Beacon Towers

There are about 20 remnatnts of ancient beacon towers scattered over this area.These remaining towers,5-10 meters in height and 20 square meters in area at the base,are mostly square in shape and built of tamped earth,although some are built of stones and lime.The intervals between these towers vary from 3 to 4 kilometers.The scene is vividly described by the lines by Censhen,celebrated poet of the Tang Dynasty.Beacon Towers are ancient warning system.They often coexisted with the Great Wall.Together,they formed an integrated military defense system.However,some of them existed independently to perform the function of giving early warnings.Some scholars extend the length of the Great Wall to Xinjiang.

Kizilgaha beacon tower in Kuqa Xinjiang

 

It is a demonsration of the Great Wall defense system in the broad sense.The building of beacon tower s in Xinjiang lasted from the Western Han Dynasty to the recent Qing Dynasty.They were built roughly along north and south Tianshan roads,in agreement with the stretch of the northern line and the new northern line of the Silk Road.