The fossil site 48 km southwest of Beijing where Homo erectus remains, now known as "Peking Man," were excavated between 1927 and 1937 — discoveries that transformed understanding of human evolution by demonstrating that Homo erectus had spread far beyond Africa by 500,000 years ago. The site museum displays casts of the key skull fragments and stone tools, with context panels explaining the significance of the finds.
A half-day trip from Beijing, best combined with a visit to the nearby Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Qiao) — the 12th-century bridge where Japan's 1937 invasion of China is traditionally said to have begun. Public buses run from the city or hire a driver for the day. Not a major tourist draw but fascinating for anyone interested in human prehistory.