Gaochang Ruins

高昌故城

The capital of the Gaochang Kingdom, where Xuanzang gave lectures. A rammed-earth walled city about five kilometres in circumference at the foot of the Flaming Mountains, and a World Heritage Site.

Gaochang Ruins lies about 40 kilometres east of Turpan city centre, on the southern slope of the Flaming Mountains in Sanbao Township. It was founded in the 1st century BC as Gaochang Bi, a fortified settlement established by Han-dynasty agricultural garrisons. It later served as the capital of Gaochang Commandery, the Qu-clan Kingdom of Gaochang, the Tang Xizhou and the Uyghur Kingdom of Gaochang. It was in use for more than 1,300 years and was abandoned in the late 13th century amid warfare. The ruins are roughly square in plan, with a circumference of about 5 kilometres, and consist of three concentric layers: the outer city, the inner city and the palace city. Surviving walls reach more than ten metres in places. In the southwest corner of the city, the Great Buddha Temple is where Xuanzang lectured for a month at the request of Qu Wentai, King of Gaochang, during his journey west. The remains of its lecture hall, stupa pillars and dome are the most complete part of the city. Other remains include the Southeast Small Buddha Temple and the Khan's Fortress. In 2014 it was inscribed as part of the World Heritage site “Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor,” alongside Jiaohe Ruins. Visiting: take the electric shuttle from the entrance (included in the ticket) into the city, and get off at the main sites such as the Great Buddha Temple. The full visit takes about 1.5 hours. Peak-season admission is about CNY 70. Compared with Jiaohe, Gaochang is larger but more weathered, and it conveys the desolate feel of a lonely city in the desert. The nearby Astana Tombs, which yielded many Tang-era documents and mummies, can be visited along the way. Notes: there is no shade, so bring plenty of water in summer. The earthen walls are fragile, so do not climb them. It is best to combine the visit with the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Tuyugou and the Flaming Mountains.

Gaochang Ruins

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