Subashi ruins ancient religious city

Subashi ruins are evidence of the significant growth of Buddhism in the region at the beginning of our era. Though Islam took the top a dozen century later, Buddhism was faith in the kingdom of Guici Subashi. The remains of temples and monasteries here reflect its past glory.

In the fourth century, the kingdom of Guici was installed in the region. They established capital at Subashi, a beautiful city located 20 kilometers from the current Kuqa. This city could almost be considered a religious place since most buildings are of Buddhist character. Indeed, aside from the normal houses, there are many pagodas, temples and monasteries. This city is an exceptional witness of the development of Buddhism in the region. The great stupa, still standing today, has a specific architecture, especially it’s the best preserved of the entire region. As for the temple of Zhaohuli, its ruins still dominate the Kuqa River, as it divides the ancient city into two parts. Like most Buddhist sites in the region, Subashi was damaged due to wars and abandoned when Islam slipped in Xinjiang.