Multiple grain storage pits dating back more than 4,000 years were discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, which offer fresh evidence for the study of early civilization in that area, according to archaeologists.
The pits were found at the Luojiahe cultural relic site in Chunhua County, Xianyang City, where archaeologists from the Xianyang Cultural Heritage Institute conducted excavations between March 2022 and Sept 2025.
By analyzing the features of the unearthed relics and artifacts with scientific methods, the team concluded that the site likely dates back approximately 4,800 to 4,200 years.
Preliminary surveys and explorations confirmed that the site covers a total area of 50,000 square meters, with the excavation area, located at the site's central zone, spanning approximately 14,200 square meters.
A total of 17 grain storage pits were unearthed at the site, all circular or oval and bag-shaped. Four of the pits contained carbonized grains of millet and other crops, along with preserved plant stems, indicating that they were once used for grain storage.
"We have collected over 1,000 samples and obtained over 800 carbonized plant samples, mainly millet and glutinous millet, in addition to rice and soybeans. The storage methods used are storing with ears intact, storing after threshing, and storing after husking," said Xie Gaowen, a research fellow from the Xianyang Cultural Heritage Institute.
There are remnants of woven crop straw in some pits, with the weaving technique closely resembling the patterns used in grain bundling.
"This is something we haven't discovered before when excavating sites from this period. It proves that this was a method for storing ears of grain at that time, using straw to make something akin to rope to tie up the crops," said Xie.
Prehistoric grain storage pits discovered in northwest China
Prehistoric grain storage pits discovered in northwest China
China's natural gas production is projected to reach 300 billion cubic meters by 2030, according to a development report released in Beijing.
The report, covering the development of China's oil and gas industry during the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), said proven geological reserves rose by 7 billion tons of oil and 7 trillion cubic meters of gas, up 43 percent and 40 percent respectively from the previous five-year period. Oil and gas production hit record highs.
"The oil output is likely to reach between 215 and 216 million tons this year. Natural gas has seen major growth during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), with annual domestic output rising by nearly 13 billion cubic meters. In the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), we expect annual increases of more than 10 billion cubic meters, reaching 300 billion cubic meters around 2030," said Wu Mouyuan, deputy director of the Economics and Technology Research Institute of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
The report forecast that China's energy structure will feature less coal, stable oil and gas, and rising non-fossil fuels over the next decade.
By 2060, fossil fuels are expected to account for 23 percent of the energy mix, hydropower and nuclear 19 percent, wind 25 percent, and solar 30 percent, the report said.
"In the next five years, through the integrated development of fossil energy and renewables, we will achieve a heathy, stable, and resilient energy system. Clean energy will continue to grow rapidly. More than 90 percent of renewable energy will be consumed via electricity, so the electrification at end-use sectors is a key direction of transformation in the future," said Wu.
With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and new high-energy industries, China's power demand will exceed 20 trillion kilowatt hours by 2060, double the 2025 level. Electrification at end-use sectors is expected to reach 62 percent, rising by nearly one percentage point annually, the report projected.
China to see gas output hitting 300 bcm by 2030: report
