Top things to do in Anyang
1. Yin Ruins (殷墟)
The capital of the Shang dynasty, and the reason most travellers come to Anyang. The site holds a museum, the foundations of the Shang capital and the tomb of Fuhao, a Shang dynasty concubine and general. Oracle turtle shells were found here, with questions written on them and heat applied to produce the cracks from which answers were deduced — an important source of early Chinese writing. There is also a pit where chariots were buried.
Allow a whole day, especially if you read some Chinese characters or are interested in Chinese history. Your entrance ticket includes the free shuttle bus and entry to the Shang Dynasty Royal Cemetery, about ten minutes away by bus. Opening hours are 08:00–18:30 from March to October and 08:00–17:30 from November to February; a taxi from downtown costs about ¥10.
2. Yinxu Royal Tombs (殷墟王陵遗址)
An important part of the same world cultural heritage site as the Yin Ruins, on the north bank of the Huan River. Several of the tombs have been turned into museums by building over them, and the site has been laid out as a large historical park combining cultural relics protection, research, education and leisure.
It is included with your Yin Ruins ticket and reached by the free shuttle bus, so pair the two in one visit rather than treating them as separate outings. A taxi from downtown costs about ¥20, and the site is open daily 08:00–17:00.
3. National Museum of Chinese Writing
A modern museum in a gold-roofed building, charting the history of Chinese writing from turtle-shell oracle bones to the present day. Exhibits are chronological and well presented, with plenty of English translation, and the building itself combines a modern style with Yin Shang court influences.
It is open daily 09:00–22:00, which makes it a good option for an evening, and it sits on East Renmin Ave, reachable by several city bus routes. Adult tickets are ¥45, with concession and family tickets available.
4. Mausoleum of Cao Cao (曹操高陵遗址博物馆)
The final resting place of Cao Cao, the Eastern Han general and warlord whose tomb location was a mystery for many centuries until archaeologists confirmed it in 2018. The tomb faces east and the deepest part lies about 15 metres below the surface; a museum opened at the site in 2023.
It is open 08:30–18:00 in Xigaoxue Village, Yindu District, reached by bus no. 58 from Anyang East Railway Station to the last stop. Standard entry is ¥50, with free entry for children under 1.4 m and adults over 60.
5. Youli Castle Site (羑里城遗址)
A site with cultural remains from the Longshan to the Western Zhou periods and a cultural layer about seven metres thick. It also comprises the remains of the national jail with the longest history in China — the place where King Wen of Zhou, imprisoned for seven years, deduced the nine trigrams of Fuxi into the 64 hexagrams and wrote the Yi-Ching. Later generations built a temple of King Wen here in his memory.
It lies in Tangyin County on National Road 107, about ¥20 by taxi from downtown. Combine it with the Yuefei Temple, which is also in Tangyin County.
6. Yuefei Temple
A temple to the Chinese hero Yuefei in his home village. Tangyin County was the ancient seat of Yue Village, Yuefei's birthplace. The temple is also known as Songyue Zhongwu King Temple and Jingzhong Temple; the first year of construction is unknown, and it was rebuilt in the first year of the Ming dynasty.
It stands at 86 Yuemiao Street in Tangyin County, so it pairs naturally with the Youli Castle Site on the same trip out of the city.
7. Tianning Temple (安阳天宁寺塔)
A temple with an unusually shaped pagoda. Wenfeng Tower was built in the second year of Zhou Wenshun (952) and has more than a thousand years of history; because it was built in Tianning Temple, it was originally called Tianning Temple Tower. The compound includes the gate house, the Hall of the Heavenly King and the Precious Hall of the Great Hero.
It is at 2 Wenfeng North Street, Wenfeng District, and adult tickets are ¥24. Since the pagoda stands on the temple grounds, one ticket covers both.
8. Wenfeng Pagoda
Wenfeng Ta, the Literature Peak Pagoda, stands on the grounds of Tianning Temple. It is believed to have been constructed in 925 and is known from inscriptions concerning the temple's reconstruction to have been in place by 952. The current pagoda was constructed during the Ming dynasty.
You will see it as part of a visit to Tianning Temple rather than as a separate stop, so plan the two together.
9. Anyang Museum (安阳博物馆)
A large museum with permanent exhibitions on porcelain, traditional Chinese woodblock new year prints, and archaeological discoveries excavated during preparation for the South-North Water Transfer Project. It holds seven exhibition halls and more than 10,000 cultural relics.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday and admission is free. Take Anyang City Bus No. 11, 12, 16, 36 or 50 and get off at Anyang Museum Station.
10. Red-flag Canal
A man-made canal built in the 1960s in response to water shortage in the area, in the northern part of Linzhou at the junction of Henan, Shanxi and Hebei. The construction of the canal was considered an incredible feat at the time, and the story of its building has been told in films.
It is open daily 08:00–18:00. Adult tickets are ¥80, with student, teacher and child tickets at ¥40. It is a full day out from the city, so set aside the time rather than trying to fit it around other sights.
11. Yuan Shikai Tomb (袁林)
The tomb of the second president of the Republic of China, who attempted to restore the empire with himself as the new emperor. The layout and grandeur follow that of a Chinese emperor, reflecting his ambitions; the Chinese name is also a pun on the word for "imperial tomb".
It is open 08:30–17:00 and tickets are ¥35.
12. Huanyuan Garden (洹园)
A riverside park on Zhangde Road in Beiguan District. It is a straightforward place to walk and take a break between the more substantial sights.
Because it sits by the river, it works well as an unhurried stop at the end of a day of museum and ruin visits.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Yin Ruins when it opens, and give the site proper time — the museum, the foundations of the Shang capital, the tomb of Fuhao and the chariot pit. Use the free shuttle bus included in your ticket to continue to the Yinxu Royal Tombs before returning.
Afternoon: Head to the National Museum of Chinese Writing on East Renmin Ave, where the exhibits run chronologically from oracle bones to modern writing and the English translation is plentiful. If time remains, walk the riverside paths of Huanyuan Garden on Zhangde Road.
Evening: The National Museum of Chinese Writing stays open until 22:00, so you can return to it or extend your visit there into the evening rather than cutting the day short.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Anyang?
April to June is the sunniest period. Summers are hot and humid, with most of the annual rain falling in July and August, while winters are cold and very dry.
Do I need a whole day for the Yin Ruins?
Yes. The site takes a whole day, especially if you know some Chinese characters or are interested in Chinese history, and your ticket also covers the Shang Dynasty Royal Cemetery reached by the free shuttle bus.
How do I get to the Mausoleum of Cao Cao?
Take bus no. 58 from Anyang East Railway Station and get off at the last stop, in Xigaoxue Village, Yindu District.
Which sights lie outside the city itself?
The Red-flag Canal is in Linzhou District, and both the Youli Castle Site and the Yuefei Temple are in Tangyin County, so plan each as a separate trip.
With the Yin Ruins, the oracle bones and the canal country beyond the city all within reach, Anyang rewards a little planning before you go — start mapping your days around the sites that matter most to you.