Things to do in Minfeng

Niya Site

Niya Site is the former site of the Jingjue Kingdom during the Han and Jin dynasties, spread across an area 25 km long from north to south and 5–7 km wide from east to west. Within this narrow, ancient city site, the remains of Buddhist temples, houses, and cemeteries are scattered about. The former farmlands, forest belts, canal systems, and smelting sites are still faintly visible. It can be seen that the residents of the Jingjue Kingdom were divided into northern and southern districts by the Niya River that flowed through the city, with the wealthy living in the south and commoners in the north. However, every household had its own orchard, livestock pen, and pond. There is an earthen Buddhist pagoda in the ruins; although dilapidated, it still retains its ancient charm. The Jingjue Kingdom was located in theTaklamakan Desert. Situated by the Ruoshui River, it was a small kingdom. According to the "Book of Han: Account of the Western Regions," it had only "480 households, 3,360 people, and 500 soldiers." During the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was "annexed by Shanshan, and the kingdom ceased to exist." However, "all travelers on the southern Silk Road passed through this city." Silk Road merchants bustling across the bridges of the Niya River brought treasures of the time to this small, isolated kingdom, including glassware from West Asia, Greek-style artworks, Indian cotton fabrics, and silk brocades, lacquerware, bronze mirrors, and paper from the Yellow River basin. The blue-background batik cotton fragments and cotton trousers unearthed from a Han-Jin joint burial tomb for couples are among the earliest cotton textiles discovered in China to date. In particular, the brocade with the inscription "Five stars rise in the east, benefiting China" is considered a masterpiece of brocade and a precious relic of the Silk Road. Kharosthi documents are a major discovery inNiyaarchaeology. The 800 Kharosthi wooden slips unearthed at the Niya Site include proclamations, letters, and instructions, covering almost every aspect of life at that time. Niya’s abandonment remains a mystery. There are no signs of river diversion or war around the ancient city ruins, and there are no traces of human presence in the houses and courtyards. A large number of official documents had just been organized but were not yet transported away; even their loyal dogs were forgotten and left tied to the pillars at their doorsteps. The people of Niya disappeared in such a hurry, leaving behind only sand-buried ruins and an enduring, unsolvable mystery in the vast desert.

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The museum not only features a rich collection of exhibits but also extensive photo displays, where you can experience the local area's profound cultural heritage.

