A leading Chinese archaeologist, Feng Shi, claims that Chinese civilisation is 8,000 years old. This challenges the usual view that it began around 5,000 years ago. Feng, part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made this case in an article on the Chinese Social Sciences Net website. He says the start of civilisation should be linked to early astronomy, not just the rise of states. Ancient Chinese societies 8,000 years ago already practiced precise astronomical observation and used timekeeping for farming. Feng argues civilisational origins and state formation are different topics. His views have sparked debate. Some critics warn that the new timeline may be shaped by political motives. They question if the definition of civilisation is being changed to stretch China’s history. Still, Feng’s research sheds new light on how early Chinese cultures advanced, highlighting their impressive knowledge of astronomy at a very ancient time.