Ancient Town Loulan
Loulan (Kroran) (http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/45241.htm), a bustling town on the Silk Road located northwest of the Lop Nor, thrived for over 800 years (200 BC-700 AD) and then mysteriously disappeared. In 1900, the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin and his Uygur guide Aldik discovered tall stupas, wooden carvings and coins which later was proved as the site of Loulan having disappeared over a thousand years ago.
Covering an area of over 100,000 sq m, the ruins include residences, temples and official buildings. Unearthed artifacts include Han Dynasty five-zhu coins and 970 pieces of Tang Dynasty coins on the northeastern corner of the city as well as documents on wooden tablets written in both Chinese and Tocharian, copperware, glassware, clay pots, lacquer, fabric, and building materials, etc. From the tombs on the town outskirts were uncovered a large amount of fine-woven silks, brocades, and colored woolen fabric. These finds are especially valuable in the study of historical connection between China’s border regions and the interior.
