Chinese Archaeologist Liu Bin, Known for Work at Liangzhu Site, Pleads Guilty to Corruption and Misappropriation Charges
Chinese archaeologist Liu Bin, known for his work at the Liangzhu ancient city site in Zhejiang, pleaded guilty on May 20 to bribery and embezzlement charges, according to Caixin Global. Prosecutors alleged he accepted more than 4.65 million yuan (about $690,000) in bribes between 2009 and 2021 in exchange for helping secure approvals for cultural relic protection and archaeological exploration projects, and that he embezzled 300,000 yuan (about $45,000) from a Liangzhu-related research project; he was detained in December 2025 and arrested in February, and no penalty has yet been announced. Liu joined the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in 1985, oversaw excavation of Liangzhu Tomb No. 12 in 1986, and helped discover the city ruins in 2007, later contributing to Liangzhu’s UNESCO World Heritage bid; he joined Zhejiang University in 2020. The case includes allegations that he steered contracts to Shaanxi Longteng Cultural Relics Protection Company and received more than 1.4 million yuan from shareholder Wang Lin, with Caixin reporting Liu used funds as a down payment on a home for his daughter; his attorney argued some payments occurred after Liu left public office and should not qualify as criminal bribery.
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This story was covered in Market Highs, Museum Blowback, and Techno-Dystopias