Located at the southern foot of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains, in the oasis area of the Yalanzik Valley at the northern edge of the Turpan Basin, the ancient city of Jiaohe boasts the title of the largest and best-preserved adobe architecture site in China.

Recently, a group of Xinhua reporters visited the ancient city of Jiaohe, immersing themselves in the historical memories and Silk Road imprint carried by this remarkable civilization that has thrived for over a thousand years.

Historically, Jiaohe served as the highest military and political institution overseeing the Western Regions under the Tang Dynasty, known as the Anxi Protectorate. It was also a key town along the Silk Road, holding significant political, cultural, historical, and artistic value.

However, due to the impact of wars and natural disasters, the once-grand Silk Road city was reduced to ruins. It wasn’t until the 1950s, when archaeological survey teams came to the area, that the world began to rediscover this ancient city.

Given its importance for research, Jiaohe was selected as one of the first national key cultural relics protection units in 1961. In 2014, it was inscribed as part of the World Heritage List under the designation “Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor,” and in November 2020, it was established as a national 4A-level scenic area.

Reporters: Fang Kuan, Wang Gejun, Zhang Yu, Zhou Shengbin [Editor: Wang Qin]