Gaochang Ancient town

Chinese name: 高昌古城（Gao Chang Gu Cheng）
Location: Gaochang District, Turpan, Xinjiang.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY75.00, sightseeing bus CNY35.00
Estimated tour time:1-2 hour
Recommended time to visit: May to Oct 
Nearby attractions: Grape Gully, Karez Water System, Ancient City of Jiaohe, Sugong Pagoda, etc.

In the boundless desolate Gobi desert stand the ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang, shining like a resplendent precious stone inlaid in the barren desert and shining on the Silk Road. It is located at the foot of the Flaming Mountain, about 46 kilometers (about 29 miles) southeast of Turpan. Withstanding the test of time and weather, the ancient city of Gaochang, and the ancient city of Jiaohe, are the best-preserved ruins of the ancient cities in China. These two cities were added to the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.

The Gaochang Ancient Town site is located on the plain where the north edge of the Turpan Basin borders the Gobi desert on the south foot of the Flaming Mountain. The surrounding land is relatively flat. It enjoys a typical continental temperate climate, with abundant sunshine, fierce heat and extreme dryness.

The city, as seen from its name, refers to a city that is no longer in existence. The Gaochang Ancient Town is in ruins now. Seen from far away, it looks just like the Yar-dang phenomenom frequently seen in the desert, which is formed by the corrosion of wind and sand and is not like any architecture built by human beings.

The city was initially built as a garrison town in the first century B.C., called Gaochang Wall, and later renamed Kharakhoja, Kocho or King City. It was a key point along the Silk Road. During the successive dynasties, it was ruled as Gaochang Prefecture, Gaochang Kingdom and West Prefecture. By the 14th century, the city was damaged and abandoned due to warfare between Mongolian aristocrats and Uigurs. After 2,000 years, the weather-beaten ancient city still displays its past greatness and glory even though the walls are incomplete the magnificent outline remains.

The Gaochang Ancient Town is the biggest well known historical and cultural city in the range of Xinjing.It has mainly experienced the following five historical stages: Gaochang Wall, Gaochang County, Gaochang Capital, Xizhou City in the Tang Dynasty, Huihu Gaochang and Gaochang, the capital of Huihu State. By the beginning of the Ming Dynasty the city had been abandoned and by then it had a history of about 1400 years.