Dandan Oilik Ruins

　　The Dandan Oilik Ruins are a Han and Tang dynasty site located in the heart of the desert, situated along the ancient Silk Road. Existing remains include residential structures, Buddhist temples, orchards, and farmland. The site has yielded exquisite woodblock prints, murals, and documents written in Chinese, Sanskrit, and Khotanese. In January 1896, Swedish geographer Dr. Sven Hedin discovered the ruins and made them known to the world. In 1990, the renowned British archaeologist Aurel Stein followed Dr. Hedin’s exploration route to investigate the Dandan Oilik Ruins. In 1999, the Autonomous Region People's Government designated the Dandan Oilik Ruins as an autonomous region-level cultural heritage protection site. In 2007, it was listed as a national-level cultural heritage protection unit.