Datang's prosperous economy and developed civilization attracted all countries to the dynasty, and at that time it was the center of the world.
Among them, it is inseparable from the system of capital protection established for the western region.
The Tang Dynasty established the Anxi and Beiting Protectorates in the Western Regions, and the Anxi Capital Protectorate also administered the four towns of Guizi, Shanye, Khotan, and Shule. These measures ensured the smooth flow