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Residential remains in the southeast of Gaochang Ancient City in 2023, not a view of the entire site

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Gaochang Ancient City

高昌故城 · Gaochang District, Turpan, Xinjiang, China

Photo: HaziiDozen · CC BY-SA 4.0

Make out the city walls, streets and remains of religious buildings among the earthen ruins of Gaochang.

Know before you go

  • Do not climb over the protective fences, climb onto the tops of walls, carve into wall surfaces or take fragments away
  • earthen sites are extremely vulnerable to wind, rain and trampling. Do not extend the World Heritage designation to the whole modern city of Turpan, and do not use the site's representative coordinates in place of the entrance. In sandstorms or extreme heat, shorten or cancel outdoor routes.

This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.

Culture

Culture & customs

Background

Gaochang Ancient City, in Gaochang District, Turpan, is an ancient city site that was in use for a long time. The municipal heritage list dates its remains to between the 1st century BC and the 14th century AD. The site preserves city walls, lanes, monasteries and other spaces with different functions, reflecting the changes of a Silk Road oasis city; it and Jiaohe Ancient City are two different places, both part of the World Heritage series of the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor.

Local customs

Please follow the open routes, do not climb or touch the fragile earthen walls, and do not take pottery shards, clods of earth or plants from the site. The ancient city is large with little shade, so groups should choose a short route or a fuller outer loop according to their stamina, and be respectful when photographing companions and other visitors.

Religion & beliefs

  • The site contains remains of religious buildings, showing that different faiths were present in this oasis city in historical times
  • they are protected historic remains and should not simply be treated as monasteries still in use today. Rely on the on-site panels and heritage-protection materials for interpretation of the remains, and do not imitate religious gestures or leave objects at the site.

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Rules that apply here

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · China

China: At Qingming tomb-sweeping, no burning paper or open flames in wooded areas

Do

  • Check whether the cemetery requires a reservation before you go
  • Stay quiet while laying flowers, bowing and observing silence
  • Consider flowers, tree planting or online memorials instead of burning paper
  • Dress soberly for tomb-sweeping
  • Take offering wrappers and rubbish with you when you leave

Don’t

  • Don't burn paper, incense or candles, or set off firecrackers, in woods or grassland
  • Don't talk loudly or joke around in the cemetery
  • Don't block cemetery paths for long to take photos

During fire-prevention periods, burning paper, incense and candles is strictly banned in forest and grassland fire zones, and anyone who starts a wildfire may be held legally liable. Whether and where a cemetery allows burning is set by its own rules on site.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Xinhua: Two departments deploy safety measures for the Qingming holiday

Essential restrictionsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Go through security before the metro, and park shared bikes in marked zones

Do

  • Cooperate with the security check at the entrance and put bags through the scanner
  • On the platform, wait beside the doors and let passengers off first
  • Register with your real name in the app before riding a shared bike
  • Park in a marked bay or an app-designated spot, and make sure the lock clicks shut
  • If the brakes or lock don't work, switch bikes and report it in the app

Don’t

  • Don't linger in the doorway or force your way through closing doors
  • Don't leave bikes in traffic lanes, fire lanes or on tactile paving
  • Don't let children under 12 ride shared bikes

If you refuse the security check you will not be let into the station. Badly parked bikes are removed, and riders may face action under local rules and the operator's terms.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: People's Daily Online: Beijing issues standards for shared bike technology, services, parking

Essential restrictionsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · China

China: No smoking anywhere on high-speed trains, and no phone calls in quiet carriages

Do

  • Sit in the carriage and seat shown on your ticket
  • Put large luggage in the racks at the carriage ends or overhead
  • Use headphones for videos and music
  • In a quiet carriage, step outside to make or take calls
  • Before getting off, check around your seat and take your rubbish and belongings

Don’t

  • Don't smoke anywhere on the train, including toilets and vestibules
  • Don't take someone else's seat
  • Don't choose a quiet carriage when travelling with babies or toddlers (12306 advises against it)

Smoking on a bullet train can set off smoke alarms and slow or even stop the train. Smokers are fined by the police and, according to reports, may also be barred from buying bullet-train tickets; official rules prevail. If someone breaks the quiet-carriage rules, tell the train staff.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Travel China Guide: Smoking on Chinese trains

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Stay on open sections of the Great Wall and never carve the bricks

Do

  • Walk only on open sections and marked routes
  • On steep stretches, stop and steady yourself before taking photos, and watch your step
  • Wear non-slip shoes, carry enough water, and turn back if you are tired
  • Carry your rubbish down or put it in a bin
  • Check opening arrangements before you go; official announcements prevail

Don’t

  • Don't carve, write on or prise loose the bricks
  • Don't climb over fences or onto closed, crumbling walls and watchtowers
  • Don't run or push on steep sections

Carving the Great Wall counts as damaging a cultural relic: one visitor who carved his name at Badaling was given administrative detention and a fine by the police and was blacklisted by the scenic area. Closed sections are not maintained and can be dangerous.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China News Service: Man detained for five days and fined 200 yuan for carving on the Badaling Great Wall

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · China

China: book popular sights in advance, under your real name, through official channels

Do

  • Check the booking rules on the site's official website, mini program or account before you go
  • Enter every companion's ID details in advance and pick an entry time slot
  • Children, seniors and others with free or reduced tickets also book as required and show ID
  • Book early for holidays and summer; popular dates often fill quickly

Don’t

  • Don't trust third parties offering to grab tickets or sell 'insider' tickets
  • Don't assume a free ticket means no booking is needed
  • Don't count on buying tickets at the gate on peak days

Once a popular date is fully booked, you may be turned away. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires sites to keep in-person ticket windows and to accommodate seniors and others, but on-site quotas are limited; booking windows, release times and visitor caps are subject to official announcements.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China Daily: Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires all scenic areas to keep ticket windows

Essential restrictionsEntryCountry-wide guidance · China

China: set up mobile payment before you go; hotels and tickets are booked under your passport

Do

  • Link a foreign bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before departure
  • Carry some cash in yuan for small stalls, remote areas or payment glitches
  • Expect real-name checks at hotels, for train tickets and popular sights; use your passport
  • Make sure the name and number on bookings match your passport exactly
  • If a station gate cannot read your passport, use the staffed lane

Don’t

  • Don't wait until you arrive to set up payment; verification can take time
  • Don't assume cash alone or a bank card alone will work everywhere
  • Don't book with details that differ from your passport

Without a working payment method, or with mismatched ID details, you may be unable to check in, buy tickets or enter sights. Payment limits, fees and platform rules are subject to official announcements.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Gov.cn: Payment services for foreign visitors to China

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Queue, don't smoke where banned, and never carve on heritage sites

Do

  • Wait your turn in line, and follow staff directions when it's crowded
  • On buses and the metro, let passengers off first and offer seats to those in need
  • Book popular sights and museums in advance, under your real name, through official channels
  • Sort your rubbish into the right bins
  • Use serving chopsticks and spoons, and order only what you can eat

Don’t

  • Don't cut in line or walk side by side blocking the way
  • Don't smoke where it is banned; many cities ban smoking in indoor public places and on public transport
  • Don't carve or write on historic buildings or ancient trees, or climb on or touch relics
  • Don't use flash or tripods in exhibition halls
  • Don't talk loudly or play music out loud in public places

Staff will stop you from queue-jumping, smoking where banned or marking relics, and smoking in no-smoking areas or damaging relics can also lead to fines under the law. Fine amounts, booking methods and opening hours are as officially announced.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Palace Museum official site: Visit

Don’t DON'T

  • Do not climb over the protective fences, climb onto the tops of walls, carve into wall surfaces or take fragments away
  • earthen sites are extremely vulnerable to wind, rain and trampling. Do not extend the World Heritage designation to the whole modern city of Turpan, and do not use the site's representative coordinates in place of the entrance. In sandstorms or extreme heat, shorten or cancel outdoor routes.

Locals appreciate DO

Start by identifying the outer city and the layout of the buildings inside on the site map, then choose a few better-preserved walls, monasteries or dwellings to observe how they were built. Visiting Gaochang and Jiaohe Ancient Cities in two separate stages and comparing their siting and spatial form will tell you more about how Turpan's urban center shifted than a hurried check-in.

Plan your visit

Practical info

Travel tips

  • Allow about 2–3 hours for the site itself, and more if you want to look closely at several areas and the on-site explanations. Gaochang Ancient City is in eastern Gaochang District and is not within walking distance of downtown or Grape Valley
  • before setting out, plan your vehicle transfer using the entrance location published by the scenic area on the day. The representative coordinates indicate only the extent of the site and cannot be used to navigate to the ticket office. In summer the sun is strong and shade limited, so bring plenty of water, a hat and sun protection, and preferably enter in the early morning or evening. Some routes may close temporarily due to heritage protection, weather and maintenance
  • check tickets, opening hours, sightseeing carts and accessible areas on site and in official announcements. If you combine it with Grape Valley on the same day, allow at least half a day for travel and rest rather than squeezing them into one continuous walking route.
Sources & verification notes

Turpan Municipal Government: List of National Key Cultural Heritage Sites

Gaochang District Government: List of Scenic Areas

UNESCO: Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor

Wikidata: representative coordinates of the site

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