Jiaohe Ruins is the best preserved town ruin in China. It is located about 10 kilometers away from Turpan city. The strip-shaped town was around 0.8 kilometers long and the widest point spanned about 300 meters. The town was surrounded by sheer cliffs, then two twisting 30-meter-deep rivers. That's why the town was so called for Jiaohe means twisting rivers in Chinese.

 

 

Jiaohe's history can trace back to late Stone Age. Ancient residents built their homes in a lagoon island to protect against attack from wild animals and invasions from other tribes. They dug out dwelling caves out from the tough loess and chiseled passages to lead water from the rivers to the town. These early residents belonged to the Gushi tribe, who was called Cheshi tribe in the subsequent dynasties. During the Warrior States Period, tribes on the south side of the Tainshan Mountain set up their own kingdoms successively. The area around Jiaohe was controlled by the Cheshi People who took advantage of the ideal geographical location of the region and made it their power seat. According to historical documents, Cheshi People live in tents and did farming. They raised cattle, camels, ship and other livestock.

 

 

Jiaohe was completely destroyed by wars in the 14th century. Evidences indicate that the places became a ruin as early as the Ming Dynasty. 

 

In the ruin, there are 1389 residential house ruins, 53 Buddhism temples, 316 ancient wells and 34 alleys. The town was uniquely arranged, containing an above part and an underground part.