Free Admission to Jiangkou Sunken Silver Museum Starting March 8

Jiangkou Sunken Silver Museum , located in Pengshan District, Meishan City, recently held the Media Open Day, offering the public a first look at its interior. As the first museum in China dedicated to gold and silver artifacts , it primarily exhibits over 7,000 pieces of gold and silver ware.

Starting March 8, 2026, the museum will open to the public with free admission through an online reservation system with limited capacity. The public can make reservations from 09:00 on March 6, with a daily visitor cap of 1,000.

Jiangkou Sunken Silver Museum features three major permanent exhibition halls, which are structured around the “Origins of the Sunken Silver”, the “Truth of the Sunken Silver”, and the “Age of Silver”. Covering archaeological efforts, the history of the late Ming Dynasty, economic and trade activities, and other key topics, the exhibitions aim to reveal the historical story behind the sunken silver across all dimensions. Dazzling displays of gold coins, silver ingots, gold and silver buckles, gold and silver jewelry, and other artifacts in the exhibition halls create a spectacular scene. Among them are the “Seal of the Great Marshal of Yongchang”, one of the museum’s most prized pieces; the “Treasure of the Shu Heir”, a gold seal with a purity of 95%; and “50-tael solid gold” ingots.

After six phases of cofferdam-based archaeological excavation from 2017 to 2023, a total of over 76,000 pieces (sets) of cultural relics were excavated at the Jiangkou Sunken Silver Site. The discovery was selected as one of the top 10 archaeological discoveries in China in 2017 and China’s top 100 archaeology findings of the past century.

The Jiangkou Sunken Silver excavation has achieved several domestic records. It marked the first application of cofferdam-based excavation in inland waters, pioneering a new model for inland underwater archaeology; it confirmed a folk legend about buried treasure based on archaeological evidence for the first time; and it marked the first discovery of a gold treasure belonging to the heir of a Ming Dynasty vassal prince.

Built to the standards of a national first-grade museum, the museum covers a floor area of 36,300 square meters and an exhibition area of approximately 7,800 square meters. Its exterior walls feature textures inspired by the red sandstone bedrock of the archaeological site. The exhibition design inside the halls shows ingenuity in the extensive use of reflective materials, an innovative deviation from the traditional case-based display of cultural relics. The resulting striking visual effects offer an immersive experience for visitors.

In addition to precious cultural relics, the museum offers 365 kinds of cultural and creative products inspired by the sunken silver. Visitors can explore three new digital experiences—a large VR space, scripted mystery games, and escape rooms—and appreciate the confluence of the two rivers at a relaxing café. Together, these elements seamlessly blend historical immersion with leisure experiences.

Opening Hours and Reservation

Open 09:00-17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday (last entry at 16:30). The museum is closed on Mondays, but remains open during statutory holidays and on March 9, 2026.

Starting 09:00 on March 6, visitors can make real name reservations through the 江口沉银博物馆 (“Jiangkou Sunken Silver Museum”) WeChat Official Account. Upon arrival, please present the QR code of a successful reservation, a valid ID, or other original document for verification at the entrance.

During the trial operation period, admission is free with time-limited reservations required. Official ticketing policies for subsequent regular operation will be announced at a later date.

Notes from the museum: Offline reservations are currently not available. Visitors without a confirmed reservation are kindly advised not to come to the museum.

Editor｜Ling Wang

Typesetting｜Ling Wang

Translator｜Jin Ji

Senior Editor｜ Hong He

Supervisor｜Yuanlong Zhang

Source: HomeinChengdu