Deepening comprehensive reform is the focus of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China underway in Beijing this month. Cultural confidence is an indispensable part of this process. Our reporter GUO TIANQI visits the famous Sanxingdui Museum in southwest China's Sichuan Province, to see how Chinese people are strengthening their ties to culture and history.

Twenty-nine-year-old archaeologist Xu Danyang has been working in Sanxingdui for four years. Some culture relics he found in the second excavation are being restored here. But for his generation, archaeology is no longer about the past, but about the future.

XU DANYANG Researcher, Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology "With the development of archaeological sciences, we often obtain information from the microscopic level, from the soil. So, our mission is to protect Sanxingdui and leave more material for future research."

The Sanxingdui civilization existed anywhere between 4,800 and 2,800 years ago and has been a highly prosperous and well-organized one. Its cultural relics have gained a lot of admirers for their unique and imaginative shapes – many of which are even quite modern.

GUO TIANQI Deyang, Sichuan Province "This is a multifunctional pottery tripod cooking vessel. Experts estimate that about 3,000 years ago, people used to light a fire underneath this vessel – the soup was cooked in the tripod, while the rim was used to as a barbecue grill. Does it ring a bell? Yes. It's very likely to be a prehistoric hotpot."

"I'm from Harbin. I have just finished my exams. I think the ancient people's spiritual life was very colorful. Their aesthetic has a lot in common with us."

Sanxingdui is an important part of the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization, initiated 20 years ago. It's a state-backed, interdisciplinary project.

YU JIAN Deputy Director, Sanxingdui Museum "In addition to the shapes, Sanxingdui's worship and etiquette systems are similar to ancient cultures from Central China, which also proves there was an exchange between civilizations."

Origin is of crucial importance to a nation like China, whose ultimate goal of deepening comprehensive reform is to develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. And these characteristics originate from China's unique and long history.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had also emphasized that cultural relic protection and restoration is a long-term task during his visit to Sanxingdui Museum last July.

In the past 10 years, Chinese archaeology has made huge progress. More than 8,800 projects were initiated. The Liangzhu civilization, which existed 5,000 years ago, was proven to be the first Chinese state civilization.

The earliest Chinese language was known as the Oracle – 3,600 years ago. But the ancient written language in Liangzhu even pre-dates the Oracle.

CAI SHANGWEI Professor, Sichuan University "For thousands of years, our spiritual values have always been very unified. Young people love traditional culture, which plays an important role in enhancing cultural self-confidence and building a community with a shared future for mankind."

XU DANYANG Researcher, Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology "Our ancestors passed down their values and skills through these bronze items – still considered very exquisite and vivid. I think this is just an evidence of the long-standing tradition of Chinese civilization."

Upholding the spirit of innovation and creativity, China's rich cultural relics will certainly draw more young people to archaeology and help them realize their dreams.