“中华第一龙”
“中华第一龙”是指在河南省濮阳市一处早期仰韶文化遗址中发现的蚌壳龙形图案，此龙昂首、曲颈、弓身、长尾，前爪扒、后爪蹬，状似腾飞。经中国社会科学院考古研究所测定，蚌龙的年代约为公元前4600年，遂被称为“中华第一龙”。
中国是龙的故乡，“中华第一龙”的发现不仅为中国的龙形象找到了源头，而且在龙文化研究上有多方面的重要意义。龙文化源远流长，是中国文化的突出符号。中国历代正史记载的龙事件大概有三百多起，其他类型的文献更是丰富。龙文化深入到了中国社会的各个角落，影响波及了文化的各个层面。龙装饰、龙雕刻、舞龙、二月二龙抬头、龙须面、龙舟赛等，都是几千年来流行于民间的龙文化。
龙作为中华民族的象征，数千年来已深深扎根于中国人的心中，形成了具有强大凝聚力的龙文化。对现代中国人来说，龙的形象是一种符号、一种血肉相联的情感，“龙的子孙”“龙的传人”这些称谓，令中国人激动、奋发、自豪。龙的文化除在中华大地上传播和承继外，还被海外华人广泛传播，增进了世界各国人民对中华文化的了解和认同。
No. 1 Dragon in China
This refers to the dragon-shaped pattern laid out with clamshells at an early Yangshao Culture site in Puyang, Henan Province. The dragon has a raised head, a curvy neck, an arched body, and a long tail, and it looks ready to soar with its front and rear claws pushing the ground. The Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences dated the clamshell dragon at around 4600 BC, hence the name the "No. 1 dragon in China."
Dragons play an important role in the Chinese culture. In addition to unveiling the origin of the dragon image in China, the discovery of the clamshell dragon has multifold significance for the study of the long-standing dragon culture, which is a prominent token of the Chinese culture. Official historical documents have recorded more than 300 dragon-related events, not to mention numerous records in other forms. The dragon culture, having enjoyed wide popularity for thousands of years, is embedded in every aspect of Chinese society and culture, as manifested in such forms as dragon-themed adornments, carvings, dances, festivals, noodles, and boating races.
Dragon, as a symbol of the Chinese nation, has evolved into a culture that holds the Chinese people together. For modern Chinese, it stands for a bond of flesh and blood, and terms like "offspring of the dragon" and "descendants of the dragon" fill them with aspiration and pride. Not only being inherited and promoted at home, the dragon culture is also widely spread by overseas Chinese, helping the rest of the world better understand China and its culture.
