The Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history is marked by the rise of three concurrent states: Wei, Shu, and Wu.

Wei, also referred to as Cao Wei, was established by Cao Pi who declared himself the Wei Emperor in 220 AD, with Luoyang serving as the state's capital. This rule lasted until 265 AD when Sima Yan usurped power, overthrowing Cao Wei and founding the Jin dynasty.

Shu, or Shu Han as it is known historically, positioned itself as the rightful successor of the Han dynasty. In 221 AD, Liu Bei declared himself the Emperor of Shu, and Chengdu was chosen as the capital city. However, Shu Han fell to the state of Cao Wei in 263 AD.

The state of Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was founded by Sun Quan. He crowned himself as the Wu Emperor in 229 AD, with Jianye (modern-day Nanjing in Jiangsu Province) serving as the capital. In 280 AD, the state of Wu was conquered by the Western Jin state.

Thus, the Three Kingdoms culture represents the historical, political, and social dynamics that transpired during the reigns of these three kingdoms, shaping the course of Chinese history.

The Chengdu Wuhou Shrine, built in honor of Liu Bei, his advisor Zhuge Liang, and other renowned figures of the Shu Han period, dates back to 221 during the reign of Emperor Zhaolie (Liu Bei) of Shu Han. It was originally erected alongside Liu Bei's Hui Mausoleum and the Hanzhaolie Temple. By around 500 AD, during the Northern and Southern dynasties period, it was moved near the Hui Mausoleum and Hanzhaolie Temple from Chengdu's "Shaocheng City," a location it retained until the Ming dynasty. In 1390, during Emperor Hongwu's reign, Zhu Chun, the Prince Shuxian of Ming, visited the temple and consolidated Hui Mausoleum, Hanzhaolie Temple, and Wuhou Shrine, emphasizing their collective importance.

Despite the temple being dedicated to Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang is often perceived as more significant among the general population, leading to the complex commonly being referred to as the "Wuhou Shrine." It underwent destruction during the late Ming dynasty but was restored in 1671, during Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty, and has been maintained ever since.

In 1961, the State Council designated Wuhou Shrine as one of the first key cultural heritage sites in China. Further enhancements occurred when the Wuhou Shrine museum was inaugurated in 1984, followed by the relocation of Sanyi Temple to the complex in 1997. The Chengdu Nanjiao Park was merged into the shrine grounds in 2003, and in October 2004, the Jinli pedestrian zone was introduced.

In 2008, Wuhou Shrine achieved the status of a National Grade I Museum, and in January 2009, the second phase of Jinli was opened to the public. The 150,000 square meter complex comprises the Three Kingdoms Cultural Relics Preservation Zone, Three Kingdoms Culture Experience Zone, and the Jinli Folk Customs Zone.

Referred to as the "Mecca of the Three Kingdoms," Wuhou Shrine is the only shrine in China that honors an emperor and his ministers together and is the most revered memorial of Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, and other key figures of the Shu Han era. It also serves as the world's most influential Three Kingdoms relics museum, attracting an average of ten million visitors annually.