Loulan

CHINA, Xinjiang, Bayingolin

Also known as Kroran, Loulan is located within Qarkilik, Bayingolin. Loulan was the first city west of the Yangguan Pass. The Loulan Kingdom was founded during the 2nd century BCE. It is thought that most of the Loulan ruins date from the Eastern Han (25–220) to the Jin (265–420) dynasties. The Loulan site was discovered in 1900 and explorers and geographers from Sweden, Britain, Japan, and other countries subsequently began extensive surveys and excavations, and removed numerous artifacts. The ancient city of Loulan was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1988.
The ancient city is almost square, and is surrounded by city walls. An old river course runs through it, dividing the city into southwest and northeast zones. The main buildings on the site are the Three Houses south of the river, which are thought to be the ruins of administrative offices. The highest structure in the city is a stupa in the northeast zone. Although it is damaged, it still has a height of 10.4 m. The base is almost square, measuring 19.5 m from south to north and 18 m from east to west. It is built from rammed earth. The stupa body is cylindrical and built using adobe bricks reinforced with rose willow branches. The exterior is severely weathered.