The ancient city of Jiaohe

The ancient city of Jiaohe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies in the Yarnaz Valley, 10 kilometers west of Turpan. Except for some ruins not much is left of this city with a history of 2300 years. Jiaohe, the capital of the former Cheshi state, is the largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen city in the world. It is 1650 metres long and 300 metres wide. The city was finally abandoned at the beginning of the 14th century.