Liu Bin

Archaeologist Liu Bin, known for his leadership in the discovery of the Liangzhu ruins, is currently facing legal proceedings for corruption. On May 20, 2026, at the Suichang County People’s Court in Zhejiang, Liu pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and embezzlement. Prosecutors allege that between 2009 and 2021, while serving at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Liu accepted over 4.65 million yuan in bribes in exchange for awarding cultural relic protection and archaeological contracts. He is also accused of embezzling 300,000 yuan in research funds by inflating costs for a documentary project. Liu was detained on December 2, 2025, and formally arrested on February 25, 2026. His defense team argued that certain payments received after he left his institute role should be considered disciplinary violations rather than criminal bribery. The court has not yet announced a verdict. Prior to these charges, Liu held a distinguished career and received national recognition for his archaeological contributions.