Unearthing Hongshan

Among the most exciting finds is a ring-shaped jade dragon with a slit, a signature artifact of the Hongshan culture.

"It was a ritual object used by the Hongshan people for worship and communication between heaven and earth," Gong says, describing its design as one that fuses the features of a bear, pig and snake.

This discovery of the site is pivotal because it redefines the map of Hongshan culture.

Previously, the core of this culture, renowned for its exquisite jade work, was believed to be concentrated hundreds of kilometers away in Northeast China's Liaoning province and North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Zhengjiagou, situated far to the northwest in Hebei, changes that narrative.

"It extends the timeline of the Hongshan culture and significantly expands its known geographical distribution," Gong explains.

Scientific dating indicates the tomb complex was used from approximately 5,300 to 4,800 years ago, confirming that the culture had spread to the southwest, as Zhangjiakou is located more than 500 km southwest of Liaoning.

The site's importance has resonated at all levels.

Wang Jihong, director of the Xuanhua District Cultural Relics Management Office, witnessed the local response firsthand.

Her team took immediate action after villagers reported seeing human bones and pottery fragments on the hillside in November 2021.

"The surrounding villages have since been relocated," Wang says."In the future, we believe the public will definitely be able to visit the Zhengjiagou site and its artifacts up close."

According to Wang, local authorities have installed protective fencing, surveillance cameras and security patrols, and are planning an archaeological park and a museum.

For the local community, the find is a source of newfound pride.

"Before 2021, this was just a small hill with a few trees," says Meng Hai, the village Party secretary of Zhengjiagou.

"Knowing our village has this history now makes us feel proud," he says.

Recognized as one of Hebei's Six Major New Archaeological Discoveries of 2025, Zhengjiagou is also part of a national-level Archaeological China project, according to Wang.

As the wind sweeps across the excavated stone walls, Gong looks to the future. His team aims to publish a comprehensive report within three years and build a protective shelter over the site to facilitate public display.

The broader mission, shared by everyone involved, is to piece together the journey of these ancient people.

"How did the Hongshan people migrate from Northeast China to the Zhangjiakou area? This will be the focus of our next research,"Gong says.

With every careful stroke of his brush, Gong is not just cleaning ancient jade. He is helping to clear the dust off a missing chapter in the grand story of Chinese civilization.