China News Service, Beijing, September 26. Question: How does the Liulihe site tell the story of Beijing’s archeology?
——Exclusive interview with Zhang Zhonghua, Director of the Beijing Institute of Archeology
China News Service reporter Xu Jing
The 2026 Beijing Cultural Forum was recently held in Beijing. The Liulihe Site Archaeological Research Alliance was established at the forum last year. What research results has the alliance produced in the past year? At what stage is the current archaeological research at the site? China News Service's "East-West Question" conducted an exclusive interview with Zhang Zhonghua, director of the Beijing Institute of Archeology, to discuss the heritage value, archaeological progress and international cooperation of the Liulihe site.
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
Reporter from China News Service: The Liuli River site proves the history of Beijing’s city construction over more than 3,000 years and is known as the “source of Beijing.” How would you summarize the current positioning of the Liulihe site? In the past, people paid more attention to the tombs of high-level nobles, but now they pay more and more attention to the layout of city sites, civilian remains, etc. What does this change mean?
Zhang Zhonghua: The Liulihe site was the first fiefdom and early capital of the Yan Kingdom during the Western Zhou Dynasty. It is one of the few sites in China discovered in the archaeological history of the Western Zhou Dynasty that coexisted with the city sites of vassal states and the cemeteries of vassal states. In Beijing, the Liulihe site is the "earliest city" discovered by archaeology, proving the city's history of more than 3,000 years of construction. It is also a rare large site in Beijing. After years of continuous archaeological excavation, the work is shifting to a stage where archeology, protection, display and utilization are equally emphasized, becoming an important platform for Beijing to carry out international exchanges in the field of archaeology.
The fundamental goal of archeology is to restore the appearance of ancient society. In the past, noble tombs received more attention, often because the unearthed objects were of higher grade and rarer, but archeology pays more attention to the study of settlement layout and urban pattern. Only by understanding how a city selects sites, plans, builds, and divides functional areas can the city be restored. As the mainstream of social life, the importance of civilian life is self-evident.
In recent years, the Liulihe Site Archeology has increased its efforts in excavation and research on architectural sites, ash pits, civilian tombs and other remains, improving its understanding of the basic social organizational structure of the Western Zhou Dynasty. Relevant archaeological results have also been gradually displayed to the public, bringing the life of "ordinary people" in the Yan Kingdom three thousand years ago into the public eye.
This change from paying attention to the tombs of high-ranking nobles to paying attention to the layout of city sites and civilian remains shows that the public has a deeper and deeper understanding of archeology. Everyone pays more attention to its scientific and historical value, which will help the archaeological community pay more attention to settlement layout and its relationship with the environment, and grasp the overall situation of ancient society.
On September 4, 2025, "Taobao Yongyan - Special Exhibition of Fangshan Liulihe Ruins" was displayed at the Capital Museum. Photo by Guo Junfeng, China News Service
Reporter from China News Service: What have been the achievements of the Liulihe Site Archaeological Research Alliance over the past year? The Liuli River has entered the preliminary stage of application for World Heritage. What is the relationship between archeology, the construction of the National Archaeological Site Park, and application for World Heritage?
Zhang Zhonghua: Archaeological work at the Liulihe site has continued since the 1960s. The third large-scale archaeological excavation carried out in the mid-to-late 1990s achieved significant results, proving that the Liulihe site was a fiefdom in the Western Zhou Dynasty; clarified the ramming technology of the city wall at the Liulihe site, and the layout relationship between the moat and the city wall; and restored the construction regulations of the capitals of the Western Zhou vassal states.
During the 2025 Beijing Cultural Forum, the Liulihe Site Archaeological Research Alliance was established. The Alliance collaborates to promote the preparation of archaeological reports on the Liulihe site. The recently published "Liulihe Excavation Report (1995-1997)" publishes the excavation data obtained during this period and is a representative result of the Alliance's work.
Over the past year, the Liulihe site has also carried out the largest archaeological exploration in history. Currently, nearly 5,000 new relics of various types have been discovered, including tombs, ash pits, etc., which will help clarify the connotation and composition of the site and better guide the preparation of the next archaeological work plan and the construction of the heritage park.
