Ready for a blast from the past? 🤯 Head to Huaiyang, Henan Province in the Chinese mainland, where the Pingliangtai National Archaeological Site Museum is rewinding history back to the Longshan Culture (around 2500–2000 BCE). Think of it as China's first-ever planned city, complete with a neat rectangle layout and a straight central axis – urban design goals, even by today's standards! 🏙️
But the real show-stopper? An ancient drainage system made of interlocking ceramic pipes. Imagine early engineers snapping together clay segments like LEGO pieces to channel water away from streets and homes. 💧🔗 This is the earliest recorded urban water management infrastructure in the Chinese mainland, proving that our ancestors had some serious plumbing game.
Why it matters:
- Smart Design: A rectangular city grid with a clear central axis, showing a surprising level of planning.
- Tech Throwback: Ceramic pipes that reveal early materials science and engineering skills.
- Cultural Insights: How the Longshan Culture balanced daily life, city hygiene, and resource management.
Want to dive deeper? Check out CGTN's live tour at the Pingliangtai National Archaeological Site Museum to see artifacts up close and learn how these innovations shaped urban life thousands of years ago. 🎥✨
Whether you're into tech, history, or just cool old-school hacks, Pingliangtai's ancient drainage is a reminder that smart city planning isn't just a modern trend – it's a legacy. 🌏❤️
Reference(s):
Live: Unveil China's earliest urban drainage system at Pingliangtai
cgtn.com
