Ancient Chinese civilization breathes life into economy

Talent cultivation has become another major priority. In 2025, the institute recruited 17 new professionals specializing in fields such as materials science, chemistry and geology, marking the largest intake of technical talent in its history. Five additional doctoral candidates are being jointly trained with Zhengzhou University to strengthen the next generation of conservation specialists.

The preservation of Longmen Grottoes reflects broader efforts underway across Henan, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. In recent years, the province has advanced the project tracing the origins of Chinese civilization while strengthening research and protection of oracle bone inscriptions, bronze culture and major archaeological sites. These include the Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) city site and the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties Luoyang city site.