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 sq m); one of China’s largest surviving earthen-architecture ruins.
Layout: Irregular square with outer city, inner city, and palace city (Khan’s Fortress)—modeled after ancient Chang’an.
Walls: Rammed earth, 5.4 km in circumference, up to 12 m high.
History
1st century BC: Founded as a Han Dynasty military garrison (“Gaochang Wall”).
499–640 AD: Capital of the Gaochang Kingdom.
9th century: Capital of the Uyghur Kingdom of Gaochang.
13th–14th centuries: Destroyed by wars and abandoned.
1961: Named a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit.
Highlights
Buddhist & Manichaean ruins: Temples, pagodas, and murals reflect religious diversity.
Xuanzang connection: The monk was hosted by the Gaochang king (629 AD) during his journey to India.
Silk Road hub: A melting pot of Han, Uyghur, Central Asian, and Indian cultures.
Visiting Tips
Opening Hours: 10:00–19:30.
Best Time: August–October (cooler).
Admission: Free (as of 2026).
