Stone City

The Stone City is located in the north of Tashkorgan County. It is one of the most famous stone towns in the world. Stone City is a castle built by stones. The Stone City is built on a 20-meter hill on the left bank of Tashkurgan River. The terrain of the Stone City is extremely steep and easy to defend but difficult to attack. Covering an area of more than 100,000 square meters, the Stone City is divided into inner city and outer city. Now the outer city has been seriously damaged, but a rough trace of the city wall can still be seen. The outlines of some exposed city walls, forts and residential sites are faintly visible. There are horse faces outside the west and north walls, and the four corners were expected to be built. The Stone City is surrounded by mountains, and there is almost no soil. However, ancestors of Tajik people built such a magnificent castle here. We have to admire the diligence, wisdom, courage and strength of Tajik ancestors. This is the last station in China for the Silk Road. With a history of more than 2,000 years, it is always the political, economic, cultural, transportation and military center on the Pamirs.

Significance of the Stone City

Although the Stone City is now in ruins, it is in the track of the road of the communication between the East and the West in history, and many Chinese and foreign historical celebrities have stopped here since ancient times. Fa Xian, a famous monk in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, went to India before Xuanzang. He recorded that the Stone City is in the lush mountains, which is a cold mountain area. Except for wheat, other grains can't grow and be mature. There are more than 1,000 monks living there, all of whom belong to Hinayana Buddhism. Master Xuanzang, Marco Polo and Stein all had been to Stone City. Buddhist conference was held at the Stone City every five years. And we will find that Stone City is a significant Buddhist center on the Pamirs Plateau at that time.

Inner City

The inner city is relatively well preserved, and we can still feel the majesty of the ancient castle. It is composed of the palace, the government, the mansion of military and political officials and the Buddhist temple. The inner city is built from the foot of the platform, which is flush with the top, and the lower part is big and the upper part is small, forming the spectacular tower. The wall is made of mud and stones. At present, most of the walls, battlements, turrets and northeast gate are still well preserved. The inner wall is also the wall of houses. On the wall, you can see shrines, closets and chimneys. All the buildings in the city have collapsed, and the ground is covered with stones, with a few boulders and earth walls.



 

Bowangtai

Bowangtai was the office of the King of the Kingdom of Qipantuo handled state affairs. The east of the platform is the Karakorum Mountains, the west is the Hindu Kush Mountains, the north can overlook the majestic Muztagh Ata, and the south is the Pamir Plateau, which is known as the roof of the world. Surrounded by mountains and waters, facing south, and the king handles government affairs here.

 

Xuanzang's Sermon Hall

This is the place where Xuanzang stayed for 22 days when he was preaching Buddhism in 644 AD. And there is a real story. In September 2018, the mages of Baoji Temple in Caoshan, Jiangxi Province climbed the stairs, entered the inner city, and recited the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra translated by Xuanzang. Melodious chanting seems to travel through time and space, and the 22-day conference a thousand years ago did not end. Xuanzang looked at the disciples of later generations who read the scriptures devoutly in front of him with compassionate and relieved eyes. Everyone seems to feel the blessing of Xuanzang's powerful gas field, and many wizards are so excited that they cry, and their inner feelings and gratitude are beyond words.