Liangzhu

Liangzhu refers to a late Neolithic culture of the Yangtze River Delta, centered in what is now Zhejiang province and parts of Shanghai. The culture flourished roughly between 3300 and 2300 BCE and is notable for its urban-scale settlements, complex ritual life, and distinctive material culture. The primary archaeological regions lie in the lower Yangtze area around present-day Hangzhou, where ceremonial centers, large tombs, and extensive settlement remains have been uncovered.

A defining feature of Liangzhu is its jade craftsmanship. The culture produced highly finished jade artifacts, especially jade cong and jade bi, as well as elaborately worked implements and ritual objects. These jade pieces are regarded as symbols of social authority and cosmological beliefs, reflecting sophisticated lapidary skills and long-distance exchange networks.

Evidence from tombs and settlements points to some degree of social differentiation and organized labor, possibly under elite or ritual authorities who coordinated monumental construction and ceremonial practices. The archaeological record also indicates early rice agriculture in the Yangtze delta and substantial water-management works, suggesting a degree of urban planning and flood control.

Archaeological research on Liangzhu began in the early 20th century and has since established the culture as a key example of early urban development in China. In 2019, the Liangzhu Archaeological Site of the Lower Yangtze was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its importance for understanding the emergence of complex societies, agriculture, and jade craftsmanship in ancient China.