Eshikaer Ancient Castle

Eshikaer Ancient Castle

Eshikaer Ancient Castle is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guide: Eshikaer Ancient Castle is located in the East Devil City, 23 kilometers southwest of Wubao, at an altitude of 350 meters. Its name means “ruined ancient city” in the Uyghur language. Introduction: Eshikaer Ancient Castle is situated among the steep earthen cliffs and rock mounds of a yardang landform. Built against the yardang, from a distance the castle blends seamlessly with the surrounding formations, making them indistinguishable. The castle faces north and has a two-story adobe structure, with a remaining height of 6–8 meters. It was built on the upper-middle part of a yardang hill, more than 5 meters above the ground.

This is a defensive facility repaired in modern times (during the Qing Dynasty), mainly consisting of two castles with observation holes on top. The gravel ground is scattered with numerous pottery fragments, including coarse and fine red earthenware, as well as painted pottery with horizontal, vertical, and triangular patterns. In 1998 and 1999, the site was repeatedly looted, with mummies discarded on the ground. The environment here is extremely hot and arid, with no water visible in the ancient riverbed. It is speculated that the ancient castle was in use from the Bronze Age through the Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Everything here remains shrouded in mystery, awaiting further study by experts, scholars, and archaeology enthusiasts.

Hami, Xinjiang