This is another ruined ancient city, 47 kilometres southeast of Turpan. It was first built in the 2nd century BC as a garrison town by troops of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 8 AD). In the 9th century, the Uyghurs established their Kharakhoja Kingdom here, bringing with them Manicheanism which flourished alongside Buddhism and Nestorianism, before they were forcibly replaced by Islam at the end of the 14th century by an heir to the ruling (Mongol) Chaghatai Khanate loyal to Tamerlane the Great. The town consisted originally of three parts: the inner and outer cities and a palace complex, but it was destroyed in war at the beginning of the Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty (1279-1368).

The German archaeologists Professors Grunwedel and Von Le Coq dug extensively here at Gaochang Ancient City in the early 1900s. Von Le Coq’s discoveries included Manichean manuscripts done on leather, silk, paper and parchment, frescoes, and hanging paintings on cloth, all revealing strong Persian influence. These discoveries helped illuminate facets of the little-known faith of Manicheanism, which was founded by Manes around 242 AD in Sassanian Iran.