The Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, in the southwest suburbs of the Chinese capital, is to be reopened to visitors Friday, following the completion of a reconstruction project, according to Monday's Beijing Youth Daily.

This World Heritage Site is known for the discovery of the first skull fragments of the Peking Man, dating back 500,000 years. It preserves evidence of the earliest human use of fire, and is the only site continuously inhabited by prehistoric man between 500,000 and 10,000 years ago.

The Peking Man Museum at the site has taken on a new look after the renovation project, and more exhibits have been added to its collection, including axes, hammers and other stone tools used by the Peking Man and the Shandingdong Man, dating back 20,000 years. Excavation tools used by the archeologists who found the skull fragments are also on display, the newspaper says.

(People’s Daily October 23, 2001)