The Chawuhu Gully Ancient Tombs Cluster

The Chawuhu Gully Ancient Tombs Cluster

The Chawuhu Gully Ancient Tombs Cluster is a cultural tourism attraction.

The largest ancient tombs cluster in Xinjiang. A national key cultural relics protection unit. Located about 40 kilometers west of Hejing County, it sits on the alluvial fan at the foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, on ancient river terraces. It is 80 kilometers from Korla City. According to unearthed artifacts and C14 dating, the site dates back approximately 2,500 to 3,000 years, corresponding to the Western Zhou to Spring and Autumn periods. Among the thousands of unearthed relics, the craftsmanship of painted pottery has amazed archaeologists. Even more astonishing is the coiled dragon design on the back of a bronze mirror unearthed from Tomb 0. The dragon has a distinct head and tail, with no scales, wings, or feet, and its body is curled—a representation of early dragon imagery in China. It is the earliest known dragon motif found among artifacts unearthed in Xinjiang, referred to as the “First Dragon of Xinjiang.” The discovery of the Chawuhu Gully Ancient Tombs Cluster has been termed the “Chawuhu Culture” by archaeologists and has drawn attention from scholars and experts both domestically and internationally as a significant cultural phenomenon.