Astana Tombs
» Turpan, Xin Jiang

阿斯塔那墓 地下博物馆

Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs

Astana Tombs is located in the Gobi Desert and 6km from the Gaochang Ancient City. Astana means capital in Uygur. Covering an area of 10 square kilometers, the tombs were the public cemetery of the ancient Gaochang residents, both aristocrats and commoners. Among the excavated 456 tombs, the Gaochang king's has not been found.

The essential information on the ancient tombs

  • The location
    The Astana Tombs are a series of underground tombs located approximately 42km (26 miles) southeast of Turpan City and 6km (3.7 miles) from the Gaochang Ancient City.
  • The scale
    The 10-square-kilometer-mound houses over 500 tombs. The tomb complex is 5km (3.1 miles) from east to west, and 2km (1.2 miles) from north to south. The complex covers 10 square kilometers and contains over 1,000 tombs.
  • The burier
    The ancient tombs were the public cemetery of the ancient Gaochang residents varied from the high rank government officials, great generals to soldiers and civilians. It served as graveyard of the citizens of Gaochang from 273 in the Western Jin Dynasty to 778 in the Tang Dynasty. Among the excavated 456 tombs, the Gaochang king's has not been found.
  • Burial order
    The tombs are mainly those of the Han people while those of ethnic groups such as the Cheshi, Turki, and Hun are also represented. Tomb structure and placement indicate that while Han people were in the majority in the Gaochang, all nationalities enjoyed equality. Gravel boundaries separate the tombs by family. The paternal family burial order was strictly followed, similar to the system in the Hexi Corridor (today's Gansu Province), and even in central China. Tombs here were strictly arranged according to family generations. Usually the first tombs belonged to the oldest generations, then followed the older and so on. Generally, husband and wife were buried together. In some cases, one man was accompanied by two or three women.

Have a look at the underground tombs

Each tomb is entered via a slope of about 10 meters. The earth chamber is over 2 meters high and 4 meters wide, with a flat ceiling or a dome. The dead were placed on an earthen Kang or a simple wooden bed at the back of the chamber. They wore cotton or lime or silk clothes and had a wooden bar in hands. Their faces were covered by pieces of cloths.

Around them lies models of pavilions, towers, horses, carts, parades, pens, ink and musical instruments or some food and fruits including grape, melons, dumplings, pancakes and so on. These things were prepared for the residents to enjoy in another world. Owing to the arid climate, the relics are very well preserved; dumplings are the same as today's, and the stuffing is as intact as it was when fresh.

Murals with vivid pictures of humans, animals, flowers, mountains, and rivers decorate some chambers. A painting of ladies playing chess illustrates the happy life of aristocrats in the early Tang Dynasty (618 - 907).

The well preserved mummies

Most of the corpses have formed mummies naturally because of the dry and windy climate in this area. It is noteworthy that mummies here compare favorably with Egyptian mummies in both quantity and the quality, providing precious specimens for anthropology, history, medicine, and ethnology. The best preserved one is that of the General Zhangxiong of Gaochang States, 1.9 meters tall with well-preserved clothes and hair.

The cultural relics excavated

At the ancient Astana Tombs, thousands of treasure historical relics had been unearthed, including mummy, writing, inscription, paintings, clay figurines, stone wares, pottery wares, wood wares, bronze wares, iron wares, gold wares, silver wares, cotton, silk, wool, ancient coins and so on. Therefore, the ancient Astana Tombs is called the "Gaochang's live history record and underground museum in the Turpan area."

Something to remind you

  • Currently three chambers are open to the public. For your own safety do not enter the unopened areas.
  • Do not touch the mural inside the chambers.
  • Recommended time for a visit: Half an hour

Attractions around » Turpan, Xin Jiang

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Historical Site

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Historical Relic

Historical Relic

Mausoleum

Mausoleum

  Weather

  1. When is the best time to go?

  Customs

  1. What are some interesting festivals?
  2. Mind these customs and taboos

  Other Hints

  1. A couple of notes for packing
  2. A note on the time difference
  3. Emergency Numbers
  4. Useful Numbers

  • When is the best time to go?

