The ancient cultural site of Fuquan Hill in Shanghai's Qingpu district was unearthed in 1962 as an artificial, high-platform tomb site.

The site is home to cultural relics dating back 6,000 years, including artifacts from the Majiabang, Songze, and Liangzhu cultures, which existed during the Neolithic period, and from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).

Spanning 94 meters from east to west and 84 meters from north to south, and standing 7.5 meters high, the site is revered as the Eastern Pyramid and offers a historical chronicle of ancient Shanghai, as well as insight into the origins of this now bustling city. In 2013, it was selected as one of China's 150 major historical conservation sites.

The M139 tomb at Fuquan Hill is an example of a rare, high-level burial that included human sacrifice. The tomb's occupant, an adult male, was buried with numerous jade, stone, and pottery artifacts, indicating his high social status. Notably, the bones of a young woman were found curled up at his feet, suggesting early human sacrificial practices in China.

Excavations in the 1980s unearthed over 2,800 artifacts, including jade symbols of authority and a variety of exquisite ornaments. The recent discovery of rare ivory scepters further indicates that the site was of great importance during the Liangzhu culture period. The site's five-colored soil layers house cultural relics from the Neolithic to the Han periods, providing insight into the area's ancient inhabitants.

If you go

Fuquan Hill Ancient Cultural Site

Location: No 658 Fuquanshan Road, Chonggu town, Qingpu district

Contact: 021-5978-0912

Open: Daily from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Ticket prices:

Adults under 60: 8 yuan ($1.1) per person

Free entry for minors with parents, student groups, individuals over 60, and retired, disabled, and military personnel.

Sources: WeChat account of Qingpu district information office, Qingpu district government