Zhoukoudian Site is located in Zhoukoudian Town, Fangshan District, Beijing, about 50 kilometers from the city center. It is a World Cultural Heritage, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, and a key national cultural relic protection unit. The site covers an area of about 2 square kilometers, consisting of Longgushan (Dragon Bone Hill) and multiple fossil sites. It is one of the most abundant, systematic, and valuable early Paleolithic human sites in the world, renowned for the discovery of Peking Man fossils, evidence of fire use, and a large number of stone artifacts, known as "one of the birthplaces of human civilization."
History and Culture
The excavation of Zhoukoudian Site began in 1921 when Swedish geologist J.G. Andersson first discovered mammalian fossils. In 1929, Chinese archaeologist Pei Wenzhong found the first Peking Man skull fossil, shocking the world. Over the following decades, the site continuously unearthed a large number of ancient human fossils, stone tools, and fire remains, proving that Peking Man lived, made tools, and used fire here 500,000 years ago.
In 1933, the Upper Cave Man site was discovered at the top of Longgushan, yielding three complete skull fossils and ornaments, indicating that humans had aesthetic awareness 18,000 years ago. In 1973, the Xin Cave Man site, dating back 20,000 years, was found on the south side of Longgushan, filling the evolutionary gap between Peking Man and Upper Cave Man. In 1961, Zhoukoudian Site was listed as one of the first batch of national key cultural relic protection units, and in 1987, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Main Attractions
Peking Man Site (Site 1)
Located on the north slope of Longgushan, it is the core area of the site, with an excavation area of about 2,000 square meters. Here, approximately 40 individual fossils of Peking Man, 100,000 stone artifacts, and abundant fire remains, including an ash layer 6 meters thick, were unearthed. The site pit is an irregular shape, 140 meters long from east to west and 20-30 meters wide from north to south. A protective hall has been built, allowing visitors to view the excavation site and fossil unearthed positions up close.
Upper Cave Man Site (Site 15)
Located at the top of the mountain above the Peking Man Site, it is a late Homo sapiens site dating back 18,000 years. The cave consists of the Upper Cave, Lower Cave, and Cellar, yielding three complete skulls, ornaments, and production tools. Among them, perforated animal teeth, stone beads, and other ornaments are China's earliest primitive artworks, now housed in the National Museum of China. A display hall has been built above the site, reconstructing the living scene of Upper Cave Man.
Zhoukoudian Site Museum
With a construction area of 8,000 square meters and an exhibition hall area of 4,000 square meters, it displays more than 1,000 cultural relics. The museum takes "Human Evolution" as its theme, systematically showcasing the human evolutionary process from 4 million to 10,000 years ago through exhibits such as Peking Man skull models, stone artifacts, and ancient animal fossils. The 1:1 reconstructed Peking Man living scene and multimedia interactive exhibits are of great popular science value.
Longgushan (Dragon Bone Hill)
With an altitude of 146 meters, it is named for the large number of ancient animal fossils unearthed here, serving as the geographical landmark of the site. The mountain is distributed with 27 fossil sites. In addition to Site 1 and the Upper Cave, there are Sites 2-4, 13-14, etc. Some areas are open to visitors, allowing hiking to visit fossil unearthed points and geological sections.
Xin Cave Man Site
Located on the south side of Longgushan, it is an ancient human site dating back 20,000 years, yielding human fossils, stone tools, and mammalian fossils. The site cave is about 8 meters deep and 5 meters wide, retaining part of the excavation surface, displaying the living traces of late Paleolithic humans.
Delicacies
The area around Zhoukoudian Site is mainly characterized by farm-style cuisine, with featured delicacies including:
Fangshan Roasted Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout farmed in the Juma River basin has tender meat. After roasting, the skin is crispy, and the meat is delicate. Paired with secret sauce, it is a local signature dish. Each fish weighs about 500-1,000 grams, priced at about 80-150 yuan per fish.
Wild Vegetables Fried with Free-Range Chicken Eggs
Using free-range chicken eggs from the Fangshan mountain area, stir-fried with wild vegetables such as purslane and shepherd's purse. The eggs are golden, and the wild vegetables are fragrant, rich in protein and vitamins. It is a common dish in farmhouses, priced at about 30-40 yuan per plate.
Fangshan Mopan Persimmon
A specialty fruit that matures in autumn, each fruit weighs 250-500 grams, with orange-yellow skin, soft and juicy flesh, and a sugar content of 15%-20%. It can be eaten fresh or made into persimmon cakes. Orchards around the site offer picking, priced at about 5-10 yuan per catty.
