Located in the Yarnaz Valley 13 kilometers (8 miles) west of Turpan it used to be the capital of the State of South Cheshi, one of the 31 states in the Western Region. A historic book records "The State of South Cheshi made the city of Jiaohe its capital, which seat at the interjunction of two rivers, hence the name of 'Jiaohe' (the city of joining rivers)." Screened by precipitous cliffs, the city, built on a 30-meter- (98-foot-) high loess plateau is 1,650 meters (5412 feet) long and 300 meters (984 feet) wide.
During the Western Han dynasty, "Jiaohebi" (an administrative division) was established and from the period of Northern Wei to the beginning of the Tang, it became Jiaohe Prefecture under the jurisdiction of Gaochang Kingdom. Later, the Anxi Military Viceroy's Office, the highest civil and military administrative organ in the Western Region was set up here. During the middle of the eighth and the ninth centuries, Tibetans occupied the city. Afterwards, it was called Jiaohe Prefecture under the jurisdiction of the Huigu Gaochang Kingdom. At the end of the thirteenth century, it was destroyed in Mongolian aristocratic rebellions.
The dry climate protects this ancient ruin. The enceinte, temples and workshops, residential houses in the streets are still visible. A 350-meter- (1148-foot-) long, 10-meter- (32-foot-) wide road divided the city into the eastern and western parts. The road leads to a grand Buddhist temple in the north-central part of the city. Forest of towers in front of the temple remain intact, and the panoramic view of the whole city on top of the tower is amazing. In the southeastern part used to be office buildings and residences built of bricks and tiles. A magnificent, half-underground, two-storied complex is supposed to be the seat of Anxi's Military Viceroy's Office.
Buildings in this city have distinguished style that houses featured two-storied without windows and doors on the wall facing streets and the gates were hidden in deep lanes. The house was half-underground and caves underground served as rooms.
The Ancient City of Jiaohe was first the capital of the State of South Cheshi, which was one of the thirty-six states in the Western Region. As described in the dynastic history book "The Note on the West Region, A History of the Han Dynasty", the State of South Cheshi made the city of Jiaohe its capital, which was circled by rivers flowing by the city, hence the name of 'Jaohe' (the city of joining river).
Built on a loess plateau thirty meters high, the ancient city is 1,650 meters long and 300 meters wide. The city has no walls and is protected by the natural fortification of the precipitous cliffs.
During the west Han dynasty, the central government established "Jiaohe" (an administration division) and appointed and dispatched a commanding general officer to the Turpan area. During the period for the Northern Wei the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Jiao hebi was Jiaohe prefecture under the jurisdiction of Gaochang Kingdom. The Anxi Military Viceroy's Office, the highest civil and military administrative organ set up by the Tang Government in the Western Region, was first established in the city.
Between the middle of the eighth century and the middle of ninth century, the City was occupied by Tibetans. After that, it was called Jiao he Prefecture and fell under the jurisdiction of the Huigu Gaochang Kingdom . At the end of the thirteen century, it was destroyed in Mongolian aristocratic rebellions. There are hideouts built in the gate for soldiers to defend the city.
The ruins of the buildings, divided basically into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices, have an area of 220,000 square meters. Entering the southern gate, one can see a 10 meter-wide and 350 meter-long main street leading to the biggest Buddhist temple located in the north-central part of the city. The tower in front of the temple gate is still intact, and standing on top of the tower one can enjoy the panorama of the whole city.
There are still more temples in the city. In the southeastern area of the city are located administrative office buildings built of bricks and tiles. According to researchers, the magnificent, half-underground, two-story building is probably the seat of Anxi's Military Viceroy's Office during the Tang Dynasty.
The architectural style of the ancient city of Jiaohe differs from that of the city of Gaochang. Here in Jiaohe, courtyards are pits dug in the ground, dwellings are caves opened into the earth and walls are built of tamped earth. Houses are two-storied without windows and doors on the side facing streets and courtyard gates are hidden in the deep lanes. The architectural style also features some typical elements of the Tang Dynasty. Visitors to the city can still walk along the streets and go through the halls into the charming inner rooms.
The ancient city of Jiaohe was classified as an important cultural unit protected by the state in 1961.