A rock carving masterpiece in the Damaidi Petroglyphs. [Photo/WeChat account: nxtour]
An ambitious project to protect and utilize the Damaidi Petroglyphs and Zhaobi Mountain Copper Mine in Zhongwei, Ningxia, is progressing rapidly.
The project includes plans to build a 2,000-square-meter protection research base, an intelligent display system, observation platforms, and other facilities. It will also focus on digitally collecting cultural relic information and enhancing infrastructure such as roads, flood control embankments, and security systems.
The project is expected to be completed by 2026, further solidifying Zhongwei's commitment to cultural heritage preservation and cultural and tourism integration.
The petroglyphs are primarily located in the Xiangshan and Northern Weining mountains along the Yellow River. Covering nearly 30 square kilometers, the Weining Northern Mountain petroglyph area boasts over 6,000 petroglyphs, featuring more than 20,000 individual images.
The Damaidi Petroglyphs are especially notable, with over 2,000 petroglyphs densely clustered within approximately six square kilometers. It serves as a valuable exhibition of northern nomadic culture in China, with carvings dating from the late Paleolithic era through the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. In 2019, the Damaidi Petroglyphs were recognized as a national key cultural relic protection unit.
Adjacent to the Damaidi Petroglyphs lies the Zhaobi Mountain Copper Mine, which includes ancient mining pits and smelting remains. Archaeological studies reveal that the copper mine was initially exploited during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and reached significant development by the Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 220). In 2006, this site was designated as a national key cultural relic protection unit, providing essential evidence for studying the Bronze Civilization of Northwest China.