Ruins of the Ancient City of Aketao from the Han Dynasty

Ruins of the Ancient City of Aketao from the Han Dynasty

The ruins of the Ancient City of Aketao from the Han Dynasty are a cultural tourism attraction.

Ruins of the Ancient City of Aketao from the Han Dynasty

The ancient city of Aketao is among the first batch of key cultural relics protection units at the autonomous region level, announced by the People's Government of the Autonomous Region in 1957. It is designated as an ancient city from the Han Dynasty and is located in the old town area of present-day Aketao County. Also known as the ancient city of Ahetu, it is commonly referred to by locals as “Akbasahan City.” “Akbasahan,” also called “Khan Xierdaq,” was the leader of the Kipchak tribe of the Tiele people in the Tianshan region during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. In the 36th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1697), Xierdaq brought the Islamic Black Mountain Sect’s Hui leader Daniala to Aketao and supported him in seizing the throne of the Yarkand Khanate, which was under the rule of the White Mountain Sect. It is said that this site was once the military camp where Akbasahan stationed his troops. This site was included in the 1981 edition of “A Dictionary of Scenic Spots in China,” where it was referred to as Zhongcheng City from the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty Zhongcheng City served as a satellite city of the Shule Kingdom. In the first year of the Yuanhe era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (84 AD), Shule King Zhong rebelled against the Han, garrisoned troops in Zhongcheng City, and allied with troops from Kangju to defend Zhongcheng against Ban Chao. Ban Chao sent envoys from the Yuezhi to persuade Kangju to withdraw its troops. The Kangju forces retreated from Zhongcheng and took the rebellious King Zhong to Kangju. Three years later, the rebellious King Zhong once again borrowed troops from Kangju to occupy Zhongcheng and plotted to lure and assassinate Ban Chao through a trap. Ban Chao turned the tables, visited Zhongcheng with his close associates, and at the banquet set by Zhong — originally intended as a trap — he took control of the situation, captured and executed Zhong, and drove the Kangju troops out of Zhongcheng. Ban Chao subsequently stationed troops and developed agriculture in Zhongcheng. It is said that this city was the place where Ban Chao stationed his troops and cultivated farmland. Zhongcheng City has a history of over 2,000 years. The city was square-shaped, with earthen walls approximately 120 meters in length. Ancient pottery fragments have been found on the ground. In the early 1950s, the walls were still largely intact. However, as the area north of the city was used for rice paddies, farmers excavated earth from the city walls to use as fertilizer, leading to the destruction of the walls.