Avoid pitfalls on the Loulan adventure and save 3,000 yuan with this guide
A must-visit in this lifetime! Complete Loulan Ancient Kingdom Exploration Guide
Dear friends! Finally fulfilled the childhood dream of Loulan! Deep into the heart of the Taklamakan Desert, touching relics with a history of 3,800 years, the shock is truly beyond words! Here is a super detailed adventure guide, hardcore players can copy it directly 👇
🌟 Highlights · Why you must visit Loulan
- Loulan Ancient City Ruins: The world-famous "Pompeii of the desert," with existing relics such as Buddhist pagodas, government offices, and residences. Standing on the ruins, you can almost hear the camel bells of the ancient Silk Road.
- Xiaohe Cemetery: Known as a miracle in the "Sea of Death," hundreds of poplar wood pillars stand on the sand dunes. The unearthed "Loulan Beauty" mummy is a legend in archaeology.
- Desert Secret Scenery: Vast Gobi, shifting sand dunes, and salt-alkali land intertwined. Every photo looks like a post-apocalyptic blockbuster, straight from your phone with no filter needed.
- Historical Depth: Walking among the ancient ruins, feel the mysterious rise and fall of the Loulan Kingdom, satisfying all your imaginations about the ancient Western Regions.
🚗 Transportation Guide · Essential for hardcore adventurers
External Transportation
1. Arrival point: Fly to Korla City, Xinjiang first, then transfer by car or self-drive to Ruoqiang County (about 7-8 hours by car). Ruoqiang County is the only transfer station to Loulan.
2. Preparation in Ruoqiang County: You must apply for a cultural relic protection zone entry permit in Ruoqiang County (must apply 7 days in advance to Bazhou Cultural Relics Bureau; individuals cannot apply alone and must register through a local legitimate travel agency).
Internal Transportation (Crucial!)
- You must take the designated professional adventure vehicle (4WD off-road vehicle). Private cars are strictly prohibited from entering the desert interior. The road conditions are extremely poor, full of sand dunes and salt-alkali flats. Without a professional guide, it is easy to get lost.
- Ruoqiang County → Loulan Ancient City: About 4-5 hours by car, all desert and Gobi road sections, very bumpy. It is recommended to take motion sickness medicine in advance.
- Cost reference: Package including guide, off-road vehicle, and permit, about 3,000-5,000 yuan per person (carpooling by number of people, 4 people carpooling is more cost-effective).
📅 3 Days 2 Nights Adventure Itinerary · Deep Unlock
Day 1: Korla → Ruoqiang County · Assemble and Prepare
- Morning: Gather in Korla City, visit local travel agency to confirm permit processing progress, sign safety agreement.
- Noon: Have lunch in Korla city, recommended hand-pulled rice and baked buns to replenish energy.
- Afternoon: Self-drive or take a bus to Ruoqiang County, enjoy Gobi scenery along the way, arrive in Ruoqiang County by evening.
- Evening: Check into a hotel in Ruoqiang County, purchase desert supplies (mineral water, compressed biscuits, energy bars), listen to the guide explain adventure precautions and Loulan history.
Day 2: Ruoqiang County → Loulan Ancient City · Immersive Exploration
- 7:00 AM: After breakfast, gather and depart by adventure vehicle. The guide will check the vehicle and supplies in advance.
- 11:00 AM: Arrive at Loulan Ancient City entrance, complete entry procedures, guide distributes audio guides.
- 11:30 AM: Key visit to the Buddhist Pagoda ruins (the iconic building of Loulan Ancient City, over 10 meters high, standing firm after thousands of years of weathering). Listen to the guide explain the construction techniques and historical significance.
- 1:00 PM: Simple lunch near the ruins (bring self-heating meals or dry food). Strictly no littering; all waste must be taken away.
- 2:30 PM: Explore government office ruins (presumed administrative center of ancient Loulan, with visible broken walls and scattered pottery shards). If lucky, see marks left by archaeological teams.
- 4:00 PM: Stroll through residential ruins, observe ancient house foundations and stove remains, feel the life scenes of ancient Loulan people.
- 5:30 PM: Shoot sunset at the highest point of the ancient city, the sunset casting over the ruins creates a full atmosphere.
- 6:30 PM: Return by car to Ruoqiang County. On the way, the guide will share several hypotheses about the disappearance of the Loulan Kingdom (water source depletion, war, ecological deterioration), very informative.
- 8:30 PM: Dinner in Ruoqiang County, recommended local red willow barbecue and big plate chicken to relieve the day's fatigue.
Day 3: Ruoqiang County → Xiaohe Cemetery → Return
- 8:00 AM: Take the adventure vehicle to Xiaohe Cemetery, about 3 hours by car, with desert poplars along the way.
- 11:00 AM: Arrive at Xiaohe Cemetery, visit the "Hall of Death" — hundreds of poplar wood pillars stuck in the sand dunes, with various shapes, some with carvings.
- 12:30 PM: Picnic near the cemetery, listen to the guide tell the discovery process of the "Loulan Beauty" mummy (unearthed in 1980, 3,800 years old, skin still elastic).
- 2:00 PM: Return by car to Ruoqiang County, stop on the Gobi to experience sand sliding and take desert photos.
- 5:00 PM: Arrive in Ruoqiang County, pack luggage, buy local specialties (Ruoqiang gray dates, premium dates).
- 7:00 PM: According to return plans, head to Ruoqiang County train station or airport, ending the unforgettable Loulan adventure.
🧳 Essential Packing List · Not a single item can be missed
- Clothing: Windbreaker, quick-dry clothes (desert temperature difference between day and night is large, sun protection during the day, warmth at night), high-top anti-slip hiking shoes (sand-proof, anti-chafing), wide-brim hat, sunglasses, sun protection mask.
- Supplies: High SPF sunscreen (SPF50+ PA++++, desert UV is very strong), lip balm (to prevent chapping), thermos (desert water shortage, need to replenish hot water timely), power banks (bring 2, weak signal and fast power consumption along the way).
- Others: ID card, cultural relic protection zone permit, cash (some places have no signal), motion sickness medicine, stomach medicine (to cope with bumps and diet changes), trash bags (strictly follow the "leave no trace" principle), camera (with telephoto lens to capture relic details).
❗ Pitfalls & Precautions · Lessons learned the hard way
1. Documents must be complete: No cultural relic protection zone permit means no entry to Loulan. Don’t trust roadside "black guides" who say they can sneak you in. Safety and compliance come first.
2. Weather choice: Best time is April-May and September-October. Summer desert temperatures can exceed 40°C, winter can drop to -20°C, both unsuitable. Check Ruoqiang County weather forecast before departure; reschedule if there is strong wind or sandstorm.
3. Respect the rules: Strictly no touching or climbing on relics, no taking pottery shards, wood pieces, or other relics. Violators face heavy fines and legal responsibility (the scenic area has surveillance and patrols).
4. Physical preparation: Desert adventure consumes a lot of energy. Those with heart disease or hypertension should be cautious. Taking Rhodiola a week in advance can prevent altitude sickness (some areas are about 1000-1500 meters above sea level).
5. Signal issues: After entering the desert, mobile phones basically have no signal. Inform family of your itinerary in advance and keep close contact with the guide.
The mystery of Loulan can only be experienced in person! Although the journey is tough, the moment you stand before the millennia-old ruins, all the fatigue is worth it~