As the important cradle of Chinese nationality and civilizations,Shaanxi enjoys abundant and unique cultural resources and rich cultural residues. As the starting point of the ancient Silk Road,Shaanxi is an important window to showcase splendid Chinese t

As the important cradle of Chinese nationality and civilizations,Shaanxi enjoys abundant and unique cultural resources and rich cultural residues. As the starting point of the ancient Silk Road,Shaanxi is an important window to showcase splendid Chinese traditional culture and a platform of foreign exchanges. Shaanxi Daily established a special column named Strengthening Cultural Confidence and Building Powerful Shaanxi of Culture, which will further explore essence of Shaanxi culture, focus on fruits and unique charm of Shaanxi cultural development, pass down the cultural ictus of Shaanxi and promote the construction of dynamic province of culture.

Situated in Gaojiabu Town,Shenmu County, the Shimao Site dated back to 4300 years ago is the civilization ruins of pre-history people in the later period of Longshan Culture and is the biggest city remains of the Neolithic period so far discovered. The Shimao Site was named the Eve of Chinese Civilization by the academic fields of Archaeology and was listed into the Top 10 Archaeological Findings of China, the World Top 10 Findings of Field Archaeology and the World Important Archaeological Findings in the 21st century in 2013.

Initiated in 2005, the Graveyard of Liangdai Village has reaped more than 2000 sets,altogether 10 thousands pieces of precious relics, including bronzes,jades and gold wares, as well as musical instruments. Its large quantity, good condition and high-ranking value have marked the important archaeological findings in 30 years since the discovery of the Terracotta Figure. The graveyard is the most well-preserved high-ranking noble tombs of the early period of the Spring and the Autumn Period. Exquisite relics unearthed from 7 great tombs lifted the mysterious cover of the different kingdoms in the Zhou Dynasty.

Named as the Historical and Cultural Base to Showcase the Chinese Civilization by the State Council of China, Shaanxi had been set as the capital of 14 dynasties including the Zhou, the Qin, the Han and the Tang Dynasty. So Shaanxi left behind the most splendid cultural pictures of Chinese history. Its historical remains are in the leading positions of China both in its quantity and relics-ranking value.

Shaanxi historical remains have humanistic element represented by world-famous sites and ruins,which make Shaanxi the great province with rich tourist resources and the famed world tourist destination.

Famous sculptor Rodin said, to our eyes, what we forget is not the beauty but the sense of discovery, which can be interpreted in the term of Shaanxi archaeology as Shaanxi archaeology lacks neither the discovery eyes nor the world-breaking archaeological contributions.  

Since the Twelfth Five-Year Plan , the good news of Shaanxi archaeology has released one after another, 17 archaeological projects have been enlisted in the Top 10 Archaeological Findings of China. Since 2011, 13 archaeological projects have been rewarded respectively with first,second and third prize of field archaeology by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.Shimao Site,the Excavation of Zhouyuan Site, the Ruins of North Sima Gate of Tang Zhaoling Mausoleum, the Bronze Depot of the Western Zhou Dynasty in Meixian County, the Ruins of Bronze-Casting Workshop of the Western Zhou Dynasty in Fufeng County, the Ruins of the Western Zhou Dynasty of Liangdai Village, Yangguanzai Ruins of Gaoling County, the Ruins of Zhougong Temple of Qishan County, the Archaeological Investigation and Excavation of Western Han Royal Tombs, the Family Cemetery of the Western Han Dynasty in Fengxi Highland, the  Family Lv Tomb of the North Song Dynasty in Lantian County, were enlisted in the annually Top 10 Archaeological Findings of China.

In general, the archaeological drilling area reached more than 40sqkm, including 1868 ancient tombs,434 ancient sites and altogether more than 80000 sets of relics unearthed.

In decades, the archaeological achievements of our province have ranked in the leading position of the nation in both excavation number and relics value in each year. It is also the first province that was rewarded with the Spanish Prince Asturias Prize. As far as heritage protection is concerned, Shaanxi also enjoyed world famous.

Our province has 4 protection research bases affiliated to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and the exclusive International Cultural Heritage Technology Cooperation base affiliated to the Ministry of Science and Technology in China. We finished 5 state technological supporting projects,20 state and provincial cultural heritage academic research projects. We stipulated 16 standard regulations of the state or special fields, took charge of 30 cultural protection projects of other provinces and launched 11 international technological cooperation projects with more than 10 countries and regions. We gained 10-plus national patents on new material and new technology of cultural heritage protection, among them 6 was rewarded with the Provincial Technological Advancement Prize or the Technological Renovation Prize issued by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

In addition, the oversea exhibition works keep on accelerating, the exhibition themed on terracotta figures has become the world popular brand  together with Tutankhamen treasures, the Dead Sea Documents, Pompeii Ruins. It is also acted as a new promotion named card of Shaanxi Province.

(translated by Cheng Yanni)