A tour of the ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang
Former oasis near Turfan
Only about 30 kilometers southeast of Turfan you will find interesting ruins of the ancient oasis Gaochang (-50m). Due to the fact that it is located in the Turfan Depression, it lies more than 50 meters below the surface of the world's oceans. The whole city had to be quite large in its greatest glory, it covers an area of 1.5 km2. Today, you will find the ruins of clay buildings
Donkey taxi
Although it is not this locality who knows both the visited and several donkey taxis transporting tourists from the entrance to the locality to its center, where there are a few more preserved buildings.
Ruins of Gaochang city
The donkey will take you to the southwestern part of the site, where the ruins are the best preserved. Here on the sidewalks you can see what is left of the city's thousand-year history
Central square
After a short walk to the central square of the whole site
Main warehouse
The building of the main warehouse of the oasis has been restored here
Buddhist shrine
The most famous building here is a Buddhist shrine, also restored.
A wasteland through a famous oasis
Most of the historic city is now just a wasteland. The ridge of the Fire Mountains can be seen on the horizon, and even further is the Bogda Mountains, which fall to the very eastern end of the Tian Shan Mountains.
Donkey taxi parking
We're coming back. The carriages are waiting for other customers here
Mosque in the center of the new city
You are in Muslim Uyghur, so a nice mosque is being built in the new part of the city
Articles nearby
Article: Trip to Turpan
If you travel in Western China, you will most likely visit Turpan (Turfan), which is an oasis on the landscape of the Turfan… continue reading
