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

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.