The Ruins of Ancient City of Gaochang in Turpan

Gaochang Ancient City is located in Sanbao Township, Gaochang District, Turpan. It is an important heritage site within the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is the largest surviving earthen ancient city ruins in Xinjiang.

The city was first established during the Western Han Dynasty and later developed through several important historical periods, including Gaochang Wall, Gaochang Commandery, the Kingdom of Gaochang, and Xizhou during the Tang Dynasty. For centuries, it served as one of the most important political, economic, cultural, and religious centers of the ancient Western Regions. The renowned Chinese monk Xuanzang also stopped here during his journey west and is said to have stayed for about a month to preach Buddhist teachings.

The entire city was constructed mainly from rammed earth. Its overall layout was modeled after the structure of Tang-era Chang'an and consisted of three main sections: the Outer City, Inner City, and Palace City (Khan's Fort). The ruins cover approximately 2 million square meters.

Unlike Jiaohe Ancient City, which was largely created by cutting downward into the loess plateau, Gaochang Ancient City was built on relatively flat ground by repeatedly compacting layers of earth to create enormous walls and monumental buildings. Despite centuries of wind and sand erosion, the outlines of its city walls, Buddhist temples, palaces, and residential areas remain remarkably clear.

Standing amid the vast Gobi wilderness south of the Flaming Mountains, the ruins convey a powerful sense of the grandeur and desolation of an ancient Silk Road capital.

Main Highlights

Southwestern Great Buddha Temple

The Southwestern Great Buddha Temple is one of the most important surviving areas of Gaochang Ancient City. Its tall Buddhist pagoda and large architectural foundations remain relatively well preserved.

This is traditionally identified as the place where Xuanzang preached Buddhist teachings during his stay in Gaochang. The foundations of the main hall and traces of surrounding corridors can still be identified, allowing visitors to imagine the scale of the religious gatherings that once took place here.

Khan's Fort and the Palace City

Khan's Fort formed the core of the palace city and was the location of the palaces of successive rulers of Gaochang.

The massive rammed-earth structures built on elevated platforms remain particularly impressive. Standing among these ruins provides a vivid sense of the scale and authority of the former royal city and offers a glimpse into the political center of ancient Gaochang.

Ancient City Walls and Defensive Structures

The outer city walls preserve large sections of thick, high rammed-earth ramparts. In some areas, visitors can still identify traditional defensive features such as horse-face ramparts (mamian) and barbicans, revealing the sophisticated defensive system once used to protect the city.

The contrast between the monumental earthen walls and the surrounding barren landscape makes this one of the most visually striking parts of the ruins.

Southeastern Small Buddha Temple and Residential Ruins

The Southeastern Small Buddha Temple preserves traces of ancient murals, while residential buildings, workshops, wells, and other remains are scattered throughout the city.

The surviving street patterns are still relatively clear, providing valuable clues about the daily lives of ordinary residents of ancient Gaochang. Walking through these quieter sections offers a different experience from the monumental temples and palace ruins, bringing the ancient city closer to everyday life.

Panoramic Views and Sunset Photography

From elevated sections of the ruins, visitors can look across the remains of the entire ancient city. The red cliffs of the Flaming Mountains form a dramatic backdrop in the distance.

At sunset, warm golden light spreads across the yellow-brown rammed-earth ruins, creating a particularly atmospheric scene. The combination of ancient walls, open Gobi terrain, and the red mountains in the background makes Gaochang Ancient City an excellent location for wide-angle and landscape photography.

Visitor Center Exhibition

The visitor center includes an exhibition area displaying artifacts excavated from Gaochang Ancient City, together with scale models and historical information about the site.

It is highly recommended to visit the exhibition before entering the ruins. Understanding the city's historical development and original layout makes the large archaeological site much easier to appreciate.

Tickets and Opening Information

Adult admission is CNY 70, with an additional CNY 30 for the scenic-area shuttle bus. Full-time undergraduate students and students below this level, as well as visitors aged 60–64, can receive half-price admission with valid identification.

Children under 1.2 meters, visitors aged 65 and above, active-duty military personnel, and other eligible groups can enter the main scenic area free of charge with valid identification. The shuttle bus does not offer the same free-admission policy.

During the peak season from April 21 to October 20, the scenic area is open from 08:00 to 21:00. During the low season from October 21 to April 20 of the following year, opening hours are 10:00 to 18:30.

Allow approximately 2.5–3 hours for a complete visit. Renting an electronic audio guide is strongly recommended because the ruins are extensive and many of the historical structures can be difficult to interpret without additional context.

Real-name reservation with an ID document is required for entry. During the peak season, advance online reservation is strongly recommended.

Transportation Guide

Gaochang Ancient City is approximately 40 kilometers from central Turpan, around a 50-minute drive under normal road conditions. A parking area is available at the visitor center.

There is no convenient direct public transportation service to the site, so travelers in groups are generally better off hiring a private vehicle or chartered car.

Gaochang Ancient City is particularly easy to combine with the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and Flaming Mountains, making it an ideal route for a one-day exploration of eastern Turpan and its major Silk Road heritage sites.

Travel Tips

The archaeological site is almost completely exposed to the sun, with very little or no shade in the open areas. Summer afternoons can be extremely hot, so visiting after 16:00 is recommended whenever possible to avoid the strongest midday heat.

Bring plenty of drinking water, high-SPF sunscreen, a sun hat, and sunglasses. Wear durable, non-slip walking shoes, as the ground contains loose stones and sections of soft, uneven rammed earth.

The ruins are a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site. Climbing, stepping on, digging, or otherwise damaging the rammed-earth walls is strictly prohibited. Visitors must not remove pieces of earth, stones, sand, or any other material from the archaeological site.

Wind and blowing sand can be strong, particularly in exposed areas, so carrying a dust mask can be useful. Cameras are permitted, but flash photography is prohibited around cave-like or mural remains.

Stay on the designated visitor paths throughout the visit and do not leave the official route to enter restricted or undeveloped sections of the ruins.

After visiting Gaochang Ancient City, travelers can continue to the Astana Ancient Tombs, where they can learn more about burial customs and funerary culture associated with the ancient Gaochang region.