The First Village of China

The First Village of China

The Xinglongwa Primitive Settlement Site Tourist Area — “The First Village of China.” Located 100 kilometers southeast of Aohan Banner, this site has undergone seven large-scale archaeological excavations by the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A total of 153 house foundations have been uncovered, with the largest covering an area of 140 square meters — a remarkable wonder in the history of Chinese architecture. The site also yielded the world’s earliest known jade artifacts, featured the most unusual burial customs in the world — dwelling burials and human-pig joint burials — and saw the first discovery of China’s earliest known clothing — shell skirts. Thousands of precious cultural relics were unearthed here. The Xinglongwa culture dates back approximately 8,000 years, making it the earliest Neolithic culture type discovered in China to date. In 1996, it was designated as part of the fourth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council. It was also named one of the top ten archaeological discoveries in China during the Eighth Five-Year Plan period and was listed among the Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries of the 20th Century in 1997. Due to its vast area, early dating, and excellent preservation, experts have hailed it as “The First Village of China.”