At an important moment when the whole country was studying, publicizing and implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, focusing on implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Yangshao Culture and the beginning of modern archaeology in China, and promoting the implementation of the two combinations, on the morning of November 27th, the first Yangshao Forum kicked off in Sanmenxia to exchange new discoveries and new progress in the Yangshao Culture archaeology, and to promote the splendid achievements of Chinese civilization.

The forum was held in a combination of online and offline. Wang Zhanying, member of the Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial Party Committee and director of the Publicity Department, and Guan Qiang, deputy director of National Cultural Heritage Administration made a video speech, Wang Wei, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, director of the Department of History, and chairman of Society for Chinese Archaeology, made a video speech, and Liu Nanchang, secretary of the municipal Party committee, made a welcome speech at the main venue. Chen Xingcan, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, director of the Institute of Archaeology, and vice chairman of Society for Chinese Archaeology; Zhang Guochun, secretary of the Party committee and deputy director of the Institute of Archeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Yan Yalin, director of Division of Archaeology of National Cultural Heritage Administration; Ruan Jinquan, secretary of the Party committee of Henan Academy of Social Sciences, Tian Kai, director of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage; Sun Yingmin, president of Henan Provincial Society for Cultural Heritage and Archaeology; municipal leaders Guo Hongxun, Wang Songzhao and Qing Zhiying, attended the opening ceremony. Tian Kai presided over the opening ceremony.

Wang Zhanying pointed out in his speech that over the past year, Henan had kept in mind the entrustment of the leaders, strengthened its cultural confidence, grasped the historical initiative, fully implemented the integrated development strategy of cultural tourism and cultural creativity, accelerated the reshaping reform of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, and planned and implemented the construction of provincial museums from a high starting point. New achievements have been made in the excavation, protection and utilization of Yangshao Village, Erlitou, Yinxu and other important sites continuously. Hope that everyone will take this forum as an opportunity and the Yangshao Culture as a link to extensively exchange archaeological and historical research results, carefully display the profound heritage of the Yellow River Culture, and jointly tell the stories of Yangshao, the Yellow River, and Chinese civilization, contributing wisdom and strength to the promotion of cultural confidence and self-improvement and building a new glory of socialist culture.

Guan Qiang pointed out in his speech that it’s necessary to fully understand the significance of Yangshao archeology and the Yangshao Culture research to the history of Chinese civilization, and continue to explore in depth and bring forth the new through the old. It’s necessary to continue to deepen the research on the history of Chinese civilization, increase the archaeological investigation and excavation, data organization and report publication of the Yangshao Culture, condense major topics, and promote theoretical innovation. The forum should be developed into a platform for high-level open archaeological research, achievement display, and cultural exchange to help cultural heritage “come alive”. 

In Wang Wei’s speech, he hopes that Chinese archaeologists would deepen their research on the Yangshao Culture and other cultures, work closely with multidisciplinary joint research, and broaden the scope and coverage of research in time and space; strengthen mutual learning exchanges and comparative studies with world civilizations, strengthen the research, interpretation, display and dissemination of unearthed cultural relics and sites, and enhance the influence and appeal of Chinese civilization.

Liu Nanchang said in his speech that over the past year, Sanmenxia has continued to promote the implementation of the important spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter, and the cultural advantages marked by the Yangshao Culture have been further highlighted. We will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, continue to dress up “the early Chinese civilization corridor”, further demonstrate the “soul” of the Yellow River Culture, and explore the “source” of Chinese civilization; improve protection and promotion, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, promote the integrated development of cultural tourism and cultural creativity, and help cultural resources to become alive and popular; deepen open cooperation to ensure that the Yangshao Culture goes out and becomes famous.