Guyaju Caves

The Guyaju Caves are the ruins of a cave dwelling complex in a valley near present day Dongmenying in the Yanqing District of Beijing, China, believed to have housed a fortified community. The origins of the community are uncertain, with theories attributing it to a tribe of the Kumo Xi during the Liao dynasty, to outlaws in hiding, or to a military garrison of the Tang dynasty, and historical sources describe its history as an unresolved archaeological puzzle. The dwellings and a worship hall are cut directly into the cliff face, with 350 chambers spread across 117 caves packed closely together and in places carved at different levels of the same cliff to resemble a multistory building. A more elaborate residence known as the Chieftain's Palace sits at the base of one rock face, with eight rooms supported by columns cut from the stone.