The dig site
Bones as they were found.
Art Yang, 2006 — CC BY 2.5 · N.Cayla — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zhangzhugang — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Art Yang, 2006 — CC BY 2.5 · Einar Fredriksen — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Phreakster 1998 at English Wikipedia — CC BY 2.5 · Einar Fredriksen — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Einar Fredriksen — CC BY-SA 2.0
A museum built over one of the world's richest dinosaur fossil beds, in Middle Jurassic rock at Dashanpu north-east of Zigong city; it opened in 1987 as the first museum in Asia devoted almost entirely to dinosaurs, and covers 25,000 square metres. Its finest sight is the dig itself, where dinosaur bones lie in the rock just as they were found, seen from raised walkways; the main hall holds complete mounted skeletons of Chinese dinosaurs, among them the long-necked Omeisaurus, Gigantspinosaurus with its huge shoulder spikes and the predator Yangchuanosaurus, and a second building opened in 2023 over the burial site of an Omeisaurus, with dinosaurs from across China. Tickets cost CNY 42, half price for under-18s, and the museum is open from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm with last entry at 5 pm, per visitor guides. One hall may be closed for works.
Bones as they were found.
In the main hall.
Since 2023.
Dashanpu, north-east of central Zigong, Sichuan
Yes, its huge skeletons and open dig site are a big draw for children, and under-18s pay half price.
Local cooking is spicy and uses a lot of pork, so look for restaurants run by Hui Muslims under the halal sign, or ask about ingredients.