Farmhouse Stewed Free-Range Chicken
Using local free-range chickens, stewed with ingredients such as mushrooms and potatoes. The chicken is firm, and the soup is rich. A portion costs about 150-200 yuan, suitable for 3-4 people, and is a popular dish in winter.
Admission Tickets
The admission ticket price for Zhoukoudian Site is 30 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "周口店北京人遗址博物馆" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of Zhoukoudian Site are:
Peak season (April 1 - October 31): 8:30 - 16:30 (stop entering at 16:00)
Off-season (November 1 - March 31 of the following year): 8:30 - 16:00 (stop entering at 15:30)
Closed on Mondays (except legal holidays), closed on New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, subject to the site's announcement.
Tour Routes
Classic Half-Day Tour Route:
Zhoukoudian Site Museum → Peking Man Site (Site 1) → Hiking on Longgushan (visiting Sites 2-4) → Upper Cave Man Site → Xin Cave Man Site → Return to the Museum (The whole journey takes about 3 hours, including 1.5 hours for museum visit)
Cultural In-Depth Tour Route:
Morning: Visit the site museum to understand the history of human evolution; hike Longgushan to field-examine the Peking Man Site and surrounding fossil sites
Noon: Taste surrounding farm-style cuisine
Afternoon: Visit the Upper Cave Man Site to understand late Homo sapiens culture; participate in science interactive projects (such as stone tool making experience); visit the Xin Cave Man Site and other auxiliary attractions
(The whole journey takes about 5-6 hours, and it is recommended to bring drinking water and sunscreen)
Transportation
- Public Bus:
1. Take the 917 Express (Tianqiao - Shidu) from the urban area to Fangshan Cangfang Community Station, transfer to Fangshan Bus 38 to Zhoukoudian Site Station, the whole journey takes about 2 hours.
2. Get off at Suzhuang Station of Fangshan Line of the subway, transfer to Fangshan Bus 38 to directly reach Zhoukoudian Site, the whole journey takes about 1.5 hours. - Self-Driving:
1. Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway (G4) → Fangshan Liyuan Bridge Exit → Jingzhou Road → Zhoukoudian Road → Site, driving time about 1 hour.
2. Beijing-Kunming Expressway (G5) → Fangshan Exit → Dajian Road → Jingzhou Road → Zhoukoudian Road → Site, driving time about 1.2 hours. - Tourist Special Line:
Beijing Tourism Distribution Center (Qianmen, Wangfujing) offers a one-day tour special line to Zhoukoudian Site, including admission tickets and round-trip transportation, priced at about 100 yuan per person. It can be combined with attractions such as Yunju Temple and Shidu for group tours.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Peking Man Site: The core area of the World Cultural Heritage, where 40 individual fossils of Peking Man were unearthed. The 6-meter-thick ash layer in the pit proves the history of human fire use.
- Zhoukoudian Site Museum: A 4,000-square-meter exhibition hall displays more than 1,000 cultural relics. The 1:1 reconstructed Peking Man living scene and rich multimedia interactive exhibits.
- Upper Cave Man Site: A late Homo sapiens site 18,000 years ago, where China's earliest perforated animal tooth ornaments were unearthed, demonstrating the origin of human aesthetic awareness.
- Longgushan (Dragon Bone Hill): 146 meters above sea level, with 27 fossil sites distributed. Hiking allows visiting multiple ancient human activity remains points.
Tour Tips
- Recommended visiting time: 3-4 hours, and a whole day for in-depth tours, combined with surrounding attractions like Yunju Temple.
- Some sections of Longgushan are steep. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes. Elderly visitors can act according to their ability. The museum has elevators for convenient movement.
- Most cultural relics in the site are replicas. Please do not use flash when taking photos, and touching exhibits and excavation sites is prohibited.
- In summer (June-August), the park is densely wooded, so pay attention to mosquito prevention; in autumn (September-October), the climate is suitable for outdoor hiking.
- You can make an appointment for popular science explanation services on the official website in advance (100 yuan per session for teams of less than 30 people) or rent a voice guide (20 yuan per unit).
Notes
- Some areas in the site are outdoor hiking routes. Please follow the tour signs and do not enter unopened areas without permission.
- Noise is prohibited in the museum. Group visits are advised to control the volume to avoid affecting other visitors.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Please care for fossil remains and vegetation, and it is strictly forbidden to excavate or damage geological sections.
- There are many visitors during holidays, and there may be a queue at the museum entrance. It is recommended to visit at off-peak times (9-10 am or after 2 pm).
- In winter, some outdoor routes in the park may be closed due to snow. Check the site's announcement before traveling and pay attention to keeping warm.