China and Myanmar Unearth Bagan’s Ancient Secrets in New Thatbyinnyu Temple Excavations

China-Myanmar joint excavation research

Archaeologists from China and Myanmar are working together on new excavations around the historic Thatbyinnyu Temple in Bagan, uncovering clues that are helping researchers better understand one of Myanmar’s most important ancient cultural landscapes.

The joint archaeological project is part of continuing China-Myanmar cooperation to restore, conserve and study the heritage of the Bagan Ancient Cultural Heritage Area.

New Excavations Reveal Bagan’s Past

The latest China-Myanmar archaeological excavations began in July 2026 in areas to the south-west, south and west of Thatbyinnyu Temple.

Archaeologists are concentrating on the temple’s enclosure wall and entrance gate, with discoveries already providing new information about the original design and layout of the historic temple complex.

Excavations have revealed sections of brick walls, brick structures, sandstone foundations, brick flooring and roof tiles.

Together, these archaeological remains are helping researchers piece together how the temple precinct was originally arranged and how its buildings and surrounding structures were constructed.

Building on Earlier Archaeological Research

China-Myanmar joint excavation research

The current excavation programme builds on archaeological investigations undertaken in 2017 and 2023.

Researchers are examining the newly uncovered remains alongside earlier discoveries to develop a clearer understanding of the architectural history of Thatbyinnyu Temple.

Particular attention is being given to the enclosure walls, courtyard walls and possible additional entrance gates surrounding the temple.

The work demonstrates how archaeological research can contribute to the long-term conservation of historic monuments by documenting structures and architectural features before restoration work proceeds.

Restoring the Great Thatbyinnyu Temple

China and Myanmar have been cooperating on the restoration and conservation of the Great Thatbyinnyu Temple following damage caused by the 2016 earthquake.

The two countries signed a memorandum of minutes in 2017 and a memorandum of understanding in 2022 covering restoration and conservation activities.

Under the cooperation programme, Chinese and Myanmar experts are also jointly studying the temple’s surviving architectural remains.

The archaeological work is therefore closely connected with the broader effort to protect the temple and preserve Bagan’s cultural heritage for future generations.

Discovering Bagan’s Ancient Cultural Heritage

Great Thatbyinnyu Temple

Bagan is renowned for its extraordinary landscape of ancient Buddhist temples, pagodas and monuments spread across the central Myanmar plains.

The continuing excavation at Thatbyinnyu Temple offers another opportunity to discover more about the construction, development and organisation of the historic Bagan temple complex.

For visitors interested in archaeology, history, architecture and cultural tourism, the discoveries add another layer to the story of Bagan.

As China-Myanmar archaeological cooperation continues, further excavations could reveal additional evidence about the temple’s original form and the wider development of this remarkable ancient cultural heritage area.

Myanmar Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture – Department of Archaeology and National Museum
Website: https://www.moculture.gov.mm/
Address: Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

Bagan Ancient Cultural Heritage Area

Website: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1588/

Location: Bagan, Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar

National Cultural Heritage Administration of China
Website: http://www.ncha.gov.cn/
Address: Beijing, China

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