China has unveiled a series of major archaeological discoveries that deepen understanding of its ancient cultures, craftsmanship and exchanges with the wider world.

Announced by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the findings highlight advances in scientific archaeology and cultural heritage conservation. Among the most striking is a gilded bronze suit of armour from the Xuewei No.1 Tomb in Qinghai Province, dating to the Tang Dynasty (618–907). It is the only known physical example of Tang gold armour found in China, offering rare insight into royal ceremony and status during the era of the Tuyuhun Kingdom.

Other restored artefacts include exquisitely decorated lacquerware and the world’s earliest known resist-dyed textile, carbon-dated to no later than 750 AD, reflecting sophisticated techniques and long-distance cultural exchange.

Further discoveries, from a 4,500-year-old bayberry tree linked to the Liangzhu culture to an extensive animal specimen bank, collectively illuminate daily life, diet and relationships in ancient China.

Source: China Central Television