In ancient times, Loulan was a trade transit point and military fortress on the Silk Road, and it has always attracted the attention of kings. Why were the kings so fascinated by Loulan?
The kings' fascination with Loulan first stems from the charm of Loulan's beauties. These beauties have unique signs of beauty: deep eyes, a high nose bridge, and a golden chin, and their beauty is stunning, as if they were born beautiful. The kings were fascinated by the beauty of these beauties, and they were eager to marry them as concubines in order to further consolidate their power and status. They believed that having Loulan beauties was a symbol of glory and victory, and that it would also help them consolidate their rule and increase the nobility of their royal lineage. Therefore, the kings went to Loulan one after another, hoping to marry the beautiful women as concubines and further consolidate their dominance.
In addition to the beauties, the geographical location of Loulan is also quite superior. It was located right on the road between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu, which made Loulan a transit point for trade between the East and the West. Merchants from different countries and regions gathered here, bringing a variety of rare goods and culture, making Loulan prosperous and extraordinary. The kings also saw the strategic importance of Loulan and sent troops to garrison it to protect the safety of trade routes and the smooth flow of trade.
The ancient city of Loulan
However, why did such a bustling city suddenly disappear? There are several reasons for the sudden disappearance of Loulan, and it is said that frequent wars have made Loulan a lamb to the slaughter. During the prosperous period of Loulan, it became the focus of competition for various forces. The Xiongnu, the Han Dynasty, and other countries fought fierce wars for Loulan. The war brought great destruction to Loulan, the city was burned and the people were slaughtered, which eventually led to the decline of Loulan.
Another theory says that the lack of water is also one of the main reasons for the disappearance of Loulan. Due to population growth and excessive water use, the Peacock River in the Loulan area gradually dried up, leading to the depletion of the city's water sources. At the same time, climate change in the Loulan area may also exacerbate the problem of water scarcity.
Others claim to be caused by natural disasters. Since Loulan is located in the current uninhabited area of Lop Nur, years of sand and drought have turned Loulan into a ruined city. In ancient times, people had limited control over the forces of nature and were unable to effectively withstand natural disasters. Over time, winds and sand and drought gradually swallowed away Loulan, leaving the once thriving city buried under yellow sand.
Ruins of the ancient city of Loulan
It wasn't until the end of the 19th century that explorers discovered the Loulan site on the eastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. In 1900, Swedish explorer Sven Hedin discovered the ancient city of Loulan on the north bank of Lop Nur and excavated many cultural relics, which attracted the attention of the world. In 1988, China and Japan organized a joint expedition to the Loulan site, which further revealed the history and culture of Loulan.