Beneath our feet, at Guilin Relic Park, lies a time capsule. It whispers tales of Shanghai’s ancient heart. This park isn’t just green space. It’s a portal to a past spanning millennia.
Guilin Relic Park marks the site of the Guilin archaeological site. In 1966, during construction, workers stumbled upon whispers of history. The whispers grew louder. Archaeologists unearthed five distinct cultural layers. These layers, like chapters in a history book, revealed artifacts from the Neolithic era, the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and even later periods. Imagine, shards of pottery, tools of stone and jade, emerging from the earth after centuries of slumber. These relics, now housed in the Shanghai Museum, paint a vivid picture of life in ancient Guilin.
The Guilin archaeological site has yielded over 500 artifacts. Among them are the “China’s First Plow,” a stone plow discovered here at Guilin. Another treasure is the “Nine-sectioned Jade Cong,” the most intricate jade cong unearthed in Shanghai. Even the emblem of the Jinshan Museum, the “Pottery-footed Griffin,” originated here at Guilin.
Guilin has a rich history, forming around 6,000 years ago. It is one of the cradles of ancient culture in Shanghai and the birthplace of Liangzhu culture. This area was once home to Gu Yanwu, a renowned Ming Dynasty scholar. He wrote the Yu Gong. The Yu Gong is the earliest extant Chinese dictionary. It holds immense significance in the history of East Asian Han characters. In November 2022, a ceremony was held here at Guilin Relic Park to mark the resumption of archaeological exploration. This signifies a renewed commitment to understanding the deep history beneath our feet.
Guilin Relic Park is more than just an archaeological site. It is a place where the past intersects with the present. It’s a place where stories come alive, inviting us to connect with the rich tapestry of Shanghai’s history.