An extensive restoration project at the Liao Dynasty temple site in Chifeng has led to the discovery of a hidden chamber beneath the primary octagonal pagoda. Within this vault, preservationists found three gilded silver reliquaries containing Buddhist sutras written on silk and small jade figurines. The discovery provides new insights into the Khitan people's syncretic religious practices, blending traditional Shamanism with Mahayana Buddhism.
The structural restoration of the pagoda itself is utilizing ancient timber-joining techniques to replace sections damaged by centuries of wind erosion. Scientists are also using 3D laser scanning to map the faint remaining murals on the inner walls, which depict celestial guardians and Khitan nobility in ritual processions. The site is expected to open to the public as a heritage park by late 2027.