The ruins of the Small Temple in Damagou Township, Cele County were discovered in March 2000 by a shepherd boy. Covering an area of just 4 square meters, it is the smallest Buddhist temple ever found in the world to date. The temple faces south, and inside there is a Buddha seated on a lotus base facing north. The Buddha’s head and hands are missing, but the walls are adorned with exquisite murals. Judging from the craftsmanship of the statue…
Introduction: Puru Volcano is actually a layer of volcanic lava originating from the southern Kunlun Mountains. Its activity dates back to approximately 1.43 million years ago. The lava layers are distributed on the high terraces on both sides of the middle reaches of the Keriya River. The volcanic lava consists of two layers: the lower layer is 7 meters thick and composed of volcanic agglomerate and dense massive lava, covering the gravel. The contact surface...
Introduction The farmers of Baghi Town in Hotan County saved arable land by planting grapes along farmland roads, letting the vines stretch overhead over the pathways, thus taking up more sky and less ground. In the early 1980s, Hotan County vigorously promoted this innovative practice and carried out unified planning. To date, the county has developed over 1,500 kilometers of…
Introduction The Michit Mosque was planned in 1982. Initially covering an area of 2 mu, it was expanded to 5 mu. The mosque was built with donations and fundraising totaling nearly 1 million yuan from Islamic believers. The construction was fully completed by 1988. The Michit Mosque is currently one of the largest and most luxurious mosques in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang. The...
Introduction Located on the west bank of the Yurungkash River, about 25 kilometers southeast of Hotan City, it is said to be the site of the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Khotan during the Han Dynasty, with a history of over 1,500 years. The ruins stretch approximately 1,500 meters from north to south, tapering from top to bottom at both ends, measuring 750 meters and 450 meters respectively. There are hundreds of stone bases scattered across the site, with a dense concentration in the southwest, likely the location of government offices. These stone bases suggest the grandeur of the buildings that once stood here. In the center of the ruins lies the remains of a pottery kiln, believed to have been part of the commercial and industrial area. The northeast section may have been a residential area, where Buddhist temples were also located. Surrounded by sandy hills, the site offers views that extend to the shadowy outline of the Kunlun Mountains. A large number of ancient coins, such as Han Dynasty wuzhu coins, have been unearthed here, along with bronze Buddha statues, jade artifacts, clay sculptures, and murals.
Introduction The Kukemaremu Grotto is located on the mountainside cliffs about 80 meters above the eastern bank of the Karakash River, on the Kumal Mountain in front of the southern Kunlun Mountains. The cliffs are steep and present a spectacular sight. At the top of the hill there are three ancient tombs, with the grotto situated in the middle. The grotto is divided into upper and lower levels. Upon entering, visitors can climb a spiral staircase to reach the upper level. The grotto is 8 meters high and approximately 4 meters wide, with a...
Introduction Located on the southern edge of the oasis in Buzha Township, 18 kilometers southwest of Hotan City, the site stretches 800 meters from east to west and 400 meters from north to south. Since 1983, multiple excavations have been carried out, unearthing a number of well-preserved painted coffins. The corpses inside were dressed in splendid silk garments and date back to the Five Dynasties period. This was an ancient cemetery of the Khotanese people and holds significant value for researching...
The Grand Bazaar is located northeast of Hotan City, beside National Highway 315. Surrounded by lush greenery and set in a beautiful environment, it features nearby amenities such as parking lots, central flower beds, fishponds, and canals. Inside the bazaar, there is a joint office for industry and commerce, taxation, public security, and health and epidemic prevention, as well as a bank branch and a clinic. These facilities not only make trading convenient for the public but also facilitate management and services,...
Kunlun Park is the largest park in the Hotan region, covering an area of 88,000 square meters. The park centers around Kunlun Lake, which has a water surface area of 28,000 square meters. The eastern and southern shores of Kunlun Lake are straight, while the northeastern corner is long and narrow. There is an island in the middle of the lake, and a lotus pond is located in the northwestern corner. In the eastern part, there are three fish ponds, the two northern ones being larger and also offering recreational activities such as boating. Kunlun Lake Park also includes an orchard spanning 53,334 square meters and plastic greenhouses covering 700 square meters, where various seedlings can be cultivated. The park’s green coverage rate exceeds 60%. Facilities within the park include the “Jinhe Children’s Playground,” a zoo, a swimming pool, a boat dock, a teahouse, and various dining services.
The Southern Silk Road within China consists of three major routes, spanning over 2,000 kilometers in total. It starts westward from Dunhuang through the Yumen Pass, passes through Loulan, follows the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and the northern foothills of the Kunlun Mountains, crosses the Pamir Mountains to reach areas of present-day Afghanistan. The Hotan region has historically been the center of human activity along the Southern Silk Road. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the ancient Silk Road flourished as never before...
