Between 3500 BC and 3000 BC the Hongshan culture arose in the north-east of China. The Hongshan people constructed a series of spectacular ceremonial centres around the Liao River drainage.
The most impressive, the so-called Goddess Temple at Niuheliang, was an 85 ft (25m) long subterranean building with a series of eight vaulted chambers with painted walls, located on a square terrace. Fragments of very large naked statues that originally sat cross-legged with their backs attached to the wall were found along with a baked-clay head with jade irises.
Other important Hongshan sites included Dongshanzui and Hutougou.
