Northeast China's Liaoning province, one of the core hubs of Hongshan culture, is stepping up efforts in legislation, academic research, heritage preservation and public awareness to better protect and pass on the culture and boost its influence, said Xu Kunlin, secretary of the Communist Party of China Liaoning Provincial Committee, at the 2026 Conference on Hongshan Culture held in Chaoyang, Liaoning, on Wednesday.
"Liaoning is rich in cultural and historical relics, with profound historical heritage. It is home to a longstanding farming culture, fishing-hunting culture and nomadic culture, and is an important birthplace of Chinese civilization," Xu said.
"The Niuheliang site here has pushed the origin of Chinese civilization back by five to six hundred years. It is not only a key source for the Chinese nation's cultural confidence and the continuation of the flame of civilization, but also a cultural treasure for the whole world," he added.
Dating back some 5,000 to 5,800 years, the Niuheliang site in Chaoyang is a core site from the peak period of Hongshan culture. It showcases the culture's most mature jade artifact system, primitive cosmology and early state formation.
Xu said that Liaoning has adhered to the rule of law as a bottom line and built a refined system for cultural relic protection with strict standards. In recent years, the province has revised and implemented the Regulations on the Protection of the Niuheliang Site in Liaoning Province and updated the Protection Plan for the Niuheliang Site.
Liaoning has also strengthened academic research by setting up the Hongshan Culture Research Institute. Working with academies and institutions, it has deepened multidisciplinary studies on national-level archaeological projects aimed at decoding the cultural genes of Hongshan culture and strengthening empirical evidence for the origin of Chinese civilization.
In July, the National Cultural Heritage Administration released the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for the cultural relic sector. The document provides guidelines on preparing Hongshan culture sites as they seek World Heritage status within the next five years.
According to Xu, Liaoning is cooperating with other provinces to promote a cross-regional joint bid for World Heritage status, so that Hongshan culture and Liangzhu culture in Zhejiang province — two prehistoric landmarks of Chinese civilization — can jointly serve as powerful testimony to China's 5,000-year civilization.
Last year, Liaoning hosted the International Communication Conference on Hongshan Culture, where the official logo of Hongshan culture was unveiled. A dance drama related to the culture is also in production, and a series of campus activities have been launched to introduce Hongshan culture to young people.
"Hongshan culture is going beyond Liaoning and reaching the world with a youthful tone and digital forms," Xu said.
"We are willing to use Hongshan culture as a bond, maintain an open and inclusive attitude, deepen exchanges and cooperation with archaeological and cultural institutions around the world, and contribute wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for humanity."
