Ningbo's Hemudu park to open on trial basis

The Hemudu Archaeological Site Park. [Photo/Yongpai app]

The Hemudu Archaeological Site Park in Ningbo will open for trial operations on Feb 7, offering visitors an immersive glimpse into what life was like 7,000 years ago.

Located in Yuyao, the 500,000 square-meter park has been carefully preserved and upgraded. The surrounding wetlands remain largely intact, now hosting egrets, ducks, and other wildlife.

The park combines archaeological research with interactive experiences, offering a glimpse into prehistoric daily life. One section highlights ancient, stilted timber architecture using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery. Visitors have the chance to mold black pottery with ancient patterns or assemble wooden structures, among other interactive activities, showing them how early humans adapted to their environment.

Another area recreates prehistoric rice cultivation, with sculptures and walkways showing how the rice was tilled, sowed, and harvested. Visitors can even try hulling rice themselves, giving them a firsthand experience of ancient farming practices. 

A nature-focused zone lets visitors explore wetlands and forests, identify wild plants, try simple tools, or practice fishing from reconstructed boats, simulating how early people relied on their surroundings for survival. The park also restores original ecological features, with reed beds, lakeside vegetation, and wildlife like egrets and deer creating a vivid link between ancient and modern ecosystems.

As a complement to the Hemudu Museum, the park represents a new stage in cultural preservation, transforming the site from a static exhibition into an interactive, full-scale experience of prehistoric life.