The Majiabang archaeological site near Jiaxing preserves evidence of one of the most significant Neolithic cultures in eastern China, a civilisation that was cultivating rice, making fine pottery, and building pile-dwelling villages on the shores of the Taihu Lake region six or seven thousand years ago. The site is not dramatic in itself — there is little to see above ground — but the associated museum provides context for the extraordinary depth of human habitation in the Jiangnan plain.
The museum displays include Majiabang pottery, jade ornaments, bone tools, and carbonised rice grains preserved in anaerobic conditions. The jade objects are particularly fine, demonstrating a level of craft skill that challenges assumptions about Neolithic life. For visitors interested in early Chinese history, this is a serious collection that rarely features on tourist itineraries, which means it is usually quiet and unhurried.