A Visit to Turpan’s Ancient Jiaohe City

For nearly thirteen centuries the ancient city of Jiaohe (a.k.a. "Yarkhoto") once sat perched atop a narrow plateau not far from the Silk Road city of Turpan. It is one of Xinjiang's best historical sites and one of the most rewarding to visit.

Any trip to Turpan is not complete without a visit to Turpan's ancient Jiaohe City – 交河故城.

History of Jiaohe

Established early in the Han Dynasty as a garrison town, Jiaohe continued to flourish under both Chinese and Uyghur rule until it was finally abandoned at the end of the 14th century.

The earliest known inhabitants were a group of people called the "Jushi" (车师) who made the city their capital until it became a part of the Gaochang kingdom in 450 A.D.

At this point the capital was moved from Jiaohe to what is now the ancient city of Gaochang. Almost 200 years later in 640 A.D. the Tang dynasty set up their governmental offices at Jiaohe, offices which are still visible today.

Getting Around Jiaohe

Tour buses and taxis will drop you off at the tourist center to the south of Jiaohe. After paying your entrance fee, you're free to walk the miles of paths that twist through the city.

A wide, central street runs north towards the Great Monastery and divides the city into an eastern and western half. Running along this road you'll find all the workshops, while on the far eastern and western sides are all the residential districts.

The administrative and governmental offices – also very interesting sites to visit – are located in the center part of the city a short distance form the many monasteries and Buddhist stupas that occupy the northern half of the city.

Travel Tips for Jiaohe

Because this is one place you won't want to miss when visiting Turpan, take note of these tips:

Be prepared to pay RMB 40 to enter Jiaohe
Take along plenty of water and sunblock, especially in the summer months. It gets very hot!
Go early morning or late afternoon. It will make the temperature bearable, but more importantly you'll have much
better lighting for your pictures!
Don't stray off the path. CCTV cameras are now strategically places to ensure that you don't disturb this historical relic.
Go the distance. You'll miss out if you don't walk all the way to Stupa Grove at the far north end. It's probably the most well-preserved landmark in the city.

Getting to Jiaohe

Jiaohe ancient city is located a mere 10km to the west of Turpan. For this reason it is possible to travel here by bicycle (ask your hotel for clear directions), by taxi (approx. 10 RMB) or by public bus (1 RMB). It will also be a part of almost any tour you take with a guide in Turpan.