Xichengyi culture

The Xichengyi culture (Ch:西城驿文化) was an ancient culture in the central Heihe River region of the Hexi corridor, from 2,000 to 1,600 BCE. It is contemporary with the Qijia culture to its southeast. It succeeded the Majiayao culture (2,300–2,000 BCE) in the area, and preceded the Siba culture.

Some of its important archaeological sites are Xichengyi, Ganggangwa (where there are also some earlier Machang culture remains), and Huoshiliang (exclusively Xichengyi culture).

The Xichengyi culture practiced bronze smelting extensively, as seen by the quantity of slabs and furnace material (adobe constructions with blast pipes). The copper ore was from the neighbouring Beishan Mountain.