To accelerate the development of cultural tourism, boost economic vitality, and better promote Barkol while preserving local ethnic cultural heritage, the Autonomous County Party Committee and the People’s Government decided to establish the Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County Kazakh Ethnic Culture Exhibition Hall. This exhibition hall is, to date, the largest in terms of land area within Xinjiang...
Ancient Stone House Ruins at Lanzhouwanzi In 1983, a massive stone house structure site built from large pebbles was discovered 700 meters west of Lanzhouwanzi. Locals call it “Ebo.” This site is a cultural remnant from the Bronze Age and is also one of the most representative prehistoric human activity sites. The site covers an area of nearly 200 square meters, …
Beacon Towers There are 28 beacon towers in Barkol County, four of which were built during the Tang Dynasty, while the rest were constructed during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Extending eastward from Han City, a tower (beacon tower) was placed every ten li (a traditional Chinese unit of distance), with the spacing increasing to every twenty li farther out, all the way toward the Yiwu River Valley and into Gansu Province. Westward from the county seat, the beacon towers turn southwest toward Qijiaojing, and another route turns northwest toward Mulei. In Santanghu Township, along the route leading northeast toward Outer Mongolia, there are also five beacon towers.
The Shirenzi Gully Ruins in Shirenzi Township, located on the steep northern foothills of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains north of the Donghegou Hydropower Station, about 23 kilometers southeast of Barkol County, are cultural relics dating from the Bronze Age to the Sui and Tang dynasties. It was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site in 1993. Three platforms were discovered here: one on the mountain...
The Yegongtai–Xiheigou Relics Cluster is located on the gentle foothill slopes of the northern side of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains (Barkol Mountain), approximately 3 kilometers southwest of Barkol County in the Hami region of Xinjiang. Situated on the windward slope north of the mountains, the area receives abundant orographic rainfall and features vast grassland pastures and mountain forests. The relics cluster is semi-encircled by mountain ranges extending from the Tianshan, with the perennially flowing Xiheigou River to the west...
Dahe Ancient City is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. It is located southeast of Dongtouqu Village, Dahe Township, Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, Xinjiang, approximately 15.5 kilometers south of the county seat. Situated on a gently sloping plain with abundant water sources and fertile land, it is highly suitable for agriculture. The city was built by the Yiwu Army stationed here during the Jinglong era of the Tang Dynasty. It is currently one of the larger...
The Kazakh Ethnic Culture Park in Barkol is located one kilometer northwest of Barkol County town, offering very convenient transportation. Established in May 2004, the park covers an area of 125 acres, all of which is first-class national grassland, boasting a beautiful environment and pleasant scenery. There are 13 Kazakh yurts on site, including...
The North Lake Tourist Area is located 5 kilometers north of Balikun County, covering an area of 5,000 mu. It was originally a wetland left behind when Lake Pulei receded. With a high groundwater level and lush water plants, it serves as an excellent natural pasture. Historical records indicate that since the Mongol and Yuan dynasties, large numbers of cattle, sheep, and camels were grazed here. By the Qing Dynasty...
Kazakh Yurt Because of the varying seasonal pastures, transhumance is an important part of Kazakh life and production, as well as a major task for Kazakh herders. A housing solution that is easy to move and simple to assemble and disassemble is essential—and this is the Kazakh yurt. Thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the Kazakhs created a movable yurt...
Guide The Mausoleum of the Kings of Hami is located in Huicheng Township on the western outskirts of Hami City. It is referred to by the local Uyghur people as “Altunluk,” meaning “the Golden Land.” Introduction The King of Hami was actually a Uyghur feudal king. Before Xinjiang was established as a province by the Qing court, it was referred to as the Hui Region or Hui Frontier. Therefore, this Uyghur feudal ruler was known as the “King of Hami.” His domain covered all of Hami except for present-day Barkol, and also included present-day Shanshan.
