Ancient City of Jiaohe

Ancient City of Jiaohe
Zossolino · CC BY-SA 4.0

A ruined earthen city atop a leaf-shaped plateau between two river valleys near Turpan, Xinjiang. Capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom from 108 BC to 450 AD, it served as a key Silk Road stop. Buildings were carved from the natural loess plateau rather than constructed, making it the world's largest and best-preserved earthen city. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 as part of the Silk Roads corridor. The city was 1,650 m long and 300 m wide, with no city walls due to its natural cliff defenses.

TypeCity/town/settlement
Period3000 - 1500 BC
CountryChina
Coordinates42.9534° N, 89.0660° E

Related resources

More sites in China

Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum · Luoyang · Longmen Grottoes · Guyaju Caves · Yangshan Quarry · Longyou Grottoes · Lingyin Temple · Dafo Temple (Xinchang)

All sites in China

Was this page useful?

Keep exploring

Every site on this page sits on the globe, and the people who research them are on the Discord.

3D Globe · Sites by country · Story Archive · Research Library · Weekly Journal · Search