Ancient Tombs from the Liao Dynasty

Ancient Tombs from the Liao Dynasty

The ancient tombs from the Liao Dynasty are a cultural tourism attraction.

The Shiyang Shihu Ancient Tombs of the Liao Dynasty, commonly known as the Dashibei Stone Statues, are located in Shiyang Shihu Village, Huangtuliangzi, Dashibei Township. Covering an area of approximately 15,000 square meters, with a width of 150 meters from east to west and a length of 100 meters from north to south, they are recorded in the *Lingyuan County Annals* as a cluster of ancient tombs from the Liao Dynasty. There are currently nine surviving stone statues—sheep, tigers, and human figures—all carved from granite. Based on their arrangement, they can be divided into three groups: the western group consists of a pair of stone tigers facing each other; 300 meters east of this group is the middle group, aligned in a north-south line, consisting from north to south of a stone tiger (approximately 1.04 meters tall), a stone sheep (approximately 0.6 meters tall), a stone tiger (approximately 0.94 meters tall), and a stone sheep (approximately 0.45 meters tall); 20 meters south of this group is the third group, which features two stone tomb guardians (wengzhong) facing each other from east to west, both over two meters tall—one representing a civil official holding a tablet, the other a military official holding a sword, with a distance of 6 meters between them. According to archaeologists, this site was likely a burial ground for the Liao Dynasty, and based on the layout, the tomb owners were likely of high rank, such as prime ministers or princes. A square stone coffin lid with a hip-and-gable roof design was also unearthed to the north of the site.

The Shiyang Shihu Ancient Tombs of the Liao Dynasty hold significant importance for the study of ancient Chinese history, culture, art, ethnic heritage, and architecture. After renovation, the site has now been developed into an Ancient Tombs of the Liao Dynasty Heritage Park.

Dashibei Town: Dashibei Township is located in the southwestern part of Lingyuan City, at the junction of two provinces (Liaoning and Hebei) and three counties/cities (Lingyuan, Pingquan, and Kuancheng). It administers 12 village committees: Nanliuzhangzi, Yangshugoumen, Miaobei, Xiguozhangzi, Yushugou, Dashibei, Huangtuliangzi, Shidonggou, Wei Zhangzi, Song Zhangzi, Wafang, and Xihe Zhangzi, with a total population of 19,800. The township covers an area of 175.8 square kilometers, including 25,600 mu of arable land and 140,000 mu of forested land, of which 440 mu are pristine forest, resulting in a forest coverage rate of 65.4%. It has been designated as a nature reserve by the provincial government... More detailed information about Dashibei Town++