Xituanshan, Archaeological site in Jilin, China.
Xituanshan is an archaeological site on a granite hill west of Jilin City in Jilin Province, China, with nine stone cist tombs cut into its southwest slope. Excavations have brought up stone tools, pottery, bronze objects, jade items, and decorative pieces made from deer antler and wild boar tusk.
The site was first explored in the 1930s by a Japanese and a Chinese archaeologist working together. The layers they uncovered show that the place was used across several distinct periods spanning many centuries.
The graves at Xituanshan contain objects made from jade, bronze, and wild boar tusk, which were apparently placed there for use after death. These burial goods suggest that the people buried here were distinguished by rank or social standing.
The site is on a hillside, so sturdy footwear and a reasonable level of fitness are helpful for the visit. It is worth checking with local authorities before going, as access to protected monuments can be subject to specific conditions.
Although the site has been known since the 1930s, it remained largely overlooked outside China while being considered a key reference in local archaeology for understanding prehistoric settlement in the region. The nine stone cist tombs were not all built at the same time but were added gradually, generation after generation, over roughly one thousand years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
