The Ancient Tombs of Astana

The Ancient Tombs of Astana

The Ancient Tombs of Astana is located over 40 kilometers to the southeast of Turfan City , to the north of Gaochang Ruins and it dates back to the third to the eighth centuries.Here the imperial Tang dead and other dead officials,civilians were buried,The very dry climate and low underground water made it possible to reserve the bodies and artifacts well.Since the fifties of last century”dried bodies”or ”mummies”have been excavated here and they are incredibly well preserved and tourists even can see their eyelids and eyeballs.About 400 tombs with about 10000 artifacts were unearthed and the mural were found inside two tombs.Astana is an “underground museum”in its nature, affording valuable materials for studies on ancient society, economy, politics,culture, religion, art, and cultural exchanges between China and West.