Ancient city of Gaochan

Gaochan is the ruins of a once rich, prosperous city. Located in the south of the Gobi Desert, this city was often compared in its best years to a magnificent gem framed by a lifeless desert.

Gaochan was built in the I century BC. Subsequently, it took one of the key positions on the Great Silk Road. This ensured the financial and commercial prosperity of the city. Buddhism came to Gaochan along the same path, and one of the first centers of this religion in China was formed here. Even now, among the ruins on the streets of Gaochan, you can find buildings that look very similar to Buddhist sanctuaries, where altars and niches for Buddha statues have been preserved.

The city was destroyed, having existed for almost 1300 years, in the XIII century during the war between the Mongols, subjugated China, and the Uighurs. Residents did not stay long in the destroyed city, Gaochan very quickly completely deserted.

Today, its former greatness is reminiscent only of the ruins of impressive city walls of raw brick. However, the Chinese government intends to reconstruct the monument and allocates huge funds for this purpose.

Gaochan is open to tourists. Near the gate are constantly on duty wagons, on which for a small fee you can make a tour of the city and try to imagine what it was during its heyday.