A number of cultural relics dating to ancient China's Warring States Period (475 BC - 221 BC) have been discovered in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The 136 precious cultural relics were unearthed in Kaixian County's Yujiaba site from 23 ancient tombs of ages around Warring States, including 60 pieces of bronze ware, 58 pieces of pottery, 3 jade articles and over 10 pieces of lacquer work.

An intact coffin of the period was found at the site, which was unusual in the area, said Liu Wenjian, curator of Kaixian cultural relic museum.

Yujiaba site is an important cultural relic site in Three Gorges area. It measures 40,000 square meters, of which 16,000 square meters have been excavated.

Liu said that so far 163 tombs had been discovered in the historical site, where over 1,000 cultural relics were unearthed, mostly weapons of the Warring States Period.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2004)