The core land of the Silk Road: Xinjiang, China

Last updated:Nov 22,2024; By: Editor; Hits: 36

The title "Silk Road - A Millennium Legendary Road" carries countless stories and legends. It symbolizes human exploration of the unknown world, the integration of civilizations, and the prosperity and development of economy and culture. When we gently open this door of history, we seem to see the camel caravans and fleets that travel through time and space, shuttling between the desert and the ocean, playing a magnificent movement of communication between the East and the West.

Silk Road - A Millennium Legendary Road

the Silk Road: Xinjiang, China

The Silk Road spans 2,000 years, and is divided into the Northern Silk Road and the Southern Silk Road. The Northern Silk Road mainly passes through the Western Regions, which is now Xinjiang, China. Today, let's take a look at the places where ancient silk and the like must pass.

1. Ruoqiang

Located in the southeast of Bayingolin Prefecture and the southeast edge of the Taklimakan Desert, Ruoqiang is the second strategic channel from the mainland to Central Asia and from Xinjiang to the mainland. It was also a must-pass route on the ancient "Silk Road". Ruoqiang County was once a channel for the exchange, mutual transformation, and dissemination of various cultures, and was once one of the most open regions. There are three national cultural relics protection sites in Ruoqiang County, namely: Loulan Ancient City, Milan Ancient City, and Haitou Ancient City.

Ruoqiang

2. Qiemo

Qiemo County is located at the northern foot of the East Kunlun Mountains and the Altun Mountains, and the southeastern edge of the Tarim Basin. It belongs to the Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Qiemo

3. Niya Ruins

The Niya Ruins are located at the transportation hub of the southern route of the Silk Road. It is a place where ancient Eastern and Western cultural exchanges converge. It has very important academic value for studying the jurisdiction and governance history of the Han and Jin central government over the Western Regions. It is extremely important for further revealing the spread of Chinese culture to the west and the ancient Eastern and Western cultural exchanges.

Niya Ruins

4. The hometown of jade and silk Hotan

Hotan is a typical inland arid area, located in the hinterland of Eurasia, with an arid desert climate. There are 36 large and small rivers in the area. It is a region with relatively rich light energy resources in China. It is rich in mineral resources and is famous for its abundant production of Hotan jade. It is a famous jade town, silk town, carpet capital and fruit town.

The hometown of jade and silk Hotan

5. Turpan Gaochang Ancient City, Yaer Lake Ancient City

Yar Lake Ancient City is the political, economic, military and cultural center of the ancient Western Regions. It is a hub for the intersection and integration of Eastern and Western cultures. It is of great value to the study of Eastern and Western cultural exchanges, the history of the Silk Road, Central Asian civilization, and ancient Chinese urban architecture, religion, and art.

Turpan Gaochang Ancient City, Yaer Lake Ancient City

6. Yanqi

Yanqi Hui Autonomous County has a history of more than 2,000 years. It is an important transportation route on the ancient Silk Road and one of the famous "Anxi Four Towns" in the Tang Dynasty. There are many cultural sites in the territory, including the Seven Star Buddhist Temple Site, Bogdaqin Ancient City, Tuzi Nok Ancient Tombs, and the Hola Mountain Mouth Beacon Tower.

Yanqi

7. Kuche

There are more than 195 cultural relics such as grottoes, ancient castles, and beacon towers in Kuche, 2 of which are listed as world cultural heritage sites of the "Kuche Section of the Silk Road", 10 are national key cultural relics protection units, and 41 are autonomous region-level cultural relics. Famous tourist attractions include the mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan, Kizil Grottoes, Kumtura Thousand Buddha Caves, Kuche Palace, Subashi Ancient City, etc.

Kuche

8. Aksu

Aksu City is located in the upper reaches of the Tarim River. It is named after the water and means "white water city" in Uyghur. It was the territory of Gumo and Wensu, two of the 36 countries in the Western Regions during the Qin and Han Dynasties. It is an important post station on the ancient Silk Road and the birthplace of Qiuci culture and Duolang culture.

Aksu

9. Kashgar

As a transportation hub on the ancient Silk Road, Kashgar is an international commercial port where Chinese and foreign merchants gather. It is also a national historical and cultural city in Xinjiang, which concentrates on the characteristics and essence of Uyghur folk customs, culture and art, architectural style and traditional economy.

Kashgar

10. Hami

Hami City is the gateway to the interior of Xinjiang, an important town on the ancient "Silk Road", and the "Eastern Gate" of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Hami

11. Silk Road Important Town Urumqi

Urumqi is known as the "Heart of Asia" and an important town on the "Silk Road". It has national key cultural relics protection units such as the Ulabao Ancient City, the Tianshan Grand Canyon, a national 5A-level tourist attraction, and the Shuimogou Scenic Area, a 4A-level scenic spot. It has been rated as "China's Excellent Tourist City" and "China's Top Ten Ice and Snow Tourist Cities".

Silk Road Important Town Urumqi

12. Yili, the capital of grassland

Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture is the most convenient channel connecting Central Asia, West Asia and Europe in China. It is the hub of the Eurasian Golden Channel and an important fulcrum in the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. It plays an important role in the construction of China's "Belt and Road"

Yili, the capital of grassland