For nearly thirteen centuries the ancient city of Jiaohe (a.k.a.
“Yarkhoto”) once sat perched atop a narrow plateau not far from the Silk
Road city of
Turpan. It is one of Xinjiang’s best historical sites and one of the most rewarding to visit for your Silk Road tours.
Any trip to Turpan is not complete without a visit to Turpan’s ancient Jiaohe City.
History of Jiaohe
The
ancient city of Jiaohe along the Silk Road in Turpan, early in the Han
Dynasty as a garrison town, Jiaohe continued to flourish under both
Chinese and
Uyghur rule until it was finally abandoned at the end of the 14th century.
The
earliest known inhabitants were a group of people called the “Jushi”
who made the city their capital until it became a part of the Gaochang
kingdom
in 450 A.D.
At
this point the capital was moved from Jiaohe to what is now the ancient
city of Gaochang. Almost 200 years later in 640 A.D. the Tang dynasty
set up
their governmental offices at Jiaohe, offices which are still visible today.
Getting Around Jiaohe
China tour buses and taxis will drop you off at the tourist center to the south
of Jiaohe. After paying your entrance fee, you’re free to walk the miles of paths that twist through the city.
A
wide, central street runs north towards the Great Monastery and divides
the city into an eastern and western half. Running along this road
you’ll find
all the workshops, while on the far eastern and western sides are all the residential districts.
The
administrative and governmental offices – also very interesting sites
to visit – are located in the center part of the city a short distance
form
the many monasteries and Buddhist stupas that occupy the northern half of the city.
Travel Tips for Jiaohe
Because this is one place you won’t want to miss when visiting Turpan for your private China tours, take note of these tips:
Be prepared to pay RMB 40 to enter Jiaohe
Take along plenty of water and sunblock, especially in the summer months. It gets very hot!
Go early morning or late afternoon. It will make the temperature
bearable, but more importantly you’ll have much better lighting for your
pictures!
Don’t stray off the path. CCTV cameras are now strategically places to ensure that you don’t disturb this historical relic.
Go the distance. You’ll miss out if you don’t walk all the way to Stupa
Grove at the far north end. It’s probably the most well-preserved
landmark
in the city.
Getting to Jiaohe
Jiaohe
ancient city is located a mere 10km to the west of Turpan. For this
reason it is possible to travel here by bicycle (ask your hotel for
clear
directions), by taxi (approx. 10 RMB) or by public bus (1
RMB). It will also be a part of almost any tour you take with a guide in
Turpan.
But China business travel service is not
very good here.
If you are interested in Jiaohe Ancient Town, you can consider the China travel group perchase which save you more money.
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