The Yadan Scenic Area of Hami is located in the Zhibian Farm of Wubao Township, Hami City, Xinjiang. The scenic zone stretches 80 kilometers in length and 40 kilometers in width, covering an area of approximately 3,200 square kilometers. It is divided into four areas—east, south, west, and north—and features six sand flats, sixteen scenic spots, and one ancient city. The Hami Yadan landform natural scenic tourism area is the foremost among China's four major "devil cities."…
Tour Guide The Huiwang Mansion is located in Huijiang Township, Hami City. It was rebuilt in the 45th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1706) on the foundation of the original Mongolian royal mansion. Introduction After the Uyghur leader of Hami, Emin Dorah, broke away from the Jungar tribe and pledged allegiance to the Qing Dynasty, he went to Beijing in the autumn of the 37th year of Kangxi’s reign (1698) and returned the following year…
Guide The Hami City Melon Garden scenic area is a comprehensive specialty tourism base that integrates Hami melon cultivation, tasting, trade negotiations, planting history, as well as water fishing, horticultural leisure, natural Gobi sightseeing, and desert exploration. The scenic area covers a total area of 18,511.5 mu and is located in Karitali Village, Huayuan Township, Hami City, …
Introduction: The Hami Museum was established in 1988 and relocated in June 2002 to the South Yue Cultural Center, which was built with assistance from the People’s Government of Guangdong Province. The museum has an exhibition area of over 800 square meters and a storage space of 300 square meters. Its collections include stoneware, bronzeware, pottery, woodware,... dating from primitive society to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
White Stone is located at the northern foot of the main peak of the eastern Tianshan Mountains, the Kalalike Snow Mountain, about 2 kilometers east of Koumenzi and approximately 70 kilometers from Hami City. It is a tourist area consisting of grassland pastures, pristine forests, and resorts.
Highlights: These ruins are the largest, oldest, and longest-lasting Buddhist monastery complex in the Hami region. They flourished during the Tang Dynasty but were abandoned after the introduction of Islam in the 15th century. Description: The ruins are scattered along the high earthen cliffs on both sides of the Baiyang River. On the east bank, there are three caves, one stupa, and one large Buddha temple. The remaining height of the large Buddha statue is...
Guide: Tianshan Temple is located atop the Tianshan Mountains in northern Hami. It gets its name from the Guan Di Temple built at the summit of the Tianshan Mountains in the 51st year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1786 AD). The Tianshan Highway branches off here, making a sharp turn—southward leads to Nanshankou, while northward leads to Koumenzi. At an altitude of over 2,700 meters, this is a lofty path through the clouds, historically serving as the essential route through the eastern Tianshan Mountains between sunny southern slopes and shaded northern ones...
The Tianshan Scenic Area is divided into five scenic spots: Baishitou, Mingsha Mountain, Songshutang, Tianshan Temple, and Hanqigou. “Experience all four seasons in one day, and a different sky every ten miles.” Along the over 70-kilometer journey from the city to the Tianshan Scenic Area via the Haba Highway, you can witness five major natural landscapes: oases, deserts and Gobi, grasslands, forests, and snow-capped peaks. Along the way...
Guide: Located 73 kilometers south of Hami City, Songshutang sits at an altitude of 2,200 to over 3,600 meters. To the south, it borders the Balikun Mountain, while to the north lies the lush green Balikun Grassland. Along the gentle slopes of alluvial fans, hillsides, and valleys, dense forests of pine and fir thrive, stretching all the way to the plains. According to statistics, just within Balikun County alone...
The ancient city of Lafuqueke is located in Sibao Village, Wubao Township, Hami City, 65 kilometers east of Hami. It dates back to the Han and Tang dynasties. The site sits at an altitude of 614.2 meters. In 1957, it was listed as a cultural heritage site under the protection of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The ancient city is quite large, consisting of two parts—north and south—arranged in a “呂” (Li) character layout. Due to the Bailang River flowing between the two sections...