Yangshao Culture, distributed mainly in the Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, southern Hebei and eastern Gansu Provinces, is a culture belonging to the late Neolithic Age. Extant from 5,000 BC to 3,000 BC, its name is derived from the first-known Yangshao Culture site - Yangshao Village in Yinchi County, Henan Province. Over a thousand Yangshao Culture sites have been found including the Banpo Site in Xian, and Jiangzhai at Lintong County, Shanxi Province. As Shanxi possesses the most Yangshao Culture sites, it is regarded as the center of this culture.

The art of pottery is one of the achievements during this period. Red pottery ware including cooking vessels, bowls, cups, and jars were made by hand. Another characteristic of the pottery during this time is the painted patterns and animal lines. One of the pottery masterpieces is the famous basin with a human face and fish patterns at Banpo Village in Xian, Shaanxi Province.

Yangshao Culture gives priority to agriculture; the main crops are millet and chestnuts. Fishing, hunting and collecting assisted farming to some extent. Pigs and dogs were raised as livestock. Tools were used mainly for grinding. Refined grind stone axes, shovels, millstones, arrows, and harpoons etc were commonly used.

Villages were of different sizes. Some large ones were of strict layouts such as Jiangzhai Village. The village is divided into dwelling places and grave area by dikes. Five architecture groups were scattered around a center square each of which had many houses.

Humans during this period belonged to different clans. They worked collectively and allotted treasures evenly. Women played a leading role both in manufacturing and in daily life.