum

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0574-62945248

Opening Hours:

April – October: 8:30–17:00; November – March of the following year: 8:30–16:30. Ticket collection and entry stop 30 minutes before closing.

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Sanqishi Town: Sanqishi Town gets its name from its traditional market. According to the Guangxu-era Cixi County Annals, “Sanqishi, 25 li west of the county, holds markets on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 10th of each month, hence the name.” The town covers an area of 68 square kilometers, governs 12 administrative villages and 3 neighborhood committees, with a total population of over 32,000. In 2003, the per capita income was 6,500 yuan. Located in the heart of the Ningbo-Shaoxing Plain, Sanqishi Town enjoys superior geographical conditions. It borders Ningbo to the east, faces the Hemudu Culture Site across the Cijiang River to the south, and neighbors the Duhuling Hills to the north in Cixi. Transportation is convenient, with Provincial Highway 61 running through the town. It is… Sanqishi Town Detailed Information++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units