Rock paintings tell ancient stories of China, Kazakhstan

On the steep cliffs of the border regions of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the Luoyue people, ancestors of the Zhuang ethnic group, left their primitive painting works on the rock thousands of years ago. Around 3,000 kilometers away in Tanbaly, Kazakhstan, a large number of petroglyphs dot ancient residences and tombs, showing how people lived, worked, and organized religious customs many centuries ago.

These two historical sites, both included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, are precious relics left by the two populations' respective ancestors. Illustrating two very different civilizations, the rock art sites in China and Kazakhstan bear many differences, yet they also bear uncanny resemblances in certain aspects. A closer inspection of these two heritage sites shows how far-removed civilizations can hint at similar pasts.