Yuansha Ancient City

　　         Introduction         Yuansha Ancient City, also known as Yumulakumu Ancient City, is located on the eastern bank of the ancient Keriya Riverbed in the northern part of Daheyuan Township, Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The ancient city lies deep in the heart of the Taklamakan Desert and is almost entirely covered by sand dunes. Most of the walls are irregular and damaged. The city wall structure consists of wooden-framed earthen walls with protective embankments on the outside. There is one city gate each in the middle of the southern wall and the northern part of the eastern wall, with visible traces of gateways, gate pillars, and door panels. There are six exposed architectural ruins within the city, yielding artifacts made of pottery, stone, metal, and glass. Excavations indicate that the city was established during the Han Dynasty, with its economy primarily based on animal husbandry.

　　      The ancient inhabitants of Yuansha represent the Mediterranean East branch of the Europoid race, specifically the Indo-Afghan type. They likely entered western Xinjiang from Central Asia several centuries BCE or even earlier, and moved along the southern edge of the Tarim Basin into the Lop Nur region. This type shows significant differences from the ancient European type, both in physical characteristics and origin. The ancient city was designated as part of the fifth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council in June 2001.

　　       Hotan, Xinjiang