Liao Qingshou City

Liao Qingshou City

Liao Qingshou City is located on the alluvial plain north of the Chaganmuren River in Sobugie Sumu, Bairin Right Banner. It served as the ceremonial city for the imperial mausoleums of three generations of Liao emperors — Emperor Shengzong, Emperor Xingzong, and Emperor Daozong. It lies 30 li north of the Qingshan Mountain Liao Qingshou Tombs. Qingshou was an important city during the height of the Liao Dynasty.

The city is made up of an outer and an inner section, laid out in a square within a square formation. The outer city measures 1,700 meters from north to south and 1,550 meters from east to west, with rammed earth walls. The inner city is centrally located within the outer city and is relatively well-preserved. It spans 1,150 meters north to south and 950 meters east to west, with wall remnants standing between 4 to 4.25 meters high. Every 100–110 meters, there is a watchtower (or bastion), and each of the four walls has one gate that is 20 meters wide. Outside each gate is a square barbican, 30 meters wide and 22 meters long.

In the northern part of the inner city lies the ruins of a palace complex, with the main hall measuring 42 meters east to west and 30 meters north to south. Historical records state that Empress Shengzong resided here to guard the imperial tombs. Qingshou had a temporary imperial palace where the Liao emperors often stayed. Along the central axis of the main architectural complex runs a broad street, 17 meters wide, leading straight to the southern gate. Other large-scale structures such as government offices, workshops, temples, and streets still have clearly visible remains. Within the city, water channels encircling the buildings, exquisite rockeries, and artificial ponds have been discovered, showing that Qingshou City’s prosperity rivaled or surpassed that of other Liao-era prefectural cities. In the northwest corner of the inner city stands a seven-story, hollow, octagonal brick pagoda known as the “Shakyamuni Relic Pagoda,” which is seven stories tall and completely preserved, representing a masterpiece of Liao Dynasty architecture. In front of the pagoda is a small Qing Dynasty pagoda, and the surrounding area contains the ruins of temple buildings. In the northeast corner is a smaller enclosure, 400 meters north to south and 300 meters east to west, which is the site of the Jin Dynasty’s Fengzhou City.

After the fall of the Liao Dynasty, the Jin initially retained the name Qingshou, but in the eighth year of the Tianhui era (1130), it was renamed Fengzhou. After the third year of Huangtong (1143), it gradually fell into ruin.

Qingshou is located in the Heishan (now Da Han Mountain) region, the site where Liao emperors held grand mountain worship ceremonies. Among all Liao prefectures, it was the wealthiest and also a renowned scenic area in the Liao era, holding significant importance in Liao Dynasty history.

In 1963, it was approved and announced by the People’s Government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as one of the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in the autonomous region. In 1986, the State Council designated both Qingshou and the Qingshou Tombs as national key cultural relics protection units.

Yelü Longxu (January 16, 972 – June 25, 1031), the sixth emperor of the Liao Dynasty (reigned 983–1031), had the Khitan name Wenshunu. He was the eldest son of Emperor Jingzong Yelü Xian.

In the fourth year of the Qianheng era (982), he succeeded to the throne and adopted the reign title Tonghe, changing the state title back to Khitan. His mother, Empress Dowager Chengtian Xiao Yanyan, acted as regent according to his late father’s will. Officials such as Xiao Pusuwan, Han Derang, Yelü Xiezhen, and Yelü Xiuge assisted him. He managed to harmonize the Khitan nobility, employed Han Chinese scholar-officials, actively addressed systemic issues, and carried out legal reforms. In the fourth year of Tonghe (986), Liao forces decisively defeated the Song Dynasty’s northern expedition army... More details on Yelü Longxu ++

Yelü Zongzhen (1016?–1055), Khitan name Zhigu, courtesy name Yibuqin, was the eldest son of Emperor Shengzong Yelü Longxu, born to Empress Qin’ai Xiao Nuojin. He was the seventh emperor of the Liao Dynasty, reigning from 1031 to 1055.

Yelü Zongzhen was born on February 23, 1016, in the fifth year of the Kaipai era, and was raised by Empress Qitian Xiao Posuoge. As an adult, he was knowledgeable in music and fond of Confucian teachings, with a magnanimous character. In the seventh year of Kaipai (1018), on the fifth day of the fifth month, the three-year-old Yelü Zongzhen was named Prince of Liang. In the eleventh month of the first year of Taiping (1021) on the tenth day... More details on Yelü Zongzhen ++

Emperor Daozong of Liao, Yelü Hongji (September 14, 1032 – February 12, 1101), courtesy name Nielin, childhood name Chala, was the eldest son of Emperor Xingzong Yelü Zongzhen and Empress Renyi Xiao Tali. He was the eighth emperor of the Liao Dynasty.

In the 24th year of the Chongxi era, he ascended the throne and adopted the reign title Qingning. After taking the throne, he honored his uncle, Yelü Chongyuan (brother of Emperor Xingzong), as Grand Uncle of the Emperor and granted him the title of Grand Marshal of All Armed Forces. In the ninth year of Qingning (1063), Yelü Chongyuan conspired to seize the throne. Upon receiving a secret report, Yelü Hongji dispatched Yelü Renxian and Yelü Yixin to suppress the rebellion, leading to Yelü Chongyuan’s defeat and suicide. In the second year of Xianyong (1066), the state title was changed to Great Liao (it had been called Liao since 983)... More details on Yelü Hongji ++