Kizilgaha Beacon Tower
克孜尔尕哈烽燧
The tallest surviving Han-dynasty beacon tower on the northern Silk Road, standing alone in the desert for two thousand years. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Silk Roads” site.
Kizilgaha Beacon Tower stands on a desert terrace east of Yanshuigou, about 12 km northwest of Kuqa city. It was built during the Han dynasty as a military communication facility on the northern Silk Road, when the Han court was administering the Western Regions. Its surviving height is about 13 m. It was built of alternating layers of rammed earth and wooden framing, and it is one of the tallest beacon towers preserved along the Silk Road. In Uyghur, “Kizilgaha” means “red sentry post” or “the girl was left behind.” A local legend tells of a king who hid his daughter inside the beacon to protect her. The Kizilgaha Caves are nearby. The site has a small exhibition hall and a viewing trail. A visit takes about 40 minutes to an hour, and the classic shot is the tower in silhouette against the setting sun. Admission is about CNY 25–35 (confirm with the site). Getting there: it lies along the G217/S307 road from Kuqa toward Baicheng and the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves. It is about 20 minutes by taxi from the city and can be combined with the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves in one day.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–20:00 Beijing time