At the International Symposium on Qijia Culture and Chinese Civilization, held on July 1 and 2 in Guanghe County, Gansu Province, scholars explored the significance of relics from the ancient Qijia culture . “Similar to Banpo Village and the Yin Ruins, the Qijia Ruins are sacred to archeologists and historians,” said Wang Wei, director of the Institute of Archeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Prior to the establishment of the Xia Dynasty (C.2070-1600BC), Chinese civilization was characterized by remarkable regional diversity. Qijia culture played an important role in the formation of such a civilizational pattern, scholars said. In addition, Guanghe County, the heartland of Qijia culture, is strategically located in the corridor of East-West exchange. Judging from the pottery, jade artifacts and bronze vessels unearthed in the location, East-West exchange predated the emergence of the Silk Road.