Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto)
Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto)
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
224 reviews
Excellent
106
Very good
90
Average
25
Poor
3
Terrible
0
WorldGlutton
London, UK24,428 contributions
Sept 2024 • Friends
It is a big Ancient City, the Visitor Center located at the entrance has all the interesting photos ,videos and displays on the history of this City.
Next we took about 20 mins bus ride, arriving at the Ancient City Ruins entrance . There is a big signboard illustrating the strategic local on all the buildings in this Ancient City, surrounded by 2 rivers.
Walking along the road , we could see ancient walls, private residences of officials Buddhist temples ,pagodas and cemeteries.
It took us around 2 hours to walk through the ruins of this stunning site full of forgotten history with lots of photographic opportunities.
The architecture is quite interesting , looks like the inhabitants dug into the mud to create their dwellings and probably slowly eroded by the weather, some of carved out rocks have looks like some animal formations.
Nevertheless the site is still a well preserved ancient city , it is better to have a local guide who could readily explain whatever abandoned ruins you are looking at !!
Next we took about 20 mins bus ride, arriving at the Ancient City Ruins entrance . There is a big signboard illustrating the strategic local on all the buildings in this Ancient City, surrounded by 2 rivers.
Walking along the road , we could see ancient walls, private residences of officials Buddhist temples ,pagodas and cemeteries.
It took us around 2 hours to walk through the ruins of this stunning site full of forgotten history with lots of photographic opportunities.
The architecture is quite interesting , looks like the inhabitants dug into the mud to create their dwellings and probably slowly eroded by the weather, some of carved out rocks have looks like some animal formations.
Nevertheless the site is still a well preserved ancient city , it is better to have a local guide who could readily explain whatever abandoned ruins you are looking at !!
Written 3 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Queenscout
Berkshire, England405 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
The Jiaohe Ruins sometimes more theatrically named Lost City of Jiaohe sits on a large islet in the middle of a river in the Yarnez Valley a few miles west of the city of Turpan and is thought to date back some 2000 years. If you think about the Isle de la Citie in Paris, located in the middle of a desert you will not be far out! It is one of the few cities of its era that did not have a city wall. The steep clffs about 90 feet high on all sides were reckoned to be sufficient defence. Not against the Mongols of course and it was the city's destruction by Ghengis Khan that led to its abandonment in the 13th Century.
Today the ruins are a remarkable fragment of the history of the Silk Road: having been a thriving entrepôt with a population said to have been 7000 and located at an important crossroads for the Silk Road merchants and those who did business with them. The buildings were mostly carved out of the loess soil, with three substantial Buddhist Temples the walls of which remain today. The place has a ghostly, eerie air about it despite the scorching temperatures and is a truly dramatic place to visit.
Today the ruins are a remarkable fragment of the history of the Silk Road: having been a thriving entrepôt with a population said to have been 7000 and located at an important crossroads for the Silk Road merchants and those who did business with them. The buildings were mostly carved out of the loess soil, with three substantial Buddhist Temples the walls of which remain today. The place has a ghostly, eerie air about it despite the scorching temperatures and is a truly dramatic place to visit.
Written 21 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert C
Redlands, CA2,409 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
A wedge-shaped plateau between two rivers is the site of this old Silk Road city destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. There are enough ruins left to paint a good picture of what it was like and after seeing a number of cities like this, to have a fearful appreciation of the power of the Mongol invaders.
Written 9 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy D
Suzhou, China685 contributions
Oct 2019 • Family
The site is beautifully set in the desert mountains, on a cliff between two forks in a river. The official staff are helpful and the site is well organized with signs and busses and souvenirs. Other than for a few of the larger religious structures such as the temples, there isn’t much left intact from the original city they once stood but it’s still with a visit. In my opinion, if you don’t come in a hot day, skip the short bus ride and walk to the site from the guest services building. It will save you money and the walk is only about a kilometer long.
Written 6 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lilian G
Melaka, Malaysia73 contributions
Sept 2019 • Family
Interesting place. Apparently 2000 years old.
Will I come again?
