“Proof of Early China: Civilizations of Songze and Liangzhu” Opens in Shanghai Museum

On June 20, the Shanghai Museum launched “The Proof of Early China: The Civilizations of Songze and Liangzhu” as the second installment in “The Essesnce of China", an exhibition series of cultural relics and archaeological achievements. This exhibition demonstrates the development history of Chinese civilization spanning over 5,000 years by focusing on great achievements in the first peak of civilization represented by the Songze culture and Liangzhu culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River from 5800 to 4300 years ago.

Curated and hosted by Shanghai Museum, it is the first and largest exhibition of prehistoric civilization in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. The exhibits include 358 unearthed cultural relics from 19 museums and archaeological institutions across the country. Among them, more than 90 percent are precious cultural relics, and more than one third are the latest archaeological achievements that have been unveiled for the first time. Based on the four parts including the ancient country, rice cultivation, handicraft production and the use of jade, the exhibition leads visitors to appreciate the charm of prehistoric culture and art in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and to perceive the demonstration of Chinese civilization of 5,000 years.