STORY: Loulan demystified -- A rare glimpse of Xinjiang history
SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage
DATELINE: April 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:07
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Loulan Ruins

STORYLINE:

The Loulan Ruins in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are among the greatest historical mysteries in the world, captivating archeologists and historians worldwide.

The ruins were discovered by Swedish explorer Sven Hedin in the Taklimakan Desert in the early 20th century, sparking a global craze for related studies.

Once a flourishing oasis state during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), Loulan thrived for centuries before fading out in history. 

Known as the "Oriental Pompeii," Loulan city, believed to be the capital of the Loulan Kingdom, flourished at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road routes, earning acclaim as the "dawn of civilization in the Middle Ages."

Now the once flourishing city has become a heap of ruins. Seen from above, the large settlement covers about 108,000 square meters. In its northeast stands the tallest structure in the city -- a dilapidated Buddhist stupa about 10.4 meters in height.
  
More findings from the millennia-old ruins offer a rare glimpse into Xinjiang's rich history, the close relations between the western and central regions of ancient China, and the shared cultural heritage of Chinese civilization.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China.
(XHTV)