    The best time for visiting is between July and August when the fruit crops are ripe.

    Turpan is well-known for its high temperatures and is also called 'Huo Zhou' (a place as hot as fire). The city is located in Turpan Basin, the hottest as well as the lowest elevation in China; just 98 ft above sea level. The climate is dry, hot and windy with an average rainfall of only 0.9 inches per year. Because of its unique geographical position, the city enjoys very high temperature and very little precipitation. The summers here are long and usually begin in April and end in August. June, July and August are the hottest months with an average temperature above 38C (100.4F) and the recorded highest temperature is 49.6C (121.28F).


  • What are some interesting festivals?

    Grape Festival
    Turpan is renowned for the quality of the fruit grown here and the sweetness of the grapes. Just as the name implies, the grape is the subject of the festival which is held in August each year and lasts for a month. During the festival, you can feel the happiness of harvest in every corner of the city. The grapes of hundreds of varieties are ripe and hang on the vines, waiting for you to enjoy. Amongst them, the white grape without seeds is the favourite one and it is praised as the 'green pearl of China'. In addition to enjoying the sweet grapes you can take in traditional Uygur performances in the festival, such as the wedding ceremony of Uygur and the dancing performances in Tang Dynasty (618-907). Grape Valley is the best option for you to celebrate the festival.

    Eid al Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking)
    This fast is one of the five pillars of Islam and Eid al Fitr is the first day after 30 days' fast. The festival is celebrated on the 1st of October according to the Moslem calendar, and lasts for three days. It is an important festival among the Moslems. On the first morning of the festival, people gather together in the mosque to pray. And then, they wear national costumes to call on their relatives and friends. During the festival, people will butcher fat stocks and cook some traditional snacks to satisfy their stomach.

    Eid al Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice)
    The festival is on 10th December according to the Moslem calendar and it is the last day for pilgrimage. In the early morning, all men go to mosque to pray. It is the most important divine service with a largest scale all year round. During the festival, each family should slaughter a sheep, a cow or a camel. And families and friends would gather together to sing and dance happily. Of course, they will also enjoy a sumptuous meal together. After the meal, they often visit the grave to honor the memory of ancestors


  • Mind these customs and taboos

    When traveling in Turpan, you should pay attention to Muslim customs and taboos in particular.

    • Do not poke the food in dishes or get close to the kitchen.
    • Never eat pork or talk about pigs when a Muslim is present.
    • Do not wear clothing that is short and too revealing.

    When receiving something, you should use both of your hands to show your thanks and respect to the host.

  • A couple of notes for packing

    1. Although the temperature is high in the day time, you should take a long sleeved shirt as temperatures here vary greatly between day and night.

    2. As the temperature is very high in the summer, it is necessary for you to take a hat, sunglasses and sun-bloc to avoid being burnt.

    3. If you are used to wearing contact lenses, please bring a pair of glasses with you due to the hot dry weather.


  • A note on the time difference

    Although the clock time in Xinjiang is the same as Beijing time, there is two hours difference because of the longitude. You should modify your rest and dinning times two hours later as compared with staying in the central part of China.


  • Emergency Numbers

    • Fire: 119
    • Police: 110
    • Ambulance: 120
    • Traffic: 122


  • Useful Numbers

    • Consumers Complaint Line of the Turpan Consumers' Association: 123154
    • Tour Complaints: 8523216
    • Time Inquiry: 117
    • Telephone Number Inquiry: 114
    • Weather Forecast: 121
    • Railway Inquiry: 8642233
    • Tourist Bureau of Turpan Region: 8523653 / 8523663
    • Tourist Bureau of Turpan City: 8520171.


Thousands of treasure historical relics had been unearthed, including mummy, inscription, paintings, clays figurine at the ancient Astana Tombs, known as the "Gaochang's live history record and underground museum in the Turpan area."

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