The Remains of Peking Man in Zhoukoudian

The remains of Peking Man in Zhoukoudian were found in a cave on Dragon Bone Hill near the town of Zhoukoudian, Fangshan District. The place became world famous after the discovery of a human skull on December 2, 1929, which was named Peking Man (Sinanthropus pekinensis, then later early Homo erectus). The caves where Peking Man remains were found were recognized as a World Heritage List site by the United Nations in 1987. More discoveries of ancient humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) from 1,000?1,000 years ago were made after 1929, and research at the site continues today.

The Peking Man skull is one of the world's most important archaeological discoveries. During the War of Resistance against Japan in the 1930s, the skull mysteriously disappeared. Its whereabouts remain unknown to this day, despite repeated attempts at locating it.

Peking Man is believed to have been one of the earliest primitive men to use fire. Proof has been found in ashes and burnt animal bones found in the cave. Unearthed fossil remains in Zhoukoudian include 6 skulls, 15 jaw bones, 157 teeth and countless fragmented bones belonging to 40 individual Peking Men, constituting important materials for the study of the early biological evolution of human beings and the development of early culture. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Zhoukoudian became a great tourist attraction.

 

1 Zhoukoudian Dajie, Fangshan District

+ 86 10 6930 1287  

8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

30 yuan for adults, 15 yuan for children and the elderly

917 from Tianqiao to Fangshan, or 616 at Beijing West Railway

Station to Liangxiang, then change to Zhoukoudian