With the advancement of natural science and the development of disciplinary concepts, archaeological work is increasingly focusing on the comprehensive application of multiple disciplines. Zoological archeology, botanical archeology, metallurgical archeology, environmental archeology, molecular biology, etc. are jointly used in the excavation and research process to obtain more information and better restore the appearance of ancient society.
In this context, "Archaeological Science" came into being. This is the first archaeological journal in Beijing. Many manuscripts in the first issue discuss the archaeological exploration, settlement structure, scientific and technological archeology of the Liulihe site, etc. During the 2026 Beijing Cultural Forum, the first issue of "Archaeological Science" was officially released to the public.
Archaeological work must be carried out throughout the protection of large sites and the construction of archaeological site parks. Archeology plays a leading role in the construction of heritage parks and the preliminary work of heritage application, providing scientific basis and support for the protection, display, utilization and research of heritage sites. The construction of heritage parks and application for World Heritage put forward higher requirements for archaeological work and can also promote the progress of archaeological research on the Liuli River.
On December 7, 2021, archaeological workers were cleaning tombs at the archaeological excavation site of the Liulihe site in Beijing. Photo by China News Service reporter Yi Haifei
Reporter from China News Service: The Liulihe International Field Archaeological School has been held for three consecutive years. Why was the International Archaeological School opened here? How to tell the story of Beijing’s archeology in a language that is understandable to the international community?
Zhang Zhonghua: As a representative of the major sites in Beijing, Liulihe can reflect the technology and research level of Chinese archaeology. It has a high international influence and has an archaeological workstation, which can provide sufficient guarantee for the study and life of international students. At present, China has only held international field archaeological schools at three sites: Yangguanzhai, Panlongcheng and Liulihe.
The school aims to provide knowledge training on Chinese archeology and field operation skills training for international students majoring in archeology, anthropology and other majors who have a strong interest in Chinese cultural relics and archaeological research through field archaeological practice at the Liulihe site. In the past three years, it has trained more than ten international students.
On July 4, 2025, the "2025 Liulihe Site International Field Archaeological School" event was held at the Beijing Liulihe Archaeological Work Station. The picture shows international student Kaitlyn Jenkins (right) conducting archaeological work at the excavation site. Photo by China News Service reporter Yi Haifei
To tell the archaeological story of Beijing in a language that the world can understand, we must first expand cooperation and communication channels. In July this year, our institute signed a "Scientific and Academic Cooperation Framework Agreement" with the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and plans to jointly carry out archaeological surveys next year; "Archaeological Science" has long English abstracts, making it easier for international readers to read. In the future, our institute will strengthen cooperation with international institutions to jointly carry out archaeological and research work.
Archaeological institutions should also expand ways for the public to learn and understand, and "translate" in-depth understanding of the ruins into language that ordinary people can understand and understand. The Institute will launch the "Beijing Archeology Going Abroad" series of books, the first of which is centered around the Liuli River site, and is planned to be published in both Chinese and English. We will continue to build the Beijing public archeology brand, announce and share archaeological discoveries and research results with the society in a timely manner, and elucidate Beijing's contribution to the origin, formation and development of Chinese civilization in a communication that is both in-depth and warm.
Facing the future, the Liulihe site must not only be beautiful, but also come alive. During the construction of the archaeological site park, the site must be fully integrated with the local natural and cultural environment and benefit the surrounding residents, so that it can be preserved for a long time and sustainably. We will continue to use archeology as a medium to make the Liuli River an important carrier to tell the origins of Beijing, demonstrate the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization, and promote exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations. (End)
Interviewee profile:
Zhang Zhonghua. Photo provided by interviewee
Zhang Zhonghua, graduated from Northwest University with a major in archeology, is currently the party branch secretary, dean and research librarian of the Beijing Institute of Archeology. He has long been engaged in archaeological and research work in the Beijing area. He has participated in or presided over important archaeological excavation projects such as the old path of the Yuhe River to Huihe, Beijing Central Axis, Liuli River, and Old Summer Palace. He has written or co-authored monographs such as "Beijing Yuhe", "Beijing Archaeological History of the Qing Dynasty Volume (Part 2)", and "Beijing Central Axis Archaeological Excavation Report (2021-2023)". He has won the first and second prizes of the Beijing Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievements Award, the Capital Labor Medal, etc.
