Pingtan, an international tourism island off the coast of Fujian province, officially launched its 2025 "Austronesian Culture Month" at the Keqiutou Site Museumon Sept. 13. The event will feature a series of activities aimed at raising public awareness of the island's unique cultural heritage.

The launch event included a lecture by Fan Xuechun, director of the Pingtan International Austronesian Research Institute, titled "Pingtan and the Austronesian Peoples." He delved into the island's unique geography and local customs, outlining its place in the history of the Maritime Silk Road and the migration of the Austronesian people.

Subsequently, participants toured the museum's exhibition halls, where they explored recreated scenes of ancient life, including displays of stone tools, pottery, and migration route maps. The tour offered a deep dive into the wisdom and historical journey of the Austronesian ancestors.

According to Wu Lanping, an assistant curator at the museum, the month-long event will also feature exhibitions, academic lectures, interactive workshops, and educational programs. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the origins, migration, cultural traditions, and ancient craftsmanship of the Austronesian peoples, fostering public interest in cultural heritage preservation and research.

The Keqiutou site is a crucial source for studying the origins of Austronesian-speaking peoples, with archaeological findings suggesting a strong connection between the prehistoric cultures of the Chinese mainland's southeastern coast and those on the island of Taiwan.