This weekend marked the grand opening of the first Liangzhu Forum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, reigniting global interest in the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Discovered in 1936, this site offers a window into a prehistoric rice-cultivating civilization that thrived between 3300 BC and 2300 BC, standing as a testament to over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
The meticulous urban layout of the Liangzhu ruins reveals an advanced understanding of city planning for its time. Excavations of burial sites indicate a strong social hierarchy, underscoring the complexity of this ancient society.
Among the fascinating cultural relics unearthed are exquisite lacquerware, pottery, and jade ware. The most notable are the numerous yucong, or jade cong, which are intricately carved jade tubes serving as ritual objects in Liangzhu Ancient City.
Recognizing its cultural significance, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. Today, the Liangzhu Museum in Hangzhou offers visitors the opportunity to explore a range of artifacts, including ancient agricultural tools, charred rice spikelets dating back over 5,000 years, and large ritual jades.
The museum's exhibits not only highlight the agricultural prowess of late Neolithic China but also reflect the unified belief systems that underpinned this regional state. Among these treasures is the largest jade cong, known as the \"king of jade cong,\" currently housed in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.
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Liangzhu culture reflects glory of 5,000-year Chinese civilization
cgtn.com
