Jiaohe Ancient City Travel Guide
Cheshi King City · Cliff-carved City · Thirty-meter Terrace
The ancient city of Jiaohe is the only city in the world that was "dug out from the ground": the entire city was directly hollowed out downward from a 30-meter-high loess plateau, with streets being dug-out trenches and houses being excavated caves. After two thousand years of wind erosion, its contours remain intact.
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Destination Details
The ancient city of Jiaohe is located about ten kilometers west of Turpan City, built on a willow leaf-shaped plateau formed between two river valleys. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was not "built" but "carved"—craftsmen dug down from the surface of the plateau, using the excavated space as rooms and leaving the remaining earth walls as the structure.
Main Highlights
Central Avenue
A main street over 300 meters long runs through the city from north to south, flanked by towering earthen walls. Walking along this trench-like street, you cannot see any rooftops on either side, only rows of openings in the cliff walls. This "roofless city" is what makes Jiaohe most unique.
Government Offices and Buddhist Temples
The northern part of the city houses the largest government office area, with courtyards layered progressively; the northeastern Buddhist temple area preserves the remnants of its base and traces of murals. The plateau is surrounded by nearly vertical thirty-meter cliffs, naturally forming city walls, which is also why Jiaohe has been defensible for over a thousand years.
Suggested Route
- Classic: Enter from the south gate → Central Avenue → Government Office Area → Northeastern Buddhist Temple → Exit from the east gate, about 2 hours.
- Combine with Gaochang Ancient City, Flaming Mountains, and Grape Valley for a full day in Turpan.
Practical Information
In summer, Turpan temperatures often reach 45°C. The ancient city has no shade or supply points, so be sure to visit early in the morning or before sunset and bring plenty of water. Winters are dry and cold but with clear light, making it the best season to photograph the cliff stratifications.
