The site includes a walled city with palatial complexes, ceremonial areas, and an intricate hydraulic system, indicative of a highly developed society with centralised governance.

[6] Existing from approximately 3300 to 2300 BCE, the city was ultimately abandoned, and the civilisation collapsed due to extensive flooding linked to climate change.

[11] In 1936, when Shi Xingeng of the West Lake Museum excavated the Gudang site near the Laohe Hill, he was reminded of similar black pottery and stone tools that he had seen in his hometown, Liangzhu.

[12] In 1973, the discovery of sophisticated jade artefacts from elite tombs of Liangzhu culture astonished archaeologists, as these items were determined to be approximately 5,000 years old, much earlier than previous expectations.

In 1987, rumours of jade at the nearby Yaoshan graveyard drew thousands of farmers who began looting the tombs until police and archaeologists intervened.

The East Tiaoxi River flows through the site from the southwest to the northeast, creating an extensive network of waterways interspersed with small mounds.

The low-lying terrain of the C-shaped basin provides direct access to Taihu Lake to the northeast, forming a key transport route and significant rice-producing area.

This system, considered the earliest known large-scale water management project in the world, controlled an area of nearly 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi), encompassing the city and its surroundings.

The city exercised control over more than 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi) of the basin, which hosted over 100 Liangzhu cultural sites of varying significance.

[14] The archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City consists of four sites, which are interconnected through shared social and cultural ties, forming a continuous chronology.

Collectively, they create a coherent heritage property within an area of 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi), unified by a single buffer zone of 9,980.29 hectares (24,661.8 acres).

The city is notable for its fortified walls featuring water and land gates, terraces, and an interconnected system of natural and artificial waterways.

[3] Within the city are significant cemeteries such as Fanshan and Jiangjiashan, where a total of 4,229 jade artefacts were discovered, showcasing the cultural and artistic sophistication of Liangzhu.

[6] The Low-dam on the Plain and the Causeway in Front of the Mountains, built simultaneously with the city, form a cohesive water management system spanning approximately 349.24 hectares (863.0 acres).

The low dams were built over swampy land with a base layer of iron-depleted, whitish clay due to long-term water saturation.

"[18] The main structure of the Yaoshan Altar is made from sandy red soil at the summit of the mountain, forming a rectangular, bucket-shaped earthen platform bordered by a stone-covered edge.

The exhibitions incorporate advanced technologies like VR, AR, 3D-printed models, physical simulations, and ecological signposting to create an immersive and engaging visitor experience.