Turpan, Xinjiang

Jiaohe Ancient City: The World's Largest Raw-Earth Citadel on the Silk Road

📸Photography 🏯Old Towns 🛤️Silk Road(丝绸之路)

Altitude

50m

Best Time

🌸 🍂

Ticket

Paid

UNESCO

Cultural

ℹ️

About This Attraction

1.Jiaohe Ancient: City is a magnificent archaeological marvel located approximately 10 kilometers west of Turpan City. Situated on a willow-leaf-shaped plateau (mesa) that rises 30 meters above the surrounding Yar Nayzi Valley, the city is bounded by two rivers that converge at its tip, giving it the name "Jiaohe" (Meeting of Rivers). It is recognized as the world's largest, oldest, and best-preserved raw-earth city, and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 as part of the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor".

The city's history spans over 1,500 years, beginning in the 2nd century BC when it served as the capital of the Jushi Kingdom. During the Tang Dynasty, it reached its zenith as the seat of the Protectorate General of the Western Regions, acting as a vital administrative, military, and cultural hub where Eastern and Western civilizations intersected. However, the city was severely damaged during wars in the 14th century and was eventually abandoned as the oasis water sources shifted.

Architecturally, Jiaohe is unique for its "earth-cutting" method. Unlike most cities built upward with bricks, the residents of Jiaohe carved their homes, temples, and streets directly downward into the native loess soil of the plateau. Remarkably, the city has no traditional defensive walls; the steep, 30-meter-high vertical cliffs served as a natural fortification that was virtually impregnable for centuries. Today, visitors can explore the skeletal remains of the administrative district, residential quarters, and a large Buddhist monastery complex that features a central stupa and rows of smaller pagodas.

✨ Why Visit Jiaohe Ancient City

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World's Largest Raw-Earth Ruins

Explore a 2,300-year-old city that was carved out of the earth rather than built upon it.

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Natural Fortress Without Walls

Marvel at the unique urban design where vertical cliffs provided natural protection against invaders.

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UNESCO Silk Road Heritage

Walk through a site that was once the political and religious center of the Jushi Kingdom and a vital hub on the Silk Roads, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

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Ancient Buddhist Monastery

View the ruins of a grand monastery complex that served as a major station for Buddhist culture and learning along the ancient trade routes.

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Spectacular Mesa Views

Capture the contrast between the ancient golden ruins on the high plateau and the green oasis in the valley below.

Location & Nearby

📍 Turpan, Xinjiang • 🏔️ 50m elevation

Frequently Asked Questions - Jiaohe Ancient City Travel Guide

is situated about 10 kilometers west of Turpan City, Xinjiang. What makes its architecture unique?

Most of its buildings were excavated from the earth (carved downward) rather than built upward.

Why does the city have no walls?

The city sits on a plateau with 30-meter-high cliffs that acted as natural defensive barriers.

When was Jiaohe abandoned?

It was largely destroyed and abandoned following wars in the 14th century.

Is Jiaohe a UNESCO site?

Yes, it was added to the World Heritage List in 2014.

Why do you include Chinese characters and Pinyin in the descriptions for Jiaohe Ancient City?

We provide the original Chinese names and Pinyin to make your travel smoother. Since English is rarely spoken in remote parts of Western China, you can easily show these Chinese names to local taxi drivers, hotel staff, or police when asking for help, or copy-paste them directly into Chinese navigation apps like Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps.