Celebrating the Brilliance of Hongshan Culture at Recent Conference

On June 17, 2025, an inspiring cultural event related to Hongshan culture took place in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, organized by the International Communication Conference. This conference aimed to accentuate the significance of Hongshan as an essential part of Chinese cultural heritage, echoing its impact on regional and global civilization.

The Hongshan culture, which flourished between 6,500 and 5,000 years ago, highlights the deep historical roots of the Chinese civilization extending across the present-day provinces of Liaoning and Hebei, alongside the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Wang Xinwei, the governor of Liaoning, emphasized the province's commitment to the preservation, development, and promotion of Hongshan culture, positioning it as a radiant example of Chinese civilization in the modern era.

In his remarks, he stated that substantial efforts will be made to enhance international understanding of Hongshan culture, including advocating for the site of Niuheliang to receive recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The conference revolved around the theme "Rediscovering the Origins of Chinese Civilization: A Focus on Hongshan Culture" and attracted professionals from archaeological studies, heritage protection, and civilization research to share insights about this extraordinary culture.

Qu Yingpu, the editor and chief of China Daily, noted that the western Liaohe River basin, alongside the Yellow and Yangtze River basins, represents one of the principal cradles of Chinese civilization. He highlighted that Hongshan stands out among the ancient cultures of China, reflecting its noteworthy heritage. He also mentioned the urgent need to build a recognizable framework of Chinese cultural symbols to enhance global understanding of China and its spiritual narratives. Utilizing modern technologies to revitalize ancient stories was also a point of discussion during the event.

The conference also featured discussions on collaborative efforts between Liaoning and Inner Mongolia to deepen insights into Hongshan culture. Bao Xianhua, the head of the publicity department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's Communist Party Committee, reiterated the importance of collaborative approaches to explore Hongshan's multiple cultural values further. Moreover, participation from regional administrations sought to foster creative transformation and innovative development within traditional Chinese culture.

The call for continuous engagement in researching Hongshan's foundational influence on Chinese civilization was echoed by Qiao Yunfei, the deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration. Plans for establishing museums and archaeological parks were also proposed to highlight Hongshan culture as a global symbol of Chinese civilization.

The unveiling of the official Hongshan culture logo was among the highlights of the conference, integrating elements of painted pottery that encapsulated the essence of this ancient culture. The logo's design features interlocking "C" symbols, representing both "China" and "Culture," forming a dynamic spiral to depict the enduring legacy of Hongshan culture. Highlighting its international connections, Guo Dashun, an honorary director at the Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, pointed out that the motifs found in Hongshan pottery illustrate cultural fusion along ancient trading routes connecting Eurasia.

Experts, including Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, an American sinologist specializing in Chinese art and archaeology, cited that Hongshan was significant as one of the foremost cultures to utilize jade as a symbol of power and status. Jiang Bo, a professor at Shandong University, raised awareness of Hongshan's potential for recognition as a World Heritage Site, emphasizing its archaeological sites and jade dragons as cultural icons of traditional China.

Dennis Schilling, a philosophy professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing, underscored the essential role of Hongshan culture within the context of global human heritage, influencing our understanding of cultural and social development through history. Overall, the conference served as a powerful reminder of Hongshan's brilliance and its importance in fostering deeper international cultural exchanges and understanding.