Xinjiang Jinbang

Author: Li Yingchao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Hami is renowned as the "City of the Tianshan Mountains" and serves as a major gateway into Xinjiang. Anciently known as "Kunmo," it was referred to as "Yiwulu" during the Han Dynasty. Located at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, it is divided into northern and southern regions by the mountain range. The southern side is the Hami oasis, while the northern side is the Barkol Grassland and the Yiwu Valley. To the north, it borders Mongolia. Hami's natural landscapes blend the beauty of deserts, oases, snow-capped mountains, pine forests, and grasslands, earning it the nickname "Little Xinjiang." In addition to wonders like the Devil City, Hami lies on the northern Silk Road, preserving numerous historical sites and relics, such as the Tomb of the Hui King, the Tomb of Gais, the Tianshan Temple, as well as ancient cities, tombs, rock paintings, and the Paleolithic tools of the Sandstone Ridge. To date, the Hami region retains 51 beacon towers from various historical periods, making it the area in Xinjiang with the most and best-preserved beacon towers. Beacon towers were ancient alarm systems, often paired with the Great Wall to form a complete military defense system. Some stood independently to serve as early warning and defensive structures, with Xinjiang's beacon towers being the best example. These towers are scattered across northern and southern Xinjiang, aligning with the routes of the central and northern Silk Roads, playing a crucial role in safeguarding the Silk Road's.
China has four (singing sand dunes), and Hami's is one of them, lying on the grassland between the southern and northern slopes of the eastern Tianshan Mountains. The Tashui River and the Willow Branch River wind around its sides. When visitors lie on the sand, the wind moves the dunes, producing a mournful, flute-like sound. Standing in the biting cold, at the foot of the singing sand dunes, listening to the wind, the sand, and the cries, one imagines the lively figures of the Willow Green peddlers, and the distant past seems to come alive.
Hami has a long history, consisting of the old city, known as the "Mighty Town of the Tianshan," and the new city. It occupies the central (waist) position of the central Silk Road. Han culture left a significant mark here. As we all know, Li Bai was born in a place called Suyab. This mysterious location has been the subject of much debate. Eventually, scholars found the exact location of Suyab in the Qing Dynasty's Hami Annals, near the Sanbao area of Hami City. Today, it is possible that Li Bai was born in Hami. It is said that during the reign of the Hui King of Hami, the king visited the Qing emperor in the capital every few years, and among the tribute, the emperor particularly enjoyed Hami melons. A popular saying in the capital once went: "Crabs from the East Sea and shrimp from the West Sea cannot compare to the grapes of Turpan and the melons of Hami."
The Hui King's palace in Hami blends Han architectural styles—ornate beams and painted rafters—with Islamic designs such as domed arches (gumbaz) and crescents, creating a unique court restoration in Xinjiang. It resembles a magnificent magic box—once you approach it, you can almost feel its ancient aura. The legendary Hui kings also emerge from the mists of history. The rule of the Hui kings of Hami began in 1697 and ended in 1930, spanning nine generations. Over more than two centuries, the successive Hui kings of Hami played a positive role in promoting economic and cultural exchanges between Xinjiang and the Central Plains, as well as maintaining national unity.