Brief / profile
The Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs are a part of the Underground Museum of Turpan as well as Gaochang’s Living Archives. This tomb complex is 5 kilometers from east to west and 2 kilometers from north to south.

Location
The tombs lie 42 km southeast of Turpan City, Xinjiang Autonomous Region and 6 km from the Ancient City of Gaochang.

Function or value in the past
The tombs were used to be the public cemetery of the ancient residents in Gaochang in the past.

Construction
They are divided by family. Han people as well as some ethnic minorities were mainly buried here. A slope with the length of more than 10 meters is leading to a flat-domed chamber which is 2 meters high. The dead bodies are placed on a wooden bed at the rear of the chamber. Around the cadavers, there’re