【Shanxi's Cultural Landscape】Roots of Chinese Civilization (Linfen)

——五千年文明看山西

——Exploring 5,000 Years of Civilization in Shanxi

2026年4月15日，抖音“文脉里的中国·山西站”启动仪式在太原古县城隆重举行。活动精心推出了华夏之根、土木华章、晋魂春秋、雄关万里、表里山河五大文脉主题线路，并贴心附上自驾体验攻略，为游客深度游览山西提供了详尽指引，引领大众开启一场探寻中华文脉的山西之旅。

On April 15, 2026, the launch ceremony of the “Along the Cultural Landscape of China · Shanxi” campaign was held at the Taiyuan Ancient County. The event introduced five cultural themed routes: Roots of Chinese Civilization, Architectural Splendors, Spirit of Jin, the Great Wall, and the Natural Frontiers, along with practical self-driving travel guides. These resources offer visitors an in-depth journey through Shanxi, inviting everyone to explore the cultural landscape of China.

山西南部是根祖文化之源，定格着华夏文明起源的关键印记。今天，我们走进“华夏之根”主题线路的临汾段，探访尧庙、陶寺古观象台、丁村遗址、洪洞大槐树。

Southern Shanxi is the birthplace of root-and-ancestor culture, preserving key imprints of early Chinese civilization. Today, we begin with the first route — Roots of Chinese Civilization — focusing on the Linfen section, which includes the Yao Temple, Taosi Ancient Observatory, Dingcun Site, and Hongtong Pagoda Tree.

尧庙——华夏第一都的文明起点

Yao Temple — The Cradle of China’s First Capital

尧庙始建于西晋，距今已有1700多年历史，是历代祭祀帝尧、帝舜、夏禹三位先祖的“三圣庙”。临汾素有“华夏第一都”之称——约公元前24世纪，帝尧定都平阳（今临汾），在此完成了一系列开天辟地的创制，成为华夏文明的重要发源地之一。如今，每年这里都会举行隆重的祭尧大典，吸引无数炎黄子孙前来谒祭，追溯血脉深处的文明源头。

The Yao Temple was first built during the Western Jin Dynasty, with a history of over 1,700 years. It is a “Temple of the Three Sages,” dedicated to the worship of Emperor Yao, Emperor Shun, and Yu the Great. Known as the “First Capital of China,” Linfen was where Emperor Yao established his capital in Pingyang (modern Linfen) around the 24th century BCE. There, he initiated a series of foundational achievements, marking Linfen as one of the key birthplaces of Chinese civilization. Today, a grand ceremony is held here annually to honor Emperor Yao, attracting countless descendants of the Yan and Huang lineage.

陶寺古观象台——世界最早的天文观测遗址

Taosi Ancient Observatory  —  The World’s Earliest Astronomical Observation Site

陶寺遗址距今约4100至4300年，属于龙山时代的大型城址。其核心建筑陶寺观象台，是迄今为止发现的世界最早的天文观测遗址。陶寺先民以13根夯土柱构筑观测缝，推算出20个节令，成为我国传统二十四节气的主要源头，也印证了《尚书·尧典》中“历象日月星辰，敬授人时”的记载。华夏最早的历法文明，便在这片土地上诞生。

The Taosi site, dating back approximately 4,100 to 4,300 years to the Longshan period, is a large fortified settlement. At its heart lies the Taosi Observatory — recognized as the world’s earliest known astronomical observation structure. Using 13 rammed earth pillars to create observation gaps, the people of Taosi calculated 20 solar terms, providing the main basis for China’s traditional 24 solar terms. This site confirms the historical record in the “Book of Documents · Canon of Yao,” which states: “Observing the celestial bodies and the sun and moon, in order to teach the people the seasons.” The earliest calendar civilization of China was born here.

丁村遗址——填补中国旧石器时代缺环

Dingcun Site — Filling a Gap in China’s Paleolithic Timeline

丁村遗址发现于1953年，是新中国成立后在北京周口店以外地区发现的首个大型旧石器时代遗址。这里出土的古人类牙齿化石及大量石器，被科学界定名为“丁村文化”，直接填补了我国旧石器时代中期人类化石的缺环。如今，丁村文化陈列馆系统展出了遗址发现、发掘及几十年来的研究成果。2021年，山西襄汾丁村遗址入选全国“百年百大考古发现”，其学术地位无可替代。

Discovered in 1953, the Dingcun Site was the first major Paleolithic site found outside the Zhoukoudian area after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Fossilized human teeth and a large number of stone tools unearthed here led to the scientific classification of the “Dingcun Culture,” which directly filled the gap in human fossils from the Middle Paleolithic period in China. Today, the Dingcun Culture Exhibition Hall systematically presents the discovery, excavation, and decades of research on the site. In 2021, the Dingcun Site in Xiangfen, Shanxi, was selected as one of the nation’s “Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries of the Century.”

洪洞大槐树——亿万华人的精神故土

Hongtong Pagoda Tree — The Spiritual Homeland of Chinese

“问我祖先在何处？山西洪洞大槐树。”明初，在洪洞大槐树下组织了18次大规模移民，百万民众被迁往全国18省、500余县。如今黄河流经的9个省区中，有7个都是明代大槐树移民的主要迁入地。大槐树因此成为亿万华人魂牵梦萦的精神故土，数百年来传承着大槐树祭祖习俗——每年清明节，盛大的寻根祭祖大典在这里隆重举行，海内外游子纷纷归来，寻根问祖，心系故园。

“Where do our ancestors come from? From the great pagoda tree in Hongtong, Shanxi.” In the early Ming Dynasty, 18 large-scale migrations were organized under the Hongtong Pagoda Tree, relocating a million people to 18 provinces and over 500 counties across China. Among the nine provinces along the Yellow River, seven were primary destinations for these Ming-era migrants. The Pagoda Tree has become a spiritual homeland for countless Chinese people around the world. The age-old tradition of ancestor worship continues here, with a grand Root-Seeking Ceremony held every Qingming Festival.

临汾线以尧庙、陶寺古观象台、丁村遗址、洪洞大槐树为轴，串联起从旧石器时代、尧舜传说时代到明代移民史的完整时空脉络。这里不仅是中华文明的发源与根脉，更是亿万华人万里归心的精神故乡。

The Linfen route connects the Yao Temple, Taosi Ancient Observatory, Dingcun Site, and Hongtong Pagoda Tree into a complete narrative that ps from the Paleolithic era, through the age of legendary emperors, to the great migrations of the Ming Dynasty. It is not only the origin and root of Chinese civilization but also the home where millions of Chinese journey back to their spiritual and ancestral heartland.

文脉里的中国，华夏之根，等待每一位华夏儿女来寻。

Along the cultural landscape of Shanxi, China, the Root of Chinese Civilization, awaits every descendant to return.

（图源网络侵删）

(The image source is from the internet. If infringement, it will be deleted.)

来源：中华网综合整理

Source: Comprehensive collation by sx.china.com