The scenic section of the Hotan River is located in the Taklamakan Desert, with a total river length of about 400 meters. This area is arid, receives little rainfall, and experiences large temperature variations. The average annual rainfall is 26 mm, while evaporation reaches 2,545.5 mm. The highest temperature in July can reach 43.7°C, and the lowest in January drops to -28.9°C. The river channel winds through sand dunes...
Located on the west bank of the Yulongkashi River, 25 kilometers west of Hotan City. This ancient city was the capital of the Kingdom of Khotan during the Han Dynasty — a Western Regions historical site that flourished and declined between 206 BC and 907 AD. It stretches over 400 meters from north to south, with the southern end being 745 meters wide and the northern end 450 meters wide. It borders the riverbed to the east and is surrounded by sand dunes to the west. At the site, there are...
Located within the burial area of the Niya ruins; it is a joint burial tomb of a couple from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The coffin is a wooden box made of desert poplar, with four short wooden legs. The exterior of the coffin is filled with tamarisk branches and coated with a layer of yellow mud, resembling an earthen chamber. The remains of the deceased have mummified, and the silk robes they wore feature elaborate patterns embroidered with auspicious phrases such as “May All Go Well” and “Longevity and Prosperity for Generations,” written in clerical script...
Located 22 kilometers northwest of Hotan City, at the southern edge of the world’s second-largest desert — the Taklamakan Desert. Here, rolling sand dunes stretch out like an endless ocean, creating a spectacular landscape. Beneath the dunes to the south of the desert lies the picturesque Molelike Reservoir, where fishermen can be seen casting nets, and visitors can go boating...
The Hetian Regional Museum was established in 1995, housing a collection of 9,066 cultural relics. It has a total floor area of 3,400 square meters, including two large exhibition halls, six small ones, one underground cultural relics storage room, and one academic research and exchange center. On the afternoon of October 29, 2005, the museum...
Hetian Tuan Cheng is located in the city center, covering an area of 83 hectares. The name "Tuan Cheng" (meaning "Round City") comes from its radial layout with streets and alleys surrounding the center, reflecting the harmony between humans and nature in this desert oasis. It is one of the most typical traditional folk neighborhoods in southern Xinjiang. The Narbagh Subdistrict in Hetian City features the classic layout of a traditional southern Xinjiang folk neighborhood...
Fine jade comes from Hetian — renowned throughout China for five thousand years. Hetian jade has a history of over 7,000 years in China and forms the main body of the country’s jade culture. As early as the Neolithic Age, the ancestors living at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains discovered Hetian jade and transported and exchanged it eastward and westward as a treasure and a medium of friendship, forming the earliest transportation route for Hetian jade in China...
Hetian County Green Ecological Park Tourist Area Hetian County boasts strong ethnic characteristics, simple local customs, a long-standing ethnic culture and historical relics, unique natural landscapes, and abundant tourism resources. It is renowned as “You won’t know how ancient and magical China is until you visit Hetian.” Currently, a green ecological park connecting three key tourist towns has been preliminarily established. The content and routes of the tourist area are as follows: Starting from the 10-kilometer poplar windbreak and sand-fixation green tunnel at the intersection of Buzhake Township ① — the Red Tourism Site featuring the Water Improvement Memorial Hall in Buzhake Township ② — the rural walnut orchard scenery of the national thin-shelled walnut green food raw material base ③ — the Thousand-Mile Grape Corridor ④ — the Bagqi Town Millennium Walnut King Park ⑤ — the folk crafts and snacks street, walnut leisure cabins, grape picking area, and fruit tasting area ⑥ — the Socialist New Countryside Village Committee, farmers’ square park, earthquake-resistant houses, traditional old homes, and the living area of long-lived elders ⑦ — the Wordless Stele, apricot tree corridor, and walnut corridor ⑧ — the La’ika Township Century-Old Fig King and Hundred-Flavor Fairy Orchard ⑨ — the Millennium Ancient Water Mill ⑩ — the Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Park ⑪ — the Canal Farmhouse Experience ⑫ — the Ancient Mysterious Cave Tourist Area ⑬ — the Golden Valley Grape Manor, among other attractions. These form an integrated green ecological park in Hetian County that encompasses the three townships of Buzhake, Bagqi, and La’ika. It is one of the key scenic spots planned to be included in the “Overall Planning of the Silk Road Tourist Area.”
The King Fig Scenic Area is located in an orchard behind the government office of Layiqa Township, Hotan County, 22 kilometers from downtown Hotan. Figs are small deciduous trees, called "Anjuer" in Uyghur. Their flowers are hidden inside the receptacle, making them hard to detect, hence they are also known as the "mysterious fruit." Locals call it the "fruit of longevity and prosperity." The tree yields over 20,000 fruits annually, which can be enjoyed from June to October...
Golden Valley Vineyard Estate is located at the grain station in LaiKa Township, covering an area of 10 acres. It features accommodation facilities (21 rooms), an open-air dance hall, a restaurant, and more, making it a well-established tourist destination that integrates leisure, entertainment, and dining. The estate currently employs 17 staff members, receives 300 visitors per day, and enjoys considerable economic benefits…