The Sampula Ancient Tombs

The Sampula Ancient Tombs

The Sampula Ancient Tombs are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Sampula Ancient Tombs are located on a Gobi plateau 14 kilometers southwest of Luopu County in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The tombs date back to the period between the Warring States and the Three Kingdoms, approximately 217 to 283 BCE.

The burial site is divided into eastern and western sections, spread across an area of 6 square kilometers — 6 kilometers from east to west and 1 kilometer from north to south. The tomb structures can be divided into two types: rectangular vertical earthen pit graves and cleaver-shaped shed-style tombs. The former were used for single or joint burials, while the latter were for multiple collective burials. A total of 38 tombs and 2 horse pits have been excavated. A rich array of cultural relics has been unearthed, including a large number of daily utensils, as well as exquisite silk fabrics, Han Dynasty bronze mirrors, and woolen textiles featuring exotic patterns — all serving as typical examples of East-West cultural exchange. (Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Shanpulu Town: Shanpulu Township is situated at the southern foot of the Kunlun Mountains, on the southeastern edge of Lake Luopu, covering a total area of 53.87 square kilometers. The township comprises 25 administrative villages, with a total population of 6,131 households and 24,960 people by the end of 2003, of which 99% are ethnic Uyghurs. The annual grain output was 14,959 tons, and the per capita cultivated land area and net income of farmers were 1,139 yuan.

Shanpulu Township enjoys convenient transportation and abundant resources, with a traditional local culture. The township market is 19 kilometers from the center of Hotan City and about 9 kilometers from Luopu County. Over the more than 20 years since the reform and opening-up, Shanpulu Township has… [Shanpulu Town detailed information++]

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units