The Xiliao or West Liao River is a river in Inner Mongolia and Liaoning province, in northeast China. Its source is the Xilamulun River in Inner Mongolia. It is one of the headwaters of the Liao River. The Xiliao or "Western Liao River", historically also known as Huang River, is the largest tributary of the Liao River. The Xiliao runs 449 km, and drains a basin of 13,6000 km2. The Xiliao River is formed by the confluence of the Laoha River flowing from the southwest, and the Xar Moron River flowing from the west. The entire course of the Xiliao runs eastward within Inner Mongolia. It is joined at the lower course by a large tributary, the Xinkai River, which drains the southeast slopes of the Khingan Mountains. The Xiliao is dry in its upper reaches except after thunderstorms, 8 km north of the city of Shuangliao, before turning southeast to join the Dongliao River to form the Liao River proper near the common border of Liaoning, Jilin and Inner Mongolia.

Archaeology

Various Neolithic cultures have been identified in the Xiliao River region. Broomcorn millet and foxtail millet were the main cereal crops, while pigs and dogs were the main domesticated animals found at Neolithic archaeological sites. Bronze Age cultures of the Xiliao River region are: