The building of the museum was discussed in April 1988. The design was examined and approved in March 1990. The foundation stone was laid in August 1992. The main project was finished in June 1994. "Ancient Kingdom and Ancient Shu" was deliberated in January 1995. The projects, such as decoration, garden construction, exhibition distribution and necessary installation were started in August 1996. The museum was formally opened to public in October 1997.

The whole design of the museum is simple, but with a solemn style. The flame is peculiar. The main object is a deformed spiral. It has the poetic charm with historical, geographical features and cultural art. It fully shows the broadness and profundity of Sanxingdui culture.

The winding spiral-shaped curved line rises step by step. It means the development of society: from primitive to civilized; from inferior to advanced. It tells the surging and winding course of history.

The mound-shaped architectural complex seems to come out from the earth abruptly. It symbolizes the local culture. It tells people this is the source of Shu culture, the source of the Yangtze River civilization. The winding arc-shaped architecture directly expresses the profound nature of these mounds.

On top of the architecture, there's a triangular tower symbolizing the connection of heaven and earth, as well as the gods and human beings. The civilization of ancient Shu is spread to all parts of China and the whole world.

The three large bronze masks were hung high on top of the tower. They are the symbols of Sanxingdui Museum, shining upon the farsighted Shu people. Shu people welcome the guests coming from every part of the world.

The Cultural Display of Ancient City, Ancient Kingdom, Ancient Shu in Sanxingdui Museum has a rich content and unique form. It is considered as one of the ten most valuable cultural relic displays in China.

The halls in the museum cover about 3,000 square meters. The cultural relics are the nucleus of the display, running through the whole hall. The relics with more than 1,000 patterns, jades, gold, bronzes from sacrificial pits of Shang Dynasty are on show fully.

In the forward hall, there are man-face and bird-body bronze sculpture. The first feeling you'll have is the people of Shu wanted to fly into heaven like hawks (especially large birds) beyond reality. The sacred bird expresses that everything has a soul. The heaven, the human being is in perfect harmony.

The first hall is composed of "three stars accompanying the moon", the splendid civilization of ancient Shu. Cultural relics showed in this hall systemically represent the excellent achievements in every field in its long history.

The second hall contains symbols of all kinds of gods reflecting the mysterious and primitive religion. Cultural relics showed in this hall tell people about the political structure and social relations of ancient Shu, as well as the idea of ancient people.

The third hall is composed of "forever the soul of Shu", the special cream of relics. Here are shown over 10 groups of national treasures with historical and artistic value.

The fourth hall with the scheme of "forever Sanxingdui" shows off the excavations and studies of Sanxingdui. It introduces the industrious work of generations of experts both at home and abroad in the past 50 years. It represents the great effect of Sanxingdui and the important role it plays in academic circles.

The designs of Sanxingdui Museum have many architectural breakthroughs. Modern technologies (sound, light, and electricity) are used to show the charm of the ancient site. The displays also provide foreigners with information about the history of China.

The surroundings of the Sanxingdui Museum are beautiful and elegant. There are green grasslands, bright lakes, unique hills, and beautiful gardens nearby.