The Liushu Formation is a geological formation in Gansu province, China that spans up to 100 m thick and is widely distributed within the Linxia Basin, with a paleomagnetic age between 11 and 6.4 mya (Upper/Late Miocene).

[1][2] The Liushu formation displays a lineage of Elasmotheriine rhinoceros throughout its stratigraphy.

Iranotherium is restricted to the middle part of the formation but remains absent in the overlying layers, the only Elasmotheriine that can be found in the upper layers is Sinotherium.

Chilotherium C. wimani A tusked rhino Iranotherium I. morgani[2] An elasmotheriine with a unique sexual dimorphism, ancestral to Sinotherium Lower part Sinotherium S. lagrelii[10] A partial skull An elasmotheriine, ancestral to Elasmotherium.

It displays the important transition from nose-horned to forehead-horned rhinos.