Qidan, also known as Khitan, was a nomadic tribe that established the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and dominated the vast area of Mongolia and parts of northeastern and northwestern China for over 200 years. It maintained frequent cultural and financial exchanges with the western Asian and eastern European areas through the ancient grassland Silk Road.
There are more than 80 wall paintings of the Liao Dynasty discovered by the cultural relics department of the Aohan Banner in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The paintings captured the vibrant social life of this nomadic kingdom. Let’s have a glimpse of them!