Ancient Chinese Rice Farming Culture Exhibited in Harare

An exhibition highlighting China's ancient Shangshan culture, which offers some of the earliest evidence of rice cultivation globally, opened in Harare on October 12. Titled "DAWN-LIT RICE SOURCE GLOWING MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS," the exhibition centers on rice and pottery to foster cultural dialogue between China and Africa.

The event is part of Jinhua's "Into Africa" cultural tourism initiative for 2026. Attendees at the opening ceremony included Zimbabwe's Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Tsitsi Gezi, and Tang Xiaoping, Minister-Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe. The exhibition is hosted by the Jinhua Municipal People's Government and organized by the Jinhua Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism.

The display focuses on the Shangshan culture, associated with a Neolithic archaeological site in Zhejiang province. It presents evidence of China's 10,000-year cultural history, including early painted pottery and the emergence of settled village life in East Asia. Key elements include 10,000-year-old carbonized rice grains and pottery fragments indicating early cultivation, along with red-painted pottery and a reconstruction of a moat-enclosed settlement.

The exhibition also features interactive activities such as tea tasting and traditional puzzles. Visitors can explore examples of Jinhua's intangible cultural heritage, including Wuzhou kiln porcelain and Dongyang wood carvings. The initiative aims to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding by bringing China's ancient rice-farming heritage into dialogue with Southern African cultures.