Dream-Chasing Journey of Teenagers from Wen County, Gansu

A public archaeology study camp officially kicked off at Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology (HPICHA) on July 16, 2026. Twenty teachers and students from three primary schools in Wen County, Gansu Province took part in the program.

The camp was co-organized by the All-China Journalists Association, Sunshine Teenagers News and the People’s Government of Wen County. As the supporting organization, the HPICHA offered academic guidance, customized courses and venue support.

At the opening ceremony, Wei Xingtao, Deputy Director of HPICHA, delivered an address, stating that Henan and Gansu are both located along the Yellow River Cultural Belt, sharing intertwined cultural veins and integrated civilizations. Public archaeology constitutes a key component of archaeological work, and this study camp serves as a concrete initiative to popularize and disseminate archaeological achievements. He hoped the young participants could gain an intuitive understanding of Chinese civilization through close exposure to archaeological practices.

    Rong Changhai, First-Level Inspector of the All-China Journalists Association, remarked that the camp constituted a valuable cross-industry initiative integrating journalism with archaeology to boost public welfare education, urging all participants to treasure this immersive experience and deepen their understanding of Chinese civilization.

Xia Jifeng, Rotating Editor-in-Chief of Elephant News, stated that media organizations should build cultural bridges to help teenagers connect with ancient civilizations, and he wished every student rewarding learning gains.

A student representative expressed gratitude to the organizers and HPICHA for the precious learning opportunity, vowing to take careful notes throughout the camp and share what they learned with classmates back at school.

Following the opening ceremony, Sun Kai, Associate Researcher of HPICHA, delivered the first archaeology lecture, systematically introducing fundamental archaeological theories and fieldwork methodologies. Staff members specializing in public archaeology guided the group on a tour of HPICHA’s history exhibition hall, elaborating on the development milestones and achievements of archaeological research in Henan.

    In the afternoon of the same day, the group visited the Zheng State Chariot and Horse Pit Site Museum in Xinzheng. At the Peiligang Site, they learned basic field archaeology techniques and took part in simulated archaeological prospecting and excavation activities.

    On the morning of July 17, the group headed to the Zhengzhou Workstation of HPICHA. Led by Researcher Yang Shugang of HPICHA, they toured the exhibition hall featuring sacrificial relics from the Shang Dynasty at the Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty City Site, gaining a comprehensive overview of the site’s excavation history and research findings.

    That afternoon, the group visited the Henan Provincial Center for Cultural Relics Science and Conservation. Associate Researcher Tang Jing, together with Yan Haitao and Zhao Shengwei of HPICHA, delivered lectures on identifying deterioration of cultural relics and the full workflow of cultural relic restoration and conservation. They also guided students to try hands-on introductory cultural relic restoration activities.

The study camp marks a vital social education practice of public archaeology undertaken by HPICHA. Moving forward, we will build on such activity to continuously refine our archaeology study curricula, enabling more young people to experience the profound heritage of Chinese civilization through firsthand practice. May teenagers keep pursuing their dreams unceasingly, and may the glowing stories of our land endure forever.