Had it been a few years ago, Zeng Chuyu's choice of college major might have met with resistance from her family, as some may consider it an unconventional pick for someone
The Beijing student had achieved an impressive score in this year's college entrance examination and could have easily pursued a major in computer science, finance, or any other high-demand field with lucrative career prospects.
However, she chose a different path, enrolling at the prestigious Peking University (PKU) to study archaeology, a subject often overlooked by many.
Zeng's choice may not come as a surprise, as recent years have seen a notable increase in public interest in history and traditional culture in China, said experts. Documentaries on repairing antiques and TV shows featuring classical poetry contests have gone viral among audiences, while more people visit museums or experiment with traditional costumes in their spare time.
Young people are particularly enthralled by the rich contents of traditional Chinese culture, and Zeng is no exception. During her twelfth-grade year, she visited an iron-production relics site in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, via a summer camp organized by PKU, which further piqued her interest in this field.
Zeng made up her mind. "As I looked at the historical ruins and relics, I couldn't help wondering what our ancestors did or what stories the relics hold."
Studying archaeology of own volition
Like Zeng, an increasing number of Chinese students have opted to pursue archaeology driven by their own passion in recent years, while parents have grown more open to the idea of allowing their children to explore the realm of "digging the ground."
Confirming the surging popularity of archaeology as a major, Qin Ling, an associate professor at the PKU school of archaeology and museology, said that the number of graduate students pursuing archaeology has significantly increased in recent years.
PKU graduates who select archaeology as their major come from diverse undergraduate backgrounds, including history, mathematics and psychology, said Qin.
In southwest China's Sichuan Province, 555 students applied for graduate archaeology programs at Sichuan University in 2022, an increase of 46 percent from the figure in 2020.
Fu Jie, a doctoral candidate from Sichuan University, is sorting through cultural relics from the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
He said he was fascinated by the experience of traveling between his study, the field and labs to solve an academic problem.
"By examining historical documents and participating in archaeological excavation, I can look into the lives of not only key historical figures but also the many ordinary people who once lived," Fu said.
"As archaeological professionals, it is our responsibility and mission to share the stories we uncover from history with the public," Fu added.
Changes in society
Noting that a considerable portion of archaeological students in his generation had been "passive" before starting their academic studies, Li Yingfu, professor at the university's college of history and culture (tourism), said that there have been great changes in the societal foundation of archaeology.
As the economy develops and living standards improve, Chinese people have a strong desire to explore their own culture and history, said Li.
China registered 382 more museums in 2022, bringing the total number of museums nationwide to 6,565 as of last year, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration. The museums hosted 34,000 exhibitions and nearly 230,000 educational activities during 2022, receiving 578 million visitors.
In September 2023, China inaugurated a national archaeological museum. The museum exhibits more than 6,000 pieces of relics in a unique "warehouse" style, and offers an immersive experience for visitors.
"Being here is like reliving history," said Dai Yihua, one of the first visitors to the museum. "I feel from my heart the profoundness of Chinese culture."
Echoing the increasing public attention to history and traditional culture, China has formulated an ambitious archaeological plan stretching until 2025.
Research is underway into the origin and early development of Chinese civilization, the origin and evolution of East Asian populations, and underwater sites, among other key fields.
The country also plans to build national archaeological laboratories with international influence and competitiveness, eight to 10 regional labs, and 20 national archaeological specimen warehouses in key regions.
By 2025, China will cultivate and select 100 academic leaders, 100 young leaders and 500 leading researchers in the field of archaeology, and the number of archaeological researchers in the country is expected to exceed 10,000, according to the plan.
Archaeology matters
Universities and colleges are improving their archaeological programs.
The college of history and culture (tourism), Sichuan University, is diversifying its academic directions to cater to the interests of students, according to Lyu Hongliang, dean of the college.
"We have programs with a variety of focuses including historical archaeology, archaeometry, laboratory work and cultural relic preservation," said Lyu, adding that cooperation with local institutions has been closer in recent years to promote efforts to build more fieldwork bases for undergraduates and graduates.
As China strives to become a leading country in terms of culture, archaeology as a subject has become more indispensable than ever, said experts.
According to Qin, archaeology plays an important role in boosting cultural confidence. "Archaeology provides us with tangible evidence of how our traditions were passed down through generations and the achievements of our ancestors," she said, adding that it can enhance the sense of solidarity in Chinese society like no other subject.
Similarly, history is also an important source of inspiration when people look for solutions to problems in the present day. "When we look back at our history, we may discover different angles from which to look at many of the conundrums we face today, and it can help us deal with the problems confidently and calmly," Qin said.
Zeng is optimistic about the development of archaeology in China and has already chalked out a plan for her future studies. "I hope to study archaeometry and make greater contributions to the country's archaeology."
