The deserts around Hotan are peppered with the faint remains of abandoned cities. The most interesting are those of Melikawat, 25km south of town, a Tang dynasty settlement with wind-eroded walls, Buddhist stupas and the remains of pottery kilns. Some scholars believe Melikawat was a capital city of the Yutian state (206 BC to AD 907), an Indo-European civilisation that thrived during the height of the Silk Road. A taxi to Melikawat should cost about ¥100.
- placement: superzone
- path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
- possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
- targeting:
{ "url": "china/xinjiang/hotan/attractions/melikawat-ruins/a/poi-sig/1241172/356142", "destination": "Xinjiang", "continent": "Asia", "country": "China", "region": "Xinjiang", "position": "superzone" }