Liao was not included in the history of China because it was a local ethnic regime in the Song Dynasty, but it was not counted as a dynasty because of its orthodoxy.

During the prosperous period of Liao State, its territory reached the Sea of Japan in the east, Altai Mountain in the west, Ergon and Outer Xing 'an Mountains in the north, and Baigou River in central Hebei in the south.

Originally a nomadic people, the Khitans absorbed farming techniques. In order to safeguard their own nation, they managed nomadic people and agricultural people respectively, advocated the rule of custom, and established a bicameral political system. Create the Khitan script and preserve their own culture.

Historians believe that in the second year of Emperor Zhen Ming of the Later Liang Dynasty (9 16), Lu Ye Abaoji, Emperor of the Liao Taizu, declared the founding of the country, with the title of Qidan; In the first year of Datong, Liao (AD 947, four years of Jin Dynasty), Emperor Taizong of Liao led his troops south to the Central Plains, captured Kaifeng and destroyed the Jin Dynasty. Ye Ludeguang acceded to the throne in Kaifeng and changed his name to Da Liao. In the first year of Liao Sheng (983, the eighth year of Taiping and Xingguo in the Northern Song Dynasty), it was renamed the Great Khitan; In the second year of Emperor Xianyong of Liao Daozong (1066, the third year of Pingping in the Northern Song Dynasty), it was renamed Daliao.

There are generally three versions of the time when Qidan first changed its name to Liao: 937, 938 and 947. Regarding the number of times that Liao changed its title, most scholars agreed that the title was changed to Liao when Emperor Taizong of Liao Dynasty, to Qidan when Emperor Shengzong of Liao Dynasty, and to Liao when Emperor Daozong of Liao Dynasty.

Judging from the words "Great Center" or "Nanzhanbuzhou" in front of the title of Qidan or Liao in many epitaphs in Liao Dynasty, it seems that China is in Liao Daozong.