Attraction of Korla ancient city of Kero-ran

Korla ancient city of Kero-ran (Loulan) : (Situated on the eastern tip of the Taklamakan Desert in southern Xinjiang) On the west bank of Lop Nur Lake, which is now a lake of sand instead of water, the Ancient City of Loulan was founded in the 2nd century BC in an oasis with rich water network. It suddenly waned into the history after about 800 years flourish. The city, once the capital of State Loulan which was one of the 36 Western Regions states, occupied very significant position on the Silk Road.

In the 20th Century, Xinjiang drew a constant stream of adventurers including explorers, archaeologists and geographers. With the extension of the Gobi desert "footprint" ever encroaching on Xinjiang, astounding discoveries were uncovered and made known to the world. The Ancient City of Loulan is renowned as the Middle Kingdom's "Pompeii" in the desert and one of the cradles of the civilization.

? The Loulan State was established in 176 B.C. and fell in 630,existing for over 800 years.But the exact location of the Loulan City remained unknown for about 1,000 years,for no record of its exact position could be found from the historical documents and records.

Archeologists believe there was once a water tunnel running through the city and dividing it into two functional parts. Large amounts of potsherds, wood pieces, coins, jewelries and wood slip documents are listed in the archaeological finds, which provide us many clues of the ancient city.

Buried Glory
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Situated on the eastern edge of the Tarim Basin and northwest of the Lop Nur area, the Loulan Kingdom is now a lifeless zone with endless "forests" of mounds rarely seen in the world. The scene here is desolate with the ruins of the Silk Road scattered about while hidden deep within the Earth are vast petroleum and mineral resources ... all shrouded in mystery.? Clearly this is the lure which attracts people from all corners of the globe.

The ancient city of Loulan was the capital of Loulan Kingdom during the Han and Jin Dynasties, spanning 100,000 sq. metres. Inside the city, there were ruins of government offices, civilian dwellings, Buddhist pagodas and temples. In the suburbs there were remnants of meandering dried rivers, ditches and farmland and in the north of the city today one can see scattered ancient tombs, stupas and beacon towers. Around this city are dozens of temples, residential houses and graveyards. In the ruins of the City of Loulan, a substantial amount of cultural relics were unearthed, including wooden slip documents written in both Chinese and Kharosithi; Han Dynasty and Kushan Kingdom coins; bronze mirrors; lacquer ware as well as fragments of brocade of Han Dynasty and woolen fabrics in Greek and Roman style as well as exquisite wooden carvings ... all reflecting the then flourishing social status of Loulan and the constant cultural and business exchanges between East and West.

In the distance is the wind-swept, snowcapped Kuluktag Mountain, presenting a marvelous panorama.? While at the foot of the mount and at the ruins of ancient times, the pace of life continues to flow. The fragments of early civilization lie scattered over the ground seem to whisper tales of time long ago with the rise and fall of the Loulan.

One can only imagine its glorious past.