Ancient cliff paintings found in NW China

XINING - Chinese archeologists have found eight sites of cliff paintings in the Tongtian River basin in Northwest China's Qinghai province, local authorities said Tuesday.

The paintings are scattered across eight sites along the river in the source region of the Yangtze River in the province's Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture.

The earliest cliff paintings of the newly-discovered eight sites date back around 2,600 years.

The paintings include images of humans, vehicles, animals and symbols.

"The unique images and symbols including towers and warriors leave a deep impression on me," said Jamyang Nyima, head of the Yushu research institute of history and culture.

He added that the findings will help with studies of human history, art, culture and religion on the ancient Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

So far, 59 sites of 3,400 cliff paintings have been discovered along the Tongtian River, according to the archaeologists.