The reconstruction of the Heavenly Hall and the Hall of Enlightenment is part of Luoyang's efforts to protect the city's Tang Dynasty (618-907) relics. [Photo/Xinhua]

Before the middle of the 10th century, the city of Luoyang was already a bustling metropolis－for half of its then 3,000-year-old history it had been the capital of some 13 dynasties.

However, despite being home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites, the city in Central China's Henan province is not as well known as its Western peers like Athens and Rome. And the modern city landscape gives few clues of its historical past.

The often forgotten capital has been overshadowed by Xi'an, known for its Terracotta Warriors. But Luoyang is planning to step out of the shadows and reclaim its former glory.

Construction began in June on a massive museum located at the site of ruins from the Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC), with the aim of re-creating scenes from more than 3,000 years ago.

It will be called the Erlitou Relic Museum and is expected to be completed in October 2019. The museum will cover about 14 hectares and cost a total of 630 million yuan ($96 million) to build.

The Erlitou ruins were discovered in 1959 and have been identified by archaeologists as one of the capital cities during the Xia Dynasty.

China's earliest palace complex, bronze ware workshop and road network were all found there, says Zhao Haitao from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Erlitou archaeological team.