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During 1970s, the residential remains of the Yangshao Period were discovered at the Dadiwan site in Qin’an County, Gansu Province, China. With carbon-14 dating, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal expansion analyzer, polarizing microscope (PLM), and X ray diffraction (XRD), the microstructures and chemical compositions of the pottery shard, floor materials of the housing site, kunkur, calcined kunkur, ginger nut (calcium concretion) from the Dadiwan site were analyzed and researched. Analysis and simulation tests were also carried out to study the hydratability of calcined ginger nut and calcined kunkur, and the manufacturing process of the residential floors. The research shows that the floor was made of a light concrete formed by the mixture of aggregate of calcinated ginger nut (locally deposited), red clay and kunkur. The dicalcium silicate (C2S) from the floor material of the housing site is one of the main constituents of modern cement, and the floor is also similar to modern concrete in nature. Therefore, the floor material of the housing site at the Dadiwan site was the earliest man-made concrete in the world ever discovered.

The Silk Road played an important role in the economic and cultural exchanges between central China, Europe and Central Asia. A number of heritage sites with significant values still remain throughout the Gobi Desert and other desert regions in Northwest China. Most of the heritage sites composed of adobeern materials and the earthen structures have been impacted by adverse environmental conditions for thousands of years causing severe damage with only a small proportion of the structures left surviving to the present day. Analysis of the main environmental factors affecting the heritage sites such as temperature difference, wind storms, rain storms, and the freeze–thaw process and a study of the mechanism of the deterioration are the main topics presented in this paper. The authors have concluded that a Potassium–Silica solution PS invented by one of the authors has been effective in improving the intrinsic properties of heritage site earthen structures with regard to reducing the impact of environmental damage. The results of comparative tests show that samples treated by using the PS solution have performed well, particularly in protecting structures from aeolian erosion and heavy rainfall. Some findings on the effect of PS treatment on earthen structures at heritage sites are discussed in detail in the present paper.

Mogao Grottos are located at the eastern foot of the Mingsha Mountain, 25 km southeast of Dunhuang City. The caves were excavated into the cliff on the west bank of the Daquan River. The wall paintings in the caves are subject to the severe deterioration generated by recrystallization of salt. It relates with the movement of water/moisture in rock formation. Through the satellite image analysis and geological survey, it has been clarified that the movement of ground water is governed by the fault system. The geographical nature is specified by the aggressive tectonic movement from the south.