Sanxingdui, an archaeological site in Guanghan, southwest China’s Sichuan Province that dates back to roughly 5,000 years ago, has been attracting archaeologists for exploration since it was first discovered in 1929. Now, artists are also flocking to the area, drawn by the ancient ruins and the precious artifacts inside.

Golden Mask, a fantasy and adventure novel based on the historical site, is one of the latest art works to explore the mysterious culture. On September 5, the Sichuan Publishing Group, the publisher of the book, signed a copyright deal with Canada’s Orca Book Publishers in Sichuan’s provincial capital Chengdu. The book is expected to hit both Chinese and North American markets in 2018.

“Sanxingdui comes from the ancient Shu civilization, and it’s a good subject to explore. I think it will naturally appeal to people from all over the world,” Zhang Zhihong, director of the Sichuan Publishing Group, told CGTN.

In fact, bronze masks are just one of the treasures unearthed from the ruins. Judging from the period they were made and their strange looks, some experts assume that the Sanxingdui civilization is somewhat linked to the Mayan and Ancient Egyptian civilizations. Some even guess that these artifacts might have been made by aliens.

Andrew Wooldridge, head of Orca, said he is confident that the story, written by Canadian novelist John Wilson, will be well received by readers from all across the globe. He added that living in an age when different cultures are increasingly affecting each other, the more we know about each other, the better.

Meanwhile, an animated movie with the same name, also produced by the Sichuan Publishing Group, is in the works. The joint production by Chinese and Hollywood filmmakers is schedule to hit theaters in 2019.

“The story is going to be unique in that we have a lot of factual content, from the museums, from the digs, from the area of Sanxingdui. It will also be a fabulous tale, very exciting, very moving,” Gordon McGhie, producer of the animation, told CGTN.

Actually, “Golden Mask” is not the only movie based on Sanxingdui. Action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger is also reportedly expected to star in another movie of the subject. Hollywood interest in Chinese culture has grown over the years, with movies like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Kung Fu Panda” acting as examples of the kind of heights these types of movies can reach - but as many studies show, box office success is never assured. 

“I think you have to have a good story. The story has to be so good that people want to find out. They want to know the story, they want to read the story. Without that, you have nothing. No matter how much you put successful actors, directors, producers, if you do not have the story, you will not have the success you deserve,” said McGhie.

Now the Sanxingdui site is applying for World Culture Heritage status together with another archaeological site called Jinsha located in Chengdu. Some scholars say it is important to introduce Chinese culture and history to the world, but it's just as important to avoid turning such treasures into little more than a publicity stunt for businesses.

in Guanghan, southwest China’s Sichuan Province