交河故城是世界最古老、最大且保存最完好的生土建筑城市遗址。它见证了千年前西域文明的辉煌与衰败，也是历史长河中丝绸之路上的璀璨明珠。让我们一起步入这片时光遗迹，去感受古文明的回响与大地的沧桑。
Echoes in Earth: Exploring the World’s Oldest Adobe City—Jiaohe Ruins
Set adrift above the windswept cliffs of Xinjiang’s Yar Township, the Jiaohe Ruins stand as a remarkable testament to human resilience and ingenuity. Bathed in golden sun and surrounded by the raw beauty of the Turpan Basin, this ancient city is the largest and oldest adobe (earth-constructed) settlement ever discovered, its history stretching back more than two millennia.
Walking through the sun-baked labyrinth of streets and crumbling dwellings, you instantly sense how time has both ravaged and preserved these mud-brick relics. The city’s unique layout—long and narrow, perched on a natural earthen island carved by rivers—helped it thrive as a vital stop on the Silk Road for centuries. Walking these pathways in the early morning, when the air is crisp and the ruins glow with a warm, amber light, it’s easy to imagine the hum of bustling markets and the distant echoes of camel caravans.
Jiaohe was once the capital of the ancient Gushi Kingdom and later a stronghold of the Tang Dynasty military. Over generations, it flourished as a multicultural center, open to the influences of Central Asia, Persia, and China’s heartland. Its sunken lanes, temples, and family compounds—sculpted directly from the earth—combine necessity and artistry, making the city a wonder shaped by both nature and civilization.
For travelers, the ruins offer more than a lesson in the passage of time. Climb atop the city walls and look out across the arid landscape—the desert wind carries secrets from ages long past, while the heat haze blurs the outline of distant peaks. In spring and autumn, wildflowers and hardy shrubs soften the stark terrain, and the shifting light paints the ruins with unexpected hues.
Travel tips: The Jiaohe Ruins are located about 10 kilometers west of Turpan city center. Morning or late afternoon visits are recommended for cooler temperatures and the best photography light. Bring sun protection and sturdy shoes—the city is exposed and walking the ruins can be demanding. Local guides offer rich stories behind each site, and combining your visit with the nearby Karez Well system or Flaming Mountains will make for a day steeped in history and natural wonder.
Standing amidst the silent honey-colored walls, you are left with a profound sense of awe. Jiaohe is not just an archaeological treasure; it is a bridge between civilizations, a reminder of cultures that once thrived under the same sky, and a symbol of endurance sculpted from little more than sun, earth, and human spirit.
在新疆吐鲁番市亚尔乡的风蚀高崖之上，交河故城静静伫立，成为人类坚韧与智慧的非凡见证。古城沐浴在金色阳光下，环抱于吐鲁番盆地的原始壮美之间——这里是目前发现的世界上规模最大、最古老的生土建筑遗址，历史可追溯至两千多年前。
行走在被阳光炙烤的迷宫般街巷和残存的民居间，你会立刻感受到时间如何既摧毁又保存着这些泥砖遗迹。整个城市结构独特——狭长的形状依着天然河道高地，几百年间，它都是丝绸之路上的重要驿站。清晨徜徉在遗迹中，空气清新，古城在琥珀色晨光下熠熠生辉，仿佛还能听见往昔市集的喧嚣和驼队远去的回响。
交河曾是古姑师国的都城，后成为唐代西域军事重镇。历代更迭，这里成了多元文化交融的中心，无论是中亚、波斯还是中原文化，都在此留下了印记。下沉的巷道、寺庙和民居院落——皆是用生土开凿而成，实用与美学巧妙结合，使交河成为人与自然共塑的奇迹。
对旅行者来说，这些遗迹不仅仅讲述着历史的流逝。登上城墙眺望荒凉大地，大漠之风携带着久远的秘密，而热浪则让远处山影变得朦胧。每到春秋，野花和耐旱灌木点缀其间，变幻的光线又为古城添上一抹神秘色彩。
旅行贴士： 交河故城距吐鲁番市中心约10公里。清晨或傍晚气温适宜，也最适合拍照。参观时建议带好防晒装备，穿上舒适耐走的鞋。可请本地导游带领，讲述城中故事。游览交河时还可顺访坎儿井或火焰山，领略更多自然与历史的魅力。
当你静静伫立在这片蜂蜜色的古城墙内，心中只剩由衷敬畏。交河不仅是一处考古奇迹，更是文明的桥梁，提醒我们曾有多少族群在同一片蓝天下繁荣生息，也是用阳光、泥土与人类意志共同雕刻出的恒久象征。
✍️词汇速记
Yar Township /jɑːr ˈtaʊn.ʃɪp/ 亚尔乡
Jiaohe Ruins /dʒaʊˈhə ˈruːɪnz/ 交河故城
remarkable testament /rɪˈmɑːrkəbl ˈtɛstəmənt/ 非凡见证
Turpan Basin /ˈtɜːrˌpɑːn ˈbeɪsɪn/ 吐鲁番盆地
adobe (earth-constructed) settlement /əˈdoʊbi ˈsɛtlmənt/ 生土建筑遗址
sun-baked labyrinth /sʌn beɪkt ˈlæb.ə.rɪnθ/ 被阳光炙烤的迷宫
time /taɪm/ 时间
mud-brick /mʌd brɪk/ 泥砖
Silk Road /sɪlk roʊd/ 丝绸之路
Gushi Kingdom /ˈguːʃi ˈkɪŋ.dəm/ 姑师国
Tang Dynasty /tɑːŋ ˈdaɪnəsti/ 唐代
ruins /ˈruːɪnz/ 遗迹
desert wind /ˈdɛzərt wɪnd/ 大漠之风
sun protection /sʌn prəˈtɛkʃən/ 防晒
Karez Well system /kɑːˈrɛz wɛl ˈsɪstəm/ 坎儿井
Flaming Mountains /ˈfleɪmɪŋ ˈmaʊntənz/ 火焰山
👉 关注 水滴英语作文网，用英语勾勒世界风景，让美景在笔下流淌！
