More than 60 precious tiles dated about 2,000 years ago have recently been discovered in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The tiles were found at the relics site of an ancient city in today's Horinger County of the autonomous region. The ancient city was first built in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) and was deserted at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Li Qiang, a researcher with the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of the autonomous region, said that the tiles were unearthed at the northwest of the ancient city. They are well preserved and their patterns feature clouds, trees, animals and characters.

Tiles with monkey, deer and pentagon designs are very rare in China, Li says.

He added that such tiles were used only in building palaces and temples.

Archaeologists say the tiles show that the handicraft and building industries in the grassland region of north China were at an advanced level more than 2,000 years ago and at the time the region had a prosperous economy and stable society.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2002)