Kuqa Grand Mosque (库车大寺) is Xinjiang’s second-largest mosque and a national key cultural relic, located in the old city of Kuqa, Aksu. Basic Information Location: Pakhta Bazaar Road, Kuqa Old City (4 km from Kuqa New Town). Founded: 16th century […]

Kuqa Royal Palace (Kuga Mansion, 库车王府) is China’s last hereditary Uyghur princely mansion, a national 4A-level scenic spot in Kuqa, Xinjiang. Basic Information Location: Linjilu Street, Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture. Built: 1759 (Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong); rebuilt in 2004 (opened […]

Kizilgaha Beacon Tower (克孜尔尕哈烽燧) is the oldest and best-preserved Han-dynasty military beacon on the ancient Northern Silk Road, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Kuqa, Xinjiang. Basic Information Location: 10–12 km northwest of Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture; on the eastern […]

Kizil Caves (Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves) is China’s earliest large-scale Buddhist cave complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in Xinjiang. Basic Information Location: Cliffs of Mingwutag Mountain, 7 km southeast of Kizil Town, Baicheng County, Aksu; 65 km […]

Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake of Tianshan) is a stunning alpine glacial lake and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Xinjiang, China. Basic Information Location: Northern slope of Bogda Peak (5,445 m), Fukang City, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture; ~97 km east of […]

Karez (坎儿井, Kān’ěr Jǐng) is an ancient underground gravity irrigation system in Turpan, Xinjiang, China. Basic Facts Other names: “underground canal”, “well canal” (ancient China); qanat (Middle East). Location: Mainly Turpan & Hami, Xinjiang. Nickname: One of China’s Three Great […]

Sugong Tower (Emin Minaret) is a famous Islamic monument in Turpan, Xinjiang, China. Basic Information Location: 2 km east of downtown Turpan, adjacent to a large Uyghur mosque. Built: 1777 (Qing Dynasty, Qianlong reign). Builder: Ordered by Sulaiman, the second […]

Jiaohe Ancient City (交河故城) Jiaohe Ancient City (Uyghur: Yarkhoto) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2014) and the world’s largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen-architecture city ruin. It sits 10 km west of Turpan, Xinjiang, on a 30m-high willow-leaf plateau surrounded […]

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (柏孜克里克千佛洞) Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are a major Buddhist cave site on the Silk Road, located ~40 km northeast of Turpan, Xinjiang, on the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains’ Mutougou Gorge. Basic Facts Original Caves: 83; […]

Gaochang Ancient City (高昌故城, Gāochāng Gùchéng) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2014) located ~40 km east of Turpan, Xinjiang, China, near the Flaming Mountains. Basic Facts Location: Sanbu Township, Gaochang District, Turpan. Area: ~200 hectares (2.2 million […]