Wang Wei: Hongshan culture shows there is more than one path to civilization

"Hongshan culture built a complex society through belief, ritual systems, and shared spiritual identity, demonstrating that there is more than one path to civilization," noted Wang Wei, a member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at the 2026 Conference on Hongshan Culture. Wang also noted that Hongshan culture's high level of social complexity and strong systematic structure give it an irreplaceable comparative value among the world's early civilizations.