Xiangbaobao Cemetery in Kashgar
Attractions Overview
The tombs were determined to be about 2,500-2,400 years ago. Now it is listed a major cultural site under the autonomous region protection.
Chinese Name: 香宝宝古墓群
English Name: Xiangbaobao Cemetery in Kashgar
Type: Kashgar Scenic Area, Kashgar famous spots & Kashgar attractions
Best Time: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Hours: 2-3 hours
Location:Located 2 kilometers north of Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County
Why is Xiangbaobao Cemetery So Special?
There are stone mounds and enclosures visible on the surface of the cemetery. During 1976-1977, Archaeologists have excavated more than 40 tombs here; among them 19 are cremation tombs and 21 mound burial tombs. From the former there have excavated bronze eardrops and potsherds, and from the latter pottery, bronze wares, iron wares, golden wares, wooden wares and some other ornaments have been found. The tombs were determined to be about 2,500-2,400 years ago. Now it is listed a major cultural site under the autonomous region protection.
Where is Xiangbaobao Cemetery
Xiangbaobao Cemetery Located on a tableland on the left bank of the Taxkorgan River, 4 kilometers to the north of the county seat of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County.
History of Xiangbaobao Cemetery
This cemetery is probably the cemetery of Qiang or Cypriot people who lived in this area during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in China. According to the biography of Han Shu and the western regions, the burial tomb is a vertical pit with a wooden cover. the cremation tomb does not have a wooden cover. one or two people are buried in the burial tomb. Judging from the 40 tombs excavated, there are 19 cremation tombs and 21 earth tombs. The funerary objects of the fire tombs are copper earrings, pottery pieces, iron plates and bird bones. However, there are pottery, bronze, iron, gold, wood, stones, bones, agate necklaces and other decorations in the burial tombs. There are at most more than 10 pieces of burial objects in each tomb, usually only a few. Most of them are ornaments, followed by articles for daily use and few tools for production. The most valuable ornaments are carved with pictures of Pamirs’ goat heads, with concise lines and vivid images, which have high artistic value. Xiangbaobao’s tombs provide valuable information for us to understand the human activities in this area during this period.
Main Attraction of Xiangbaobao Cemetery
More than cremation tombs, mainly pottery, and bronze, iron, gold, wood and stone, bone, agate, necklace and other accessories.
Square stone-enclosed tombs are generally 1.5m-2m long and 0.0m wide. 7-1 meter. The diameter of the mound tomb is about 1-2 meters and its height is about 0.3 meters. People usually call it “Xiangbaobao Tomb”. To the east of this tomb is the broad Alar Caotan, through which the Tashkurgan River meanders, and Pamir mineral water, a famous natural mineral water in our county, is derived from the foot of Xiangbaobao Tomb, hence the name “Xiangbaobao Spring”. According to two textual researches by the Archaeological Research Institute of Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, the Xiangbaobao ancient tombs are tombs of Qiang and Seck peoples in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods in the 5th-4th century BC, dating back 2500 to 4000 years. Copper eardrops, pottery tablets, iron plates and bird bones were found in the cremation tomb, and no martyrs were found. The owner of the tomb bent his limbs sideways. There is no coffin in the tomb. The bones are either placed on the burial tools woven with bark or on the wooden rectangular and trapezoidal wooden frame burial tools. The entrance of the tomb is covered with wood.
Best Time to Travel Xiangbaobao Cemetery
The best time to pay a visit is in late spring and late summer.
Kashgar region is located in the central Asian abdomen, restricted by geographical environment, and belongs to the continental arid climate zone of warm temperate zone. The territory has four distinct seasons, long illumination, large annual and daily temperature changes, little precipitation and vigorous evaporation. Summer is hot, but the period of hot summer is short. Winter is not cold, but the low temperature period is long, so it is suitable to travel in late spring and late summer.
How to Get There
- Self driving
Located on a flat land 2 kilometers north of the autonomous county, it takes about half an hour to drive there.
Useful Travel Tips
- Many of Xinjiang’s restaurants are halal, so friends who drink or smoke should pay attention in advance and ask the merchants in advance.
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All kinds of dried fruits can be properly purchased, and many businesses are equipped with express delivery service to ship directly to
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Tourists arriving in Xinjiang are eager to buy souvenirs and suggest buying souvenirs in the few days when the tour is coming to an end.
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If you just go shopping in Xinjiang, large and small items will cause a lot of trouble for the journey in the next few days.