Quotations of Chairman Mao Stele

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Yuhu Lake

Xiayangtake Ancient City

Minfeng County Niya Bay RV Campground

No. 5 of Night Attractions in Xinjiang

Yotkan Ancient City

Yotkan Ancient CityThe Ancient Khotan Art Gallery of the Western Regions Yotkan Ancient City is a large-scale immersive historical and cultural attraction centered around the ancient Khotan culture of China's Western Regions, integrating representative artistic elements from the region. It showcases both the Buddhist art that flourished during the Western Regions period and the Central Plains Tang Dynasty culture admired by ancient Khotan, along with the brilliant cultural treasures accumulated throughout Hotan's long history. Using modern culture and technology, it recreates the prosperous scenes of China's Western Regions era. The attraction is located in Bagqi Town, Hotan County, Xinjiang. Hotan, anciently known as Khotan, was a key town on the southern route of the ancient Silk Road and has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. Nestled against the Kunlun Mountains to the south and the vast desert to the north, it marks the starting point of China's Jade Road, the origin of the Kunlun myth of the Queen Mother of the West, and the first stop of Buddhism's eastward spread into China. Here, the world's four great civilizations collided and blended, gradually forming a unique regional culture that scholars have dubbed the "Oriental Pearl" of the Western Regions. YotkanLegend has it that this was the capital of the ancient Khotan Kingdom during the Han and Tang dynasties. It is now located in Ailaman Village, Bagqi Town, Hotan County. According to legend, in the 1860s...Karakash RiverThe river changed its course, carving out a long, deep trench that revealed a wealth of historical artifacts from the Han to Song dynasties—this is the mysterious Yotkan Ruins. In 2020, the Yotkan Ancient City cultural tourism project grandly launched, reviving the millennia-old cultural heritage. Rooted in ancient Khotan culture and inspired by historical records of royal cityscapes, it blends cultural essence with architectural aesthetics. Featuring square layouts, red walls, and white structures across its 156-acre site, the project meticulously integrates diverse spaces: food streets, artisan workshops, folk culture zones, jade treasure markets, royal promenades, bar districts, boutique homestays, poverty alleviation product displays, and five cultural exhibition halls. This revitalizes Hotan's tourism landscape while crafting a distinctive regional identity. Yotkan,Legend has it that this was the capital of ancient Khotan during the Han and Tang dynasties. In the local language, it carries two meanings: "Land of Kings" and "Quilt," symbolizing the precious civilizations buried beneath this land. The architectural aesthetics of the Western Regions Royal City Scenic area overallThe architectural design adopts square fortifications, red walls, and white structures as its primary elements. Inspired by a 10th-century mural of the Khotan Kingdom's capital preserved in Dunhuang's Cave 454, the layout reveals a square royal city with two gates, corner towers at each wall, a surrounding moat, and inner governmental offices and temples. The restoration of Yotkan Ancient City also draws from historical records describing the ancient western ruins of Khotan—the Akspili Ancient City (meaning "White City"). Additionally, influenced by "Sand-Buried Khotan," the outer walls feature sand mounds to recreate the historical appearance of the ancient city. Inside the attractionThe layout is well-arranged, with most buildings featuring the Xinjiang "Ayiwan" residential style. "Ayiwan" is a Uyghur term meaning "bright dwelling," characterized by intricate wood carvings of animals, figures, and flowers, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. This architectural style dates back 300–400 years, with its prototype emerging as early as the late Han to Tang dynasties. The *Travel Notes of Song Yun* records that Khotan had "houses and markets everywhere, with city walls and flowers resembling Luoyang, distinguished only by its flat-roofed buildings." All nations rejoice with Khotan Awakening a dream that has slept for a thousand years, Yotkan Ancient City collaborates with Beijing Wuwei Vision, a renowned domestic cultural tourism performance team, to create Xinjiang's first immersive sensory performance, "The Harmonious Music of Khotan." This experience offers "two cultures in one city, unique charm on every street," presenting daytime "performances from all directions" and nighttime "tales of the ancient city," vividly recounting the epic historical saga of ancient Khotan. Daytime tour "Ten Directions, Hundred Performances" revives the ancient Khotan marketplace atmosphere Yotkan Ancient City gathers the rustic charm of millennia, hiding more daytime stories in every corner of the ancient town, waiting to be discovered. By day, beneath the exotic white architecture, as the drum signals echo from the watchtowers, the ancient Jade Gate of Khotan slowly opens. Sogdian merchants, caravan traders, and street vendors weave through bustling alleys brimming with distinctive Central Asian character. These figures from across the centuries, carrying their wares, gather together with joyful hospitality, extending warm Xinjiang-style ceremonial welcomes to all visitors... Night tour of "Ancient City Tales" - immerse yourself in millennia of history When exotic architecture meets nighttime performances, Yotkan's story gains another chapter. Stepping into the ancient city at dusk isn't time travel—it's a return to a thousand years ago. As the theme song "Millennium" plays, savor street food at the bazaar and share drinks with veterans while exchanging life stories... The splendid fusion of Eastern and Western cultures unfolds like a vibrant scroll, revealing the prosperity of ancient Khotan frame by frame. Visitors become fully immersed in Khotan's rich history, experiencing a magnificent ancient city that never sleeps. Highlights summary: "Phoenix Song at the City Opening", "Welcome Dance", "Market Scenes of Khotan", "Music and Dance of Khotan", "Silk Road Phantom", "Silk Road Cultural Exchange", "Desert Warriors", "Dreamlike Sacred Realm", "Boiling Ancient City" "Phoenix Song Welcomes Guests" Opening Dance Performance "With the phoenix's cry brushing its feathers, spring graces all lands," the stunning light show heralds the city's grand opening with the call of the phoenix! Mythical beasts roar as golden-armored warriors escort the royal procession of King Yuchi and Queen Yuchi, proclaiming a warm welcome to honored guests from afar. The gates of Vaisravana swing open amid exuberant welcome dances, creating a spectacle of wonder. Camel-mounted musical floats glide in, ushering in a jubilant celebration. ② "Market Life in Khotan" Step back in time to experience the bustling bazaars of ancient Western Regions. Immerse yourself in the vibrant commerce of a millennium ago, with merchants coming and going, street vendors calling out their wares, and breathtaking acrobatic performances. Through the lively chaos, savor the simple charm of everyday life. ③ "Music and Dance of Khotan" The white neighborhood instantly transforms into a kaleidoscopic world of joy, accompanied by the lively and passionate "Jilara," showcasing the enchanting musical and dance charm of the "Land of Song and Dance" where "all melodies converge in Khotan." ④ "The Silk Enchantment" The Phantom of Silk Transmission draws inspiration from the description of the "Silk Princess" of Khotan in Xuanzang's "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions"Dandan Oilik RuinsThe woodblock print of "The Silk Princess" discovered in China was adapted from historical records. The heroic princess stands tall on her white horse, accompanied by female soldiers in blue armor protecting her. With stunning 3D effects and acrobatic wirework, the performance creates a visual feast of "women holding up half the sky," delivering a breathtaking and dazzling spectacle. ⑤ "Silk Road: Mutual Learning" In the dazzling spectacle of the royal city, the elegant music of the Tang Dynasty blends harmoniously with the mesmerizing dance of the Western Regions, painting a breathtaking picture of cultural fusion between Central Plains and the West. This grand performance unfolds an epic ode to the Silk Road that stirs the soul. ⑥ "Desert Warriors" Ban Chao abandoned his writing brush to join the military and was sent on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions for 31 years, successfully bringing over 50 oasis city-states under allegiance. The king of Khotan even dispatched troops to assist him. Ban Chao's story epitomizes how the ancient kingdom of Khotan guarded China's frontiers across dynasties. With passionate battlefield declarations and unyielding loyalty, the Lion Gate now stages heroic tales of Ban Chao and veteran border defenders protecting their homeland. ⑦ Dreamlike Wonderland Zhang Qian's diplomatic missions to the Western Regions pioneered the Silk Road; Ban Chao safeguarded these territories, expanding their reach. From the westward journeys of Faxian and Xuanzang to the Khotan kings and queens of the Yuchi clan who yearned for Central Plains unity, these figures wrote brilliant chapters in Chinese history—unifying the nation, fostering ethnic solidarity, and celebrating cultural integration. 8. "Boiling Ancient City: Carnival of the Past" According to historical records, the Garuda is a divine bird in Buddhism, with wings as bright as gold that radiate countless golden rays under the sunlight. Illuminated by the bonfire, the Garuda spreads its wings and soars toward the highest point of Sumi Castle, cutting through the long night. A lively Mesirep dance celebrates prosperity, making the ancient city shimmer with vibrant life.

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