Ancient Cities to Re-emerge in Xinjiang

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 22, 2002

Ancient Cities to Re-emerge in Xinjiang

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The ancient cities of Gaochang and Jiaohe are to be rebuilt near Turpan City in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to a seminar on tourist industrial development recently held here.

"Unlike such tourist cities as Shanghai and Dalian, Turpan has a few scenic spots like the Grape Valley and the ruins of Gaochangand Jiaohe," said Zhong Pengrong, director of the Beijing Eyeshot Consulting Center, at the seminar. "Therefore, more should be built to attract tourists."

According to the seminar, two cities of the same sizes will be built near the ruins of Gaochang and Jiaohe to give visitors a picture of the cities 2,000 years ago. Tourists will be invited toancient activities such as lighting "war flames" on towers.

Established some 2,100 years ago, Gaochang was located 46 km tothe east of Turpan and used to be a prosperous town along the ancient Silk Road. However, it was damaged by war in the 14th century.

Thirteen kilometers to the west of Turpan, Jiaohe was founded 2,300 years ago and used to be the capital of a state in the westernregion. The ruins lie on 30-meter-high loessial land and cover an area of half a square kilometer. Today, tourists can still visit the houses with the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Both of the ruins of Gaochang and Jiaohe are on the list of national protection sites of cultural relics.

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