Dongheigou Site
东黑沟遗址
A large ancient pastoral settlement in the Shirenzi Gou valley on the northern slopes of the Tianshan, with stone-built platforms, tombs and more than a thousand rock carvings, believed to be linked to the Yuezhi and Xiongnu.
Dongheigou Site, also known as the Shirenzi Gou Site Complex, lies in a Tianshan valley about 20 km southeast of Barkol County town. It is a large pastoral settlement dating to around the first millennium BCE, with stone-built platforms, dwelling sites, tombs and numerous rock carvings. The carvings mainly depict ibex, horses and riders. Scholars link them to ancient nomadic peoples such as the Yuezhi and Xiongnu. The site is a national key cultural relic protection unit. It lies in open grassland, and you can search the hillsides for carvings, but facilities are very limited and the tracks are dirt roads, so hiring a local guide is recommended. Please respect the herders and the remains, and do not touch the carvings.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Songshutang
- Dahe Ancient City
- Tianshan Temple (East Tianshan Scenic Area)
- Barkol Grassland
- Barkol Ancient City
- Dizang Temple (Barkol)
- Lanzhouwanzi & Xiheigou Sites
- Barkol Singing Sand Mountain