Zuojiang Huashan
China · Asia · ✦ UNESCO World Heritage Site
The world's biggest single panel of rock art on dramatic limestone cliffs, colored brilliantly in red.
Age
~2,500 yrs
Period
Warring States to Eastern Han
Setting
Open-air
Art form
Paintings
Discovered
1956
Status
Open (Boat Tours)
Located on steep cliffs cut by the Zuojiang River in southwest China, these 38 sites were created by the Luoyue people between the 5th century BC and the 2nd century AD. The largest panel covers 8,000 square meters and contains 1,951 motifs, heavily featuring squatting human figures and bronze drums. The vibrant red pigments were mixed with minerals and oxalic acid from local plants to prevent fading over two millennia.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ 1,951 motifs on the largest panel
- ◦ 8,000-square-meter cliff canvas
- ◦ Vibrant red mineral pigments
Depicted Subjects
Squatting Human FiguresBronze DrumsDogsKnives
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.