Among 86-year-old Guo Dashun's most vivid memories, which span decades of archaeological exploration, the one that shines brightest, despite first being glimpsed more than 40 years ago, happened at the Niuheliang Site in Chaoyang, Liaoning province.

"That was a moment etched in time, as the clay head of a goddess that we had just unearthed lay before us, gazing skyward with a smile that seemed to invite conversation," says Guo, an honorary director of Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and a leading scholar of Hongshan Culture studies.

"Her eyes, adorned with jade, gleamed with a mesmerizing intensity, and drew everyone closer. It was our first glimpse of the face of our ancestors from 5 millennia ago."

The sculpture is a life-size terracotta representation of a woman with distinctive facial traits: high cheekbones, shallow eye sockets, a low nose bridge, thin lips and eyes inset with sparkling, jade circular pieces. It was discovered at the Niuheliang Site, which has been identified as a late-stage primitive settlement of the Hongshan Culture. The culture, pivotal in Neolithic Chinese history, once flourished across modern-day Liaoning, Hebei province, and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Presently, a replica of this captivating face is on display at the Shenyang Museum in the provincial capital, Shenyang. Alongside it are 265 artifacts, which take visitors on a journey into the beauty and enduring legacy of early Chinese civilization.

The exhibition, The Light of Civilization: Hongshan, Liangzhu, and Chinese Civilization, opened last month, elevates the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures to equal importance, examining them within the grand narrative of the origins of Chinese civilization, according to Wang Chuang, the exhibition curator, and member of the Shenyang cultural heritage center.

About 1,500 kilometers from the core area of Hongshan Culture, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in Zhejiang province was a hub for a jade-worshipping and rice-cultivating regional civilization lasting from 5,300 to 4,300 years ago. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

"The exhibition focuses on three key themes: the height of civilization, Chinese characteristics, and cultural heritage," Wang says. "We hope visitors will see the interconnectedness of Chinese civilization and the enduring influence of both the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures."

The first two sections of the exhibition explore the two cultures individually. The third draws comparisons between them.

"By comparing the two cultures in terms of production methods, large-scale architecture, social governance and ideological concepts, we aim to illustrate the foundations of Chinese civilization," he says.

Wang says that with one culture in the south and the other in the north, the distinct natural conditions and geographical environments of Liangzhu and Hongshan shaped their production methods and social structures. In the north, millet was grown, while the south focused on rice. The north practiced dry farming, and the south specialized in water-based agriculture.

"Architecturally, the north produced large ceremonial buildings, while the south boasted the ancient city of Liangzhu. Their religious ideologies also differed, with the north leaning toward theocracy, and the south combining military and royal authority in a theocratic-political system," Wang says.

The first two sections of the exhibition highlight the differences between the two cultures, both in their developmental stages and paths taken. The final section brings them together, allowing visitors to see their commonalities and particular traits.

Viewed from a broader perspective, both cultures share similarities. "They were built on advanced agriculture, supported by sophisticated handicrafts, and produced large sacrificial structures and high-grade noble tombs," Wang says.

Both cultures had advanced agricultural practices, and paid close attention to seasonal changes and climate. They adapted to their environments, using local resources wisely and living in harmony with nature.

Both also produced anthropomorphic artifacts, such as jade figures and deity-beast faces, emphasizing ancestor worship — a key value in Chinese civilization. This respect for ancestry reflects a deep-rooted spirit. Their jade artifacts were ceremonial, not weaponry, highlighting the importance of harmony, he adds.

"The two cultures both demonstrated organized social governance and a unified spiritual belief system," Wang says. "They also shared an aesthetic preference for squares and circles, which has had a lasting influence on Chinese architecture, currency and design."

"From Hongshan to Liangzhu, we see the sequential brilliance of Chinese culture across different regions, marking a developmental process of rising and flourishing cultures, even though they did not follow a direct lineage," Gan Chao, chief director of the documentary series, China Before China, said after attending the exhibition.

Wang explains that the exhibition focuses on a significant number of precious artifacts that date from the Chahai Culture to the later periods of the Hongshan, Liangzhu and Songze cultures. Chahai Culture is a Neolithic period culture that originated at the West Liaohe River Basin in northern China 8,000 to 7,500 years ago.

"Notably, exquisite jade artifacts from Hongshan Culture sites like Niuheliang, Dongshangang, and Banlashan are prominently featured in this exhibition, providing visitors a visual feast," Wang says.

One of the highlights is a jade pendant of both a dragon and a phoenix. The top part features a horizontal dragon head, while below it, a phoenix with its beak curved toward the dragon completes the composition.

"This piece is significant as it marks the first archaeological discovery of a combined dragon-phoenix motif on a jade artifact unearthed from Niuheliang Site, making it the earliest and only known 'dragon-phoenix jade pendant' in the country," Wang says.

As early Chinese civilization evolved, intricate spiritual beliefs developed, with animals often venerated as totems. Among these, the reverence for dragons and phoenixes stands out as one of the earliest and most central, he adds.

"Dragons and phoenixes, symbols of beauty, fortune and prosperity in ancient Chinese mythology are also the shared spiritual icons and cultural symbols of China. The Liaohe River Basin, where this pendant originated, is recognized as one of the birthplaces of dragon and phoenix imagery and beliefs," Wang says.

The exhibition, which had been in planning since March, brings together artifacts from a range of sources, primarily from cultural and archaeological institutions in Liaoning and Zhejiang provinces. Following extensive coordination, 266 artifacts have been chosen for display.

"We've gathered objects from the storage room at our archaeology institute, including several that haven't been displayed before, like the stone bearings from the Chahai Culture," Wang says. "They mark a milestone in productivity, and provide tangible evidence of early mechanical technology."

Huang Li, deputy director of the Liangzhu Museum, emphasizes the importance of the exhibition. "It presents the latest research on Liangzhu and Hongshan cultures from a variety of perspectives, demonstrating the diversity of Chinese civilization and highlighting significant achievements," she adds.

In addition to the exquisite artifacts on display, the exhibition incorporates cutting-edge digital exhibits. For instance, it uses holographic projections to illustrate the concept of the symbiosis between heaven, earth and humanity for both cultures.

Spanning 1,200 square meters, Wang says the exhibition hall requires about half a day for a thorough exploration. There are also volunteer guides to provide detailed explanations to visitors.

"Understanding prehistoric artifacts isn't as straightforward as with later historical periods. That's why we emphasize the importance of comprehensive interpretation," he says.

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