East of Turpan are the ruins of Gaochang (Gaochang Gucheng), the Uigur city-state that ruled the area from around the 9th century to the 13th. The city was actually founded a few hundred years earlier than that, and gradually became known as a trading post on the Silk Road.

In its heyday, Gaochang was a great Uigur city built on the business and trade that came through its gates. The religious beliefs of many peoples entered China through this area, first Buddhism and later Islam.

Most of the ruins are gone, but enough remain to give a feeling of the true size and majesty of this Silk Road city. The city walls, made of earth, are set in a 5km square, with heights of up to 11 meters and width of 12 meters. The city is also divided into an outer city, an inner city, and a palace compound.

The best preserved structures in the ruins are two temple/monasteries in the southwest and southeast corners of the outer city section. In the southwestern temple, the front gate, courtyard, lecture hall, main hall, and monastic dormitories are relatively intact. The southeast temple has the only preserved fresco in the ruins.

How to get Gaochang Ruins :The easiest way to see many of the sights in the countryside around Turpan is to hire a minibus for the day. This should cost between RMB300-RMB500 for six people and your driver should take you to many of the sights around the area. Drivers cruise the streets of Turpan looking for customers.