A famous Chinese paleontologist said, "Sichuan is abundant in dinosaurs and Zigong is one hometown for dinosaurs." Sichuan Basin is an important producing area of fossils of dinosaurs living in the Jurassic period of Mesozoic era (dated from 195 million to 137 million years ago). The dinosaur fossils stored in Zigong City of Sichuan Province, characterized by abundant quantity, concentrated buried storage, numerous classifications and perfect preservation, are rarely seen in the world. To our surprise, within the excavated and cleaned area of no more than 3000 square meters, the quantity of unearthed fossils has reached up to hundreds of tons. Consequently, Zigong City is reputed as "the cemetery of dinosaurs" and "former residence of dinosaurs".

Nearly all known varieties of dinosaurs' integral skeletons have been excavated here. In particular, abundant unbroken dinosaurian skull fossils have been unearthed. (The dinosaur crania is very fragile, so unbroken skull fossil is so rare that can only be found by chance.)

Only fifth of the dinosaur fossils explored around the world are derived from the Jurassic period (most from the late stage), in the absence of that from the early and midst stages of the same period. However, the dinosaur fossils unearthed in Zigong mainly originating form the proof-absent stages, filling up the weak link in studies on dinosaurs.

In addition to dinosaur fossils, there are also abundant fossils of other backboned animals coexisting in the same period, which is also very valuable.

The year of 1986 witnessed the construction and opening of Zigong Dinosaur Museum on the excavation site. The museum enjoys equal fame with USA State-run Dinosaur Park and Canada Dinosaur Park, reputed as the "top 3 biggest dinosaur museums". The US journal National Geography once praised: "Zigong Dinosaur Museum is the best in the world."

Representative Fossils

  Shunosaurus lii      

It was a medium-sized dinosaur, with the adult's length of 9-12 meters. Its characteristics include: short neck, spoon-shaped teeth, relatively short collum, and simple vertebrae conformation. It walked on four limbs, with the hind limbs obviously longer than the forelimbs. Mainly living by the bank of lakes and rivers, it fed on succulent, soft and tender vegetables.

  Omeisaurus tianfuensis     

It was a large-sized and evolutional Sauropod dinosaur, with a length of 20 meters. It is estimated that the weight of the living body was about 30 tons. It had relatively big skull, spoon-shaped teeth, long neck, and four thickset limbs, with rather complex cervical vertebrae and back vertebrae. Mainly dwelling on extensive alluvial plains, it fed on tree-crown of megaphanerophytes.

-- Yandusaurus multidens     

Walking on two feet, it was a small dinosaur with a length of 1.4 m. It had small head, short snout, big and round orbital cavity, upper and lower jaws full of teeth, short forelimbs and long and slender hind limbs. Good at running, it haunted the scrub forests, feeding on various foods.

  Gasosaurus constructus     

It was a smaller sarcophagy dinosaur, with a body length about 4 meters. It had light skull, edgy teeth, degenerated forelimbs used for catching; and stout posterior limbs convenient for scamper. It was a ferocious animal,running agile.

  Yangchuanosaurus hepingensis     

It was a large-sized sarcophagy dinosaur, with a length of 9 meters. Featuring big and lumpy head, dagger-shaped sharp teeth on the jaw, short forelimbs and long posterior limbs, and big and sharp claws, it was the most integral meat diet dinosaur found in Asia at present.

  Mamenchisaurus youngi      

It was a large-sized dinosaur, with a length of 16 meters. Its head was small, with a collum composed of 19 sections of grown cervical vertebrae accounting for half the full length of the body. Its tail was long. It mainly fed on withes and burgeons of mega-phanerophytes.

  Agilisaurus louderbacki     

Agilisaurus louderbacki was a small dinosaur with a length of 2 meters. It had a little body, short forelimbs and long hind limbs. Its orbital cavity was divided into two open pores up and down by eyelid bones. Being alert and good at tantivy, it always haunted the brushwood. It is an omnivorous animal.

  Huayangosaurus taibaii         

With a body length 4 to 5 meters, a small head, aculeate spine plate on the shoulder, and two pairs of spurs on the tail end, it walked on four limbs and fed on burgeons and grass.