China excavates Upper Capital of Liao Dynasty

The archaeological excavation team formed by archaeologists from the Archaeological Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Culture Relics Archaeological Institute of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is excavating the Qiande Gate of the royal city at Upper Capital of the Liao dynasty, which was founded by a minority group called the Qidan more than 1,000 years ago.
The excavation area is reportedly about 2,000 square meters. This marks the first time China has carried out a large-scale excavation of the Upper Capital of the Liao dynasty. This excavation focuses on the investigation of the shape and structure of the Qiande Gate of the Liao dynasty.
The Upper Capital of the Liao dynasty, located in what is now Balinzuo County of Chifeng City in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, was found in A.D. 918 and was used by the Jin dynasty. After more than 300 years, it was abandoned in the early years of the Yuan dynasty.
Surrounded by a 7-meter wall, the Upper Capital has an area of 13.5 square kilometers, where all the buildings are large in size. The Upper Capital was divided into two parts: Imperial City and City of Han ethnic group. In the former there are palaces and government offices, and the Qiande Gate, excavated this time, is western gate city.