Recently, nearly 2,000 residents living in the core protection area of the Western Zhou Yan Capital Site in Liulihe Town, Fangshan District, decided through a villagers' representative meeting to initiate relocation via voluntary withdrawal. This will facilitate the next phase of archaeological excavations at the site. In the future, the Liulihe Western Zhou Yan Capital Site, known as the "Origin of Beijing," will offer visitors a glimpse into the ancient city's splendor from 3,000 years ago.
Liulihe is located close to Zhuozhou in Hebei Province and has leveraged its proximity to the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and National Highway 107 to develop its economy. However, two villages, Dongjialin and Huangtupo, situated right next to the highway, are exceptions. The main roads in these villages are just over four meters wide, where passing vehicles often risk scraping each other. Along the roadsides, one sees mostly old, low-rise houses, stretches of farmland, and woodland, with no signs of industrial activity in sight.
"In 1988, the Liulihe Site was designated by the State Council as part of the third batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. Over the past 30 years, in compliance with heritage protection requirements, the village has been unable to develop industries or rebuild houses; villagers could only make simple surface renovations. Even plans to widen roads had to be put on hold," said Liu Jiayong, the 48-year-old Secretary of Dongjialin Village Party Committee, as he stood in front of the low village committee office building. "When this building was constructed, I had just started kindergarten. Over all these years, villagers have made significant sacrifices to protect the site."
The Liulihe Western Zhou Yan Capital Site, dating back 3,063 years, was the first capital of the Yan State in 1045 BCE during the Western Zhou Dynasty. It is the only archaeological site from the Western Zhou period discovered so far that simultaneously includes a city site, a palace area, and a burial ground for feudal lords. Since the 1970s, the site has undergone five archaeological excavations, uncovering over 300 tombs, more than 30 chariot pits, and tens of thousands of artifacts, including nationally significant bronze vessels such as the Boju Li (tripod), Jin Ding (vessel), Ke He (wine vessel), and Ke Lei (wine jar). The Boju Li has been included in the list of cultural relics prohibited from overseas exhibitions, the Jin Ding is considered the centerpiece of the Capital Museum, and the Ke He and Ke Lei provide the strongest evidence for identifying the name of the first Marquis of Yan granted this territory.
"The discovery of the Liulihe Western Zhou Yan Capital Site has traced Beijing's city-building history back more than 3,000 years and is regarded by historians as the starting point of Beijing's ancient urban development," said Gao Xiaokun, the head of Liulihe Town, as he elaborated on the site. "Compared to similar sites both domestically and internationally, this site holds exceptionally high historical, scientific, cultural, artistic, and social value, and urgently requires further archaeological excavation."
Currently, Fangshan District is actively coordinating with the development of the national cultural center and the Xishan-Yongding River Cultural Belt. Under the guidance of the Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, professional teams are being organized to compile relevant plans. In the future, Fangshan plans to build a Western Zhou Yan cultural heritage park consisting of the site itself and a group of site museums, allowing the Liulihe Western Zhou Yan Capital Site, an internationally influential cultural treasure, to become a new cultural landmark in the capital, enhancing the social impact of the Yan Capital relics and creating a reserve resource for national World Heritage applications.
At the same time as the villagers' representative meeting was held in the two villages to decide on relocation, Huicheng Village, as the resettlement area for Dongjialin and Huangtupo villages, also began the clearing of above-ground structures. Hui City Village is the location of the Liulihe Town government, with schools, hospitals, and relatively well-developed commercial facilities nearby. Gao Xiaokun said, "This is almost the best residential plot in the entire town." The relocation compensation standards for Dongjialin and Huangtupo villages will be consistent with those of other urban renewal projects in the town, ensuring fairness and equity.
