Yarkhoto

Welcome to the Jiaohe Ancient City, one of the most visually spectacular and architecturally unique ruins on the ancient Silk Road. As we stand here on this leaf-shaped plateau in the Turpan Basin, look around you. …

Our journey begins at the Southern Gate, the primary entrance to the city. As you look at the steep cliffs surrounding the plateau, you can see why Jiaohe rarely needed artificial city walls. …

Moving into the central part of the city, we find the government office district. This was the administrative heart of the 36 kingdoms of the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty. …

To the east of the main road lies the residential district, where the common people of Jiaohe lived. Here, you get a true sense of the daily struggle and ingenuity of desert life. …

At the end of the main north-south road stands the Great Monastery, the largest religious complex in Jiaohe. Buddhism was the spiritual backbone of the city, and this monastery was its crown jewel. …

If you have the energy to continue to the northernmost point of the city, you will find the Stupa Grove. This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful sites in Jiaohe, containing 101 Buddhist stupas dating from the 5th to the 7th…

We conclude our walking tour at the northern tip of the plateau. This area served as the city's final line of defense. …

Our journey through Jiaohe Ancient City has come to a close. We have traversed the defensive gates, explored the subterranean government halls, and stood among the 101 stupas of the north. …