Astana Ancient Tombs

The ancient site is located in Astana Village, 40 kilometers to the east of Turpan City. It is composed of three parts: outer city, inner city and core city, surrounded by rammed earth walls. The outer city is in an irregular rectangular shape. The inner city is inside the outer city and the core city is in the center of the inner city slightly to the north. During the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), Buddhist monk Xuanzang (602 - 664) lectured in the Grand Temple in this city when he stopped by on his westbound pilgrimage journey.