Travel Guide East Asia China

One of the great mysteries in Chinese history is the disappearance of the ancient city of Loulan. The city was located about 300 km (186.4 miles) northeast of Ruoqiang County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and adjacent to another early city, Dunhuang in Gansu Province. Like Pompeii in ancient Rome which drowned in a sea of volcanic ash, Loulan fell victim to an incredible natural disaster that transformed the once beautiful city into a barren and perilous desert landscape. This inexplicable event has whetted the curiosity of archaeologists and other scientists over the years. Tourists, too, have been intrigued by this site and many venture there despite adverse weather and terrain conditions.

Loulan was established as a kingdom in 176 B.C. and flourished for over 800 years. The city was like an oasis traversed by a limpid river and situated next to a bountiful lake. The city had a population of over 14,000 including an estimated 3,000 soldiers guarding the safety of the kingdom. Many residents made a living fishing and hunting. As one of the major stops on the old Silk Road, the city was a center for the trading of silks, teas, fruit and jewels with the inland. Merchants also used Loulan as a stopover in their travels. In short, the kingdom was booming economically while serving as a peaceful and paradisiacal environment for its citizens and visitors.

Roughly around the year 630, Loulan suffered a natural disaster of epic proportions. Due to humans’ unceasing deforestation, raging sandstorms covered the region, rerouting the waterways and literally transformed the city into a desert wasteland. To this day, the terrain is barely navigable and there are severe weather fluctuations.

The region is extremely arid and continues to be subjected to frequent wind and sand storms. Conditions are so harsh that the area has become known as the ‘Death Sea.’
Travel Tips

1. The Milan 36 Tuanchang, located 74 kilometers West of the county seat of Ruoqiang, is the best place from which to begin a Loulan exploration. You need to drive North-East for 222 kilometers and it will require constant use of GPS and a compass to stop yourself from getting lost. The condition of the ground makes driving very difficult, so your speed at points might be limited to about 3 kilometers per hour.

2. Vehicles can go no closer than 18 kilometers to the ruins of the ancient city, and you will have to finish the rest of the journey by foot or by camel.

3. The best time to visit Loulan is during mid-April and mid-October, when it is less windy in the desert.

4. You must have company and several off-road vehicles to go to Loulan. Other necessities include car-repair tools, GPS, satellite phone and medicine, as well as water and food that can last for at least 15 days.

5. The temperature gap between the daytime and night can be huge in the desert, so make sure you have appropriate clothing. And it is a good idea if your clothes and tents are in a striking color so rescuers can easily spot them in an emergency.

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