The ancient State of Loulan was a small state established in the Western Regions in ancient times before 176 B.C. and lasted until the seventh century. It had been a flourishing community, but when the Han dynasty fell in AD 220, it was overtaken by the Xiongnu (minority people) who cut the city off from all communication with Chang'an (the ancient capital).

Loulan was in the western bank of Lop Nor, an only route by which to pass the Ancient Silk Road. The ancient State of Loulan was completely submerged by the desert. But what makes people at a loss to account for is that such a city once with a population of thousands, its business economy fully developed, suddenly disappeared from the history after several prosperous centuries. The rise and fall of the ancient State of Loulan has all along presented a baffling mystery to us.

The ancient Loulan city is about 108,240 square meters. Now from the surface of the ground you can still see the remains of the city walls clearly, and especially the city wall on the south has been better preserved. On the ground there are broken potsherds, wood plates and wooden bowls everywhere. You can also find a number of the ancient "Wuzhu" coins of the Han dynasty here.