The southwest China's Yunnan province is famous for its delightful weather, scenic landscapes, and its unique blend of dozens of ethnic groups. It's also home to "Yuanmou Man", a discovery that dates back to about 17 million years and makes the area one of the birthplaces of human beings.

In recent years, museums and exhibition halls have been established to better protect the unique culture of Yunnan.

Lufeng is the site of numerous Jurassic dinosaur discoveries, first found in 1938. In 1998, skeletons of 8 dinosaurs were found in the early Middle Jurassic-age rocks of the Upper Lufeng Formation. More recently, teeth and skull of Ramapithecus, a miocene period primate related to the orangutan, were also found.

The Lufeng Dinosaur Museum built on the dinosaur burial site includes the hall of ancient living beings where four complete dinosaur skeletons are on display. The skeletons range from 2.4 meters to 9 meters in length. In addition, there is a display of photographs and diagrams of dinosaurs from around the world. Ancient bronzeware and earthenware are also exhibited here.

The dinosaur burial site of 160 million years ago is well preserved. Hundreds of dinosaur partial skeletons yet to be unearthed tell a silent story about their extinction.

Dong Zhiming, researcher of Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, "Telling the visitors why the fossil is found here and what species it belongs to is a very good example of science education. When they understand the value of such fossils and studies, they may in turn provide more information and insight to our research."

By establishing such museums, authorities are exploring ways to both protect and make good use of Yunnan's rich cultural and archeological resources.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments