Site of the Upper Capital of the Liao Dynasty

Site of the Upper Capital of the Liao Dynasty

The Site of the Upper Capital of the Liao Dynasty is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The ancient site of Linhuang Prefecture, the Upper Capital of the Liao Dynasty, was the founding imperial capital of the Liao regime. It is located in the southern suburbs of Lindong Town, Bairin Left Banner, at the confluence of the Ulgur River and the Shali River. Constructed in the third year of the Shence era of the Liao Dynasty (918 AD).

The Upper Capital was expansive and majestic, with a perimeter of 13.5 kilometers. It was divided into a northern and a southern city—the northern being the Imperial City and the southern the Han City—connected in the shape of the Chinese character “日” (sun/day).

The Imperial City, where palaces and government offices were located, had a perimeter of 6,344 meters. Its walls were built from rammed earth, standing 6–10 meters high with remnants, 12–16 meters wide, and featuring earthen layers 15–18 centimeters thick, with trapezoidal cross-sections. Forty-three beacon towers (mǎmiàn) were built along the outer walls. All four sides had city gates: the eastern gate called Andong, the southern called Dashun, the western called Qiande, and the northern called Gongchen. Currently, three gate ruins have gaps, while the southern gate no longer exists. Outside each gate was a barbican, with remnants 4–6 meters high. Outside the city lay a wide and imposing moat surrounding the Upper Capital, spanning 13.5 kilometers with a northern Imperial City and southern Han City. Beyond the moat were protective embankments.

The Imperial City consisted of an outer city and an inner city (known as the Danei, or “Great Within”). The Danei was situated on a high platform slightly north of the center of the Imperial City, commonly referred to as the Forbidden City. It was rectangular in shape, aligned from north to south, and housed palace sites such as the Kaikai, Ande, and Wuluan halls, forming the main palace area of the Imperial City. The Kaikai Hall was built inside the Chengtian Gate of the Danei and served as the venue where Khitan rulers received envoys from the Central Plains and held major ceremonies.

The outer city was home to government offices, temples, and residences of imperial consorts, with many architectural ruins. The southeastern corner was a temple complex, where the ruins of the Tianxiong Temple remain. To the southwest was the Chongxiao Temple, built by Empress Chengtian, followed to the west by the Tiangchang Taoist Temple, then further southwest the Imperial College (Guozijian), with the Confucius Temple to its north, and the Jieyi Temple to the east of the Confucius Temple. A "Wrist-Cutting Tower" was erected inside the Jieyi Temple in memory of Empress Jieyi cutting off her own wrist. Further northwest was the Anguo Temple, with the residences of imperial consorts such as Empress Qitian located to its east. Other sites such as the Shengni Temple, Lingmian Workshop, and the Neishengsi administrative buildings also have vestiges that can be traced. The main southern street of the city connected to the Han City, laid out in a grid pattern with stone-paved roads and drainage ditches on either side.

On the surface of the Imperial City lies a stone-carved statue of Guanyin, standing 4.2 meters tall. Its head is missing, but it wears celestial robes, stands on a lotus pedestal, and has both hands extended forward as if holding a peach. Though damaged, the smooth carving technique is still evident, making it a precious piece of Liao Dynasty stone art.

The Han City, located south of the Imperial City, had a perimeter of 11.5 li and primarily served as the residential area for commoners of both Khitan and Han ethnicities, as well as workshops and official guesthouses. In addition to county government offices, the city also hosted the “Huihu Camp,” “Tongwen Post,” and “Linhuang Post” to accommodate merchants and envoys from various countries. Today, the Imperial City and the Han City are separated by the Shali River, with much of their walls eroded. The Han City was converted into farmland long ago, though building remains can still be seen. Discovered workshops and iron smelting sites provide reliable material evidence for studying the economy and culture of the Liao Dynasty.

The surface of the Upper Capital is rich in scattered relics. In recent years, a large number of merchant workshop seals, silver ingots from the Northern Song Dynasty, hoarded coins, ceramics, aluminum bottles, and Khitan silver coins have been unearthed.

In 1120 AD, when the Jin Dynasty first captured the Liao capital, it was renamed Beijing Linhuang Road. In 1153, Linhuang Road was merged into Dadu Road, where a provincial administration office, the Linhuang Road Criminal Justice Office, and the Linhuang Road Transport Office were established, remaining in use for over a hundred years. As it was not a major city and was far from the Jin capital Yanjing, it gradually declined. After the fall of the Jin Dynasty in 1234, the former site of the Upper Capital became a fief for descendants of Yuan Dynasty meritorious officials until it was eventually abandoned. The Upper Capital flourished under the Liao, declined under the Jin, and was abandoned under the Yuan, enduring over 300 years as a famous historical city in northern China. In 1961, it was designated by the State Council as one of the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Yelü Abaoji (872–September 6, 926), of the Yelü clan, personal name Yì, childhood name Chuōlǐzhī, was the founding emperor of the Liao Dynasty. He was a native of Yelü Mili in Xiaseyi Shilie Township, Diele Tribe, and the eldest son of Liao Tede Yelü Sala, with Empress Xuande Xiao as his birth mother.

Yelü Abaoji was brave, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and astute in worldly affairs. He united the other seven Khitan tribes. He employed Han Chinese such as Han Yanhui, established laws, reformed customs, created Khitan culture, and developed agriculture and commerce. In 916 AD (the second year of the Zhenming era of the Later Liang Dynasty), ministers and vassal states bestowed upon him the title of “Great Sage, Great Bright, Divine and Martial Heavenly Emperor.” He established the Shence era. He reigned for two... [More detailed information on Yelü Abaoji++]

Lindong Town: Lindong Town is the seat of the Bairin Left Banner government. Located in the central part of Bairin Left Banner, it is 270 kilometers from Hongshan District, the seat of the Chifeng Municipal People’s Government. It lies between 43°57′–44°00′ north latitude and 119°21′–119°25′ east longitude. To the northeast, it borders Baiyingu, Huajialaga, Fengshuishan, and Shisan’aobao townships; to the southwest, it neighbors Halhada, Hada’yingge, and Baiyinaobao townships. Covering a total area of 366.09 square kilometers, it has 148,800 mu of forestland, with a forest coverage rate of 29.6%. The entire area features a semi-mountainous, semi-plains terrain, with a temperate continental monsoon climate. Annual... [More detailed information on Lindong Town++]

Further Reading:

· First Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units