Not during September!! It was 41’C which was too hot to walk anywhere!
I would come again maybe in March or April where I can appreciate this World Heritage better!
Will I come again?
Not during September!! It was 41’C which was too hot to walk anywhere!
I would come again maybe in March or April where I can appreciate this World Heritage better!
Written 2 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
veronique v
Taishan10 contributions
Jul 2017
the way this city was built is a proof on how the ancient civilization were . Visiting this archaeologist place, you imagine quite easily how the people live here . They dug the street and then dug there house apart. Natural protection by the nature itself. without forgetting the peace of the mind through the Buddhist temple.
Written 29 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
youke_worldwide
Singapore4,673 contributions
Apr 2017 • Business
This must be one my top most amazing sites in the world. Last time, from the time before Christ, this plateau was along two rivers and people buried into the ground to build their houses - it was also for secuity reason. Think monument valley but this is entirely man-made and 2000 years old. This place had major miltary and historic significance. I think its only in China whereby there are still places like this which are relatively undiscovered and yet completely blow the mind away.
Written 15 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ida B
Quezon City, Philippines52 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Definitely raw and one of a kind! Great history too. I think it's better to have a guide when you go through the ruins so that you get to understand a lot about the civilization of the Uyghurs who lived there before. Make sure you cover yourself with sunblock as there is no shade in the whole city.
Written 5 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
l80_stephane
Beijing37 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
Date of visit: 18/09/2016
Price: around 150 yuan (lost the ticket so I cannot be accurate). No need to provide your ID
If you go to Turpan (吐鲁番) this is a MUST to do (I didn't go to Gaochang ruins so I don't know if it's the same or not).
The site is well protected and it's easy to distinguish the houses and how they are built
I went there in the middle of the day so it was very hot. Preferably, it's better to go there for the sunset when the temperature goes down and the sun reflects on the walls of the buildings.
How to go to Turpan (吐鲁番) from Urumqi (乌鲁木齐):
You can take the fast train which last 1 hour and cost 49 yuan. Once arrive, you can negociate to get a driver for the day and visit the different sites (around 150 each)
Hope it helps
Price: around 150 yuan (lost the ticket so I cannot be accurate). No need to provide your ID
If you go to Turpan (吐鲁番) this is a MUST to do (I didn't go to Gaochang ruins so I don't know if it's the same or not).
The site is well protected and it's easy to distinguish the houses and how they are built
I went there in the middle of the day so it was very hot. Preferably, it's better to go there for the sunset when the temperature goes down and the sun reflects on the walls of the buildings.
How to go to Turpan (吐鲁番) from Urumqi (乌鲁木齐):
You can take the fast train which last 1 hour and cost 49 yuan. Once arrive, you can negociate to get a driver for the day and visit the different sites (around 150 each)
Hope it helps
Written 2 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
conectvega999
Dubai, United Arab Emirates77 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
Locals call this place as Yarkhoto, its an ancient site which is located on cliff near a valley called yarnaz, about 12 km from Turpan city. The guide told us that its about 2000 years old, its an amazing site , you can see the houses, temple , streets ruins very clearly, amazingly preserved. Its the feeling you enjoy and never forget while walking on those ancient streets, temples and imagining at the peak of their time. This site is very well maintained and very clean. Its great feeling when you walk into the thousand year old budha temple,and the street that leads to the temple. People who like history will absolutely love the place . The place is well with in the city so its not a long drive. Love the place.
Written 18 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How can we got English guide ?? Please contact person
Written 14 March 2019
Hi, where can I find an English speaking guide at Jiaohe Runis? Thanks
Written 12 May 2018
Hi, is there any English speaking guides or audio guide at Jiaohe? Will the shuttle bus take us to visit the whole site? Thanks
Written 1 March 2018
I’m not sure about English speaking guides there as we walked around ourselves. We had a day tour that included the ancient city but the guide dropped us in the car park and we were on our own. I guess if you book a tour guide and ask them to go with you that would work.
Written 1 March 2018
How can I find a English speaking guide in Jiaohe ruins?
Written 1 December 2017
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