Kashgar, Xinjiang

Kashgar Gaotai Dwellings: The Living Fossil of the Ancient Silk Road

Altitude

1,289m

ℹ️

About This Attraction

1.Kashgar Gaotai: Dwellings is a unique ancient architectural complex built on a loess platform, representing a living museum of the thousands of years of the city's history. Located in the old city of Kashgar, Xinjiang, and overlooking the Tuman River, it sits on a natural platform about 40 meters high and 800 meters long.

The history of the dwellings dates back over 2,000 years to the Western Han Dynasty. It is known as a "living fossil" because it is one of the only remaining concentrations of raw-earth buildings in China that still house local Uyghur residents. The architectural style integrates Central and West Asian elements, featuring earthy-yellow walls and exquisite carvings in wood and brick.

As families grew over centuries, new rooms were built on top of original structures, creating a vertical maze of "overhead buildings" (Liaolou) and winding alleys. Some alleys are so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time. The courtyards often feature traditional elements like the "Supa" platform—a high mud stage for resting—and are often filled with fig and mulberry trees that have flourished for decades.

The area is also historically significant for its traditional handicrafts, particularly its pottery. For generations, craftsmen have utilized the local high-quality soil found on the platform to create earthenware, earning the site the nickname "Pottery on the High Platform". Visiting Gaotai is not just about observing architecture; it is an immersive journey into a living Uyghur community that has preserved its customs and heritage along the Silk Road.

✨ Why Visit Kashgar Gaotai Dwellings

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Ancient Loess Architecture: Marvel at a massive complex of adobe houses built over two millennia on a 40-meter-high loess platform.

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Living Silk Road Heritage: Experience the "living fossil" of the city's history, representing one of the only remaining concentrations of raw-earth buildings in China still inhabited by local Uyghur residents.

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Labyrinthine Alleys: Explore a mysterious maze of winding streets and "overhead buildings" that showcase ancient urban survival and growth, with some alleys so narrow only one person can pass.

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Handcrafted Pottery Tradition: Witness the ancient art of raw-earth pottery making, a cultural hallmark that has defined this community for centuries.

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Cliffside River Views: View the dwellings from the bank of the Tuman River, overlooking the unique architectural complex built on the natural loess platform.

Location & Nearby

📍 Showing 7 nearby attractions within 50km

📍 Kashgar, Xinjiang • 🏔️ 1289m elevation

Frequently Asked Questions - Kashgar Gaotai Dwellings Travel Guide

is an ancient, living community built entirely of earth and wood on a high platform, preserving over 2,000 years of Uyghur architectural and social heritage. Can visitors see traditional crafts here?

Yes, the site.

is famous for its "Pottery on the High Platform," where you can watch craftsmen work with raw earth using traditional wheels. Is it part of the broader Kashgar Old City?

Yes, it.

is a core historical district of Kashgar's old city and is intrinsically linked to the region's Silk Road history. How old is the community?

Historical records and archaeological evidence suggest the community began forming as early as the Western Han Dynasty.

✨ Why Visit Kashgar Gaotai Dwellings

✦Ancient Loess Architecture: Marvel at a massive complex of adobe houses built over two millennia on a 40-meter-high loess platform.

✦Living Silk Road Heritage: Experience the "living fossil" of the city's history, representing one of the only remaining concentrations of raw-earth buildings in China still inhabited by local Uyghur residents.

✦Labyrinthine Alleys: Explore a mysterious maze of winding streets and "overhead buildings" that showcase ancient urban survival and growth, with some alleys so narrow only one person can pass.

✦Handcrafted Pottery Tradition: Witness the ancient art of raw-earth pottery making, a cultural hallmark that has defined this community for centuries.

✦Cliffside River Views: View the dwellings from the bank of the Tuman River, overlooking the unique architectural complex built on the natural loess platform.