德阳市

Why this place

Deyang is an industrial city on the Chengdu plain, and it is the base for Sanxingdui — the Bronze Age site whose huge bronze masks and trees belong to a civilisation that left no written record. The finds are unlike anything else in China.

What to see

• The Sanxingdui Museum at Guanghan — bronze masks, a 4-metre bronze tree and gold wares
• The Deyang Confucian temple complex, one of the largest in Sichuan
• The ancient Shu sites and the Chengdu plain countryside

What to eat

• Sichuan cooking; Deyang is known for its 'bajia' dishes and its preserved meats
• The plain produces excellent rice and vegetables

Best time

March–May and September–November

Practical tips

• Sanxingdui needs half a day minimum — it is the single most surprising archaeological site in China