Jilin University's academic translation team poses for a group photo with international professors. [Photo/Jilin University]

The academic translation team of Jilin University's School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, led by Professor Pan Haiying, has made remarkable efforts to advance the national cultural export strategy and the university's academic internationalization drive, building a bridge between Chinese archaeology and the world with high-quality translations that have gained wide recognition from the international community.

The team's debut translation, The Metal Road of the Eastern Eurasian Steppe by Professor Yang Jianhua from the university's School of Archaeology, was selected as a National Social Science Fund Project for the Translation of Chinese Academic Works Abroad and published by Springer Nature in 2020. Praised by Professor Nicola Di Cosmo from the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton as "a significant new contribution to the research on archaeological sites of the Eurasian steppe", the work was also listed among the "Top 10 Academic Achievements in Cultural Heritage of the Silk Road in 2020".

Based on this cooperation, Springer Nature signed a publishing agreement with Jilin University in 2023 for the "Jilin University Archaeological Research" series, the first university-level open access (OA) book cooperation project of its kind in China. "We are delighted to partner with Jilin University to disseminate its latest research in this advantageous discipline and deepen Sino-foreign scientific and cultural exchanges," said Dr. Niels Peter Thomas, president of Springer Nature Greater China.

Under the agreement, Springer will publish the series long-term, with Jilin University supporting high-quality East Asian archaeology research and the translation team taking full responsibility for the translations. The first four books have completed peer review: the first volume, Archaeological Research on Cultures in Northeast China from the Xia to the Warring States Period by Professor Zhao Binfu, was released in 2025, and Archaeological Research on Ceramics of the Liao Dynasty by Professor Peng Shanguo will be published in 2026.

The "Jilin University Archaeological Research" series. [Photo/Jilin University]

Cai Lidong, vice-president of Jilin University, said the university hopes to build the series into a brand, enhance the international influence of its archaeology discipline, and expand overseas translation research. The team will continue to refine its professional capabilities to promote Chinese achievements globally and contribute to building an international discourse system for Chinese archaeology.