Ningxia is one of the origins of ancient Chinese civilization. The Shuidonggou relic site in Lingwu city shows that people resided there as early as 30,000 years ago, the Old Stone Age. After the First Emperor of Qin (221-206BC) unified the six states, the place became a prefecture and its soil was reclaimed and irrigated by the Yellow River. In 1038, Li Yuanhao set up the Western Xia regime (1038-1227), with Ningxia as its center. In 1929, Ningxia was designated a province. Following the founding of the People's Republic of China Ningxia's provincial status was revoked in 1954 and it was included in Gansu province. In 1958, the Ningxia Hui autonomous region was established.