Ruins of Khara-Khoto

Ruins of Khara-Khoto

The ruins of Khara-Khoto are a cultural tourism attraction.

The ruins of Khara-Khoto are located within Ejin Banner. The ancient city has a rectangular layout, with a perimeter of approximately 1 kilometer—434 meters east to west and 384 meters north to south. Gateways were built in the middle of both the eastern and western walls, each fortified with a barbican. The city walls were constructed from rammed earth and stand about 9 meters high today. In the northwest corner of the city stands a stupa in the shape of an inverted bowl. The original streets and main structures can still be faintly made out, while the remnants of ancient riverbeds and farmland nearby retain their general outlines. The cold winds of the Gobi Desert blow fiercely, and centuries of silence have left Khara-Khoto in deep decay. Yellow sand has engulfed the city walls, and the barbicans teeter on the verge of collapse. The weathered remains of Khara-Khoto will gradually vanish with time. How much treasure still lies buried within this decaying city remains an unsolved mystery, but the reflections it offers humanity should extend far beyond mere material wealth.