HARARE, Zimbabwe, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — An exhibition showcasing China’s ancient Shangshan culture — which provides some of the world’s earliest evidence of rice cultivation — opened on October 12 in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, as part of Jinhua’s 2026 “Into Africa” cultural tourism initiative. Titled “DAWN-LIT RICE SOURCE GLOWING MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS,” the exhibition uses rice and pottery as its central themes to foster cultural dialogue between China and Africa. Among those attending the opening ceremony were Zimbabwe’s Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi and Tang Xiaoping, Minister-Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe. The event is hosted by the Jinhua Municipal People’s Government and organized by the Jinhua Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism.
The exhibition highlights Shangshan culture, associated with a Neolithic archaeological site in eastern China’s Zhejiang province that provides key evidence of China’s 10,000-year cultural history. The broader Shangshan culture is also associated with early painted pottery and the emergence of settled village life in East Asia.
The display is organized into three sections that trace how early communities farmed, crafted, and built:
- “The First Grain of Rice” — Carbonized rice grains and pottery fragments mixed with rice husks provide evidence of rice cultivation at Shangshan dating back approximately 10,000 years.
- “The First Stroke of Red” — Red-painted pottery bearing sun patterns and geometric symbols offers a glimpse into how these ancient people observed the sky and tracked the seasons.
- “The First Village” — A reconstruction of a moat-enclosed settlement with stilt-style houses offers a glimpse of early settled village life in China.
The exhibition also features hands-on activities, including Juyan tea tasting, pottery-fragment puzzles, and traditional Luban lock puzzles. Visitors can also explore examples of Jinhua’s intangible cultural heritage, including Wuzhou kiln porcelain, Dongyang wood carvings, and Wu opera costumes. The exhibition aims to encourage cultural exchange and mutual understanding by bringing China’s 10,000-year rice-farming heritage into dialogue with the cultures of southern Africa.
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