Archaeologists recently discovered relics in suburban Guangzhou dating back to the 10th century, the first site of this age to be found outside the city center.

The discoveries were highlighted by Guangzhou newspapers Wednesday (Oct. 27).

The relics included a fire-damaged suburban dwelling or temple believed to have been built by an emperor of the Southern Han Dynasty (917-971), a state during the Five Dynasties and Ten States (907-960). Guangzhou was the capital of the state.

Guangzhou people at that time traveled to the northern suburbs in spring, the newspaper said.

There were also remains of buildings of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) found at the site which is surrounded by Luhu Road, Hefu Road and the City Circuit Road in the north suburbs south of Baiyun Mountain, according to a graphic in the Southern Metropolitan News.

A total of 52 ancient tombs were uncovered. Some tombs seemed to be for high-ranking officials. A porcelain kiln of the Northern Song period and more than 1,500 relics of various periods were also found.

Some of the findings rewrote Guangzhou's archeological history. The ancient official porcelain kiln, a bronze Buddha and an intact outer coffin of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) were found for the first time in Guangzhou, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

For more than half a century after the collapse of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), North China was ruled by five short-lived military regimes, while the south was split into 10 states. The Song Dynasty (960-1279) later reunited China.

Editor: Catherine