The Andier site is located in Andil Township, Minfeng County, Hotan Region, Xinjiang. It is the easternmost site group in the entire Hotan region and an important Han and Tang Dynasty site on the southern Silk Road.
It was used and abandoned at the same time as the famous Niya site, but it was used by the Tubo people for about half a century in the Tang Dynasty.
The site is mainly composed of Buddhist pagoda, Tingmu City, Daozilke City and surrounding residential sites, tombs, smelting workshops and so on.
British explorer Stein once discovered a large number of Kalu, Tubo, Chinese documents and a large number of exquisite cultural relics here.
On the eve of Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, the reporter went deep into the desert hinterland to visit the ruins of this mysterious ancient city.
What is it like to ride a tractor into the desert?
What are the highlights of the ruins living in the desert hinterland?
Please follow the reporter's lens and explore together.
(produced by Sui Zhiyuan, Wang Chao and Sun Hengye)
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]