Zhao Ling Mountain Site

Zhao Ling Mountain Site

The Zhao Ling Mountain Site is a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

Era: Neolithic Age

Located in Zhao Ling Village, Zhangpu Town, Kunshan, approximately 28 kilometers east of Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Covering an area of about 10,000 square meters, it is an oval-shaped earthen mound standing 10.5 meters above sea level, representing a large early Liangzhu Culture earthen platform. Three archaeological excavations were carried out in 1990, 1991, and 1995, with a total excavation area of 2,000 square meters. The cultural strata reach a depth of 9 meters, with the upper layer consisting of Spring and Autumn Period remains, the middle layer belonging to the Liangzhu Culture, and the lower layer to the Songze Culture. A total of 94 tombs, primarily from the Liangzhu Culture, were discovered. Notably, these tombs are closely associated with the earthen mound, with burials divided by the social status of the deceased, and featuring large-scale ritual human sacrifices—a phenomenon first found at a Liangzhu Culture site. Over 600 artifacts were unearthed, including more than 200 jade artifacts, over 130 stone tools, and over 270 pottery items. Among the jade artifacts, a finely crafted openwork ornament depicting a divine figure with birds and beasts stands out. The discovery of this site is of great significance for studying the societal aspects of the Liangzhu Period and was ranked among China’s Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in 1992. It has been listed as a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province. To the north of Zhao Ling Mountain lies the Caoxie Mountain Site, and to the northeast is the Zhangling Mountain Site.

The Zhao Ling Mountain Site is a typical earthen mound site in the Taihu Lake region, with a history of over 5,000 years. Excavated jointly in 1990, 1991, and 1995 by the Nanjing Museum, Suzhou Museum, and Kunshan Cultural Relics Management Committee, it revealed numerous Liangzhu Culture-period tombs with evidence of human sacrifice. Through three archaeological digs, a total of 94 tombs of varying sizes were cleared, yielding over 600 artifacts, among which a jade pendant featuring an openwork carving of a divine figure with birds and beasts and a pottery lid with the Zhao Ling Mountain clan emblem “Yuanji Diagram” are especially precious. The Zhao Ling Mountain Site is the earliest Liangzhu Culture site where the widespread presence of human sacrifice was discovered, reflecting the clan relationships inherent in the Liangzhu Culture. It is hailed as China’s earliest “earthen pyramid.” Its excavation holds significant value for understanding the overall social structure of the Liangzhu Culture and exploring the origins of Chinese civilization. The China Cultural Relics Newspaper featured this site in 1991, 1992, and 1993. In 1992, the Zhao Ling Mountain Site was honored as one of China’s Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries, marking the first time Jiangsu Province received this recognition.

In May 2013, it was designated by the State Council as part of the seventh group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Zhangpu Town: Located in the golden triangle between Shanghai, Suzhou, and Kunshan, Zhangpu Town is one of the key towns open to the outside world in the Yangtze River Delta. The administrative area of Zhangpu Town spans 116.27 square kilometers and includes 1 industrial and commercial management zone, 2 subdistrict offices, 5 community committees, 18 administrative villages, with a permanent population of 66,000 and a migrant population of nearly 70,000.

The town features distinctive industries and a pleasant environment. Airport Road, which runs east-west across the town, naturally separates modern industry from ecological agriculture, highlighting the harmony between humans and nature. Divided by Airport Road, the area forms a layout of “gardens to the south, city to the north…” More details about Zhangpu Town++

Further reading:

· Fourth Group of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Jiangsu Province

· Seventh Group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level