Ancient sites link with future

Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City

Dating back 5,300 to 4,300 years, this 3-square-kilometer site in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is famed for its exquisite jade artifacts and magnificent water conservancy system. It is the legacy of a regional state, theocracy and rice-growing culture, and is hailed as a key stage in early Chinese civilization.

In 2016, remarking on Liangzhu seeking World Heritage Site status, Xi urged that the protection of such ancient ruins be strengthened and systematic archaeological excavations be conducted to deepen the understanding of the long history and precious values of Chinese civilization.