China's Kuqa City attracts visitors to experience living history

An aerial drone photo shows the Subash buddhist temple ruins in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 19, 2023.

Kuqa, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, is defined by its dramatic landscape of snowcaps, canyons, and desert oases.

As a historic crossroads on the ancient Silk Road, Kuqa was where Eastern and Western civilizations met and fused, giving rise to its unique art.

Today, it serves as both a gateway to the Duku highway, or Dushanzi-Kuqa highway, and a top travel destination, where ancient ruins and a vibrant old city invite visitors to experience its living history. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A drone photo shows the Kizilgaha Beacon Tower in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Tourists pose for photos in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

People visit a museum in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Students experience pottery making at a workshop in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Guan Qiaoqiao)

Dancers perform in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Local artists perform in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Guan Qiaoqiao)

An artist draws on a gourd in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Guan Qiaoqiao)

Local artists perform in Kuqa City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Guan Qiaoqiao)