Archaeologists have uncovered a wealth of ancient cultural remains at the Chenghu site in Suzhou, spanning more than 4,000 years—from the earliest Neolithic Songze culture to the Song dynasty. Among these findings are paddy-field remains dating to a period between the Majiabang and Liangzhu cultures; if confirmed as rice‑paddy sites, they would fill an important archaeological gap in the Taihu Plain for this particular phase.

The Chenghu Site was discovered in 1974 during land‑reclamation efforts undertaken by the Chefang Commune to convert lake areas into farmland. At that time, archaeologists excavated more than 150 features, but no large‑scale fieldwork has been conducted since. In 2003, in preparation for the construction of the Suzhou–Shanghai Expressway, the Wuzhong District Water Resources Bureau drained approximately 15,000 mu of water from the northeastern part of Chenghu Lake to extract soil, uncovering numerous pits beneath the surface. The discovery was promptly reported to the cultural relics administration. The Suzhou Museum, together with relevant departments, formed a joint archaeological team, which arrived at the site on September 26 to conduct a preliminary survey and immediately launched emergency rescue excavations. According to Ding Jinlong, the team leader, the area yielding the greatest concentration of ancient cultural remains lies along the lakeshore in Guoxiang Village, Luzhi Town, within the Chenghu Site. To date, the team has identified over 850 archaeological features, including ancient wells, ash pits, ditches, residential structures, and paddy fields, while also recovering abundant animal and plant remains as well as everyday utensils and agricultural tools. These features are densely distributed, spanning a chronological range from the Neolithic Songze Culture period to the Song Dynasty—more than 4,000 years in total. With the exception of the Xia Dynasty, virtually every era preceding the Song can be traced through the material evidence left behind. Such long‑spanning archaeological sequences are exceedingly rare.

Among these archaeological remains, the discovery of paddy‑field sites is particularly significant. The paddy fields date to a period that predates the Liangzhu culture and postdates the Majiabang culture. Archaeologists have determined that the irrigation system of this era was more advanced and sophisticated than that of the Majiabang period: the individual plots were markedly larger, with the smallest exceeding one square meter and the largest measuring twenty to thirty square meters; their spatial arrangement featured varying elevations; and the water inlets were considerably more pronounced and substantial than those found at Majiabang sites. Moreover, the pond edges were equipped with distinct steps, facilitating water access for irrigation when upstream supplies proved insufficient. According to Ding Jinlong, preliminary evidence suggests that these paddy fields were dedicated to rice cultivation; if confirmed, this would fill an important archaeological gap in the Taihu Plain, documenting rice‑paddy sites from a phase between the Majiabang and Liangzhu cultures.

The discovery of such a large number of ancient cultural remains in this area of the Chenghu site, spanning an exceptionally long chronological range, indicates that the region was well suited to human habitation at the time. This land was a fertile and cherished place for laborers, with numerous sites vividly reflecting the daily lives and agricultural activities of ordinary people. Meanwhile, the Taihu Plain is characterized by a dense network of waterways, whose influence endures to this day; yet wells remain relatively abundant in this area. The reasons behind this pattern are themselves a question worthy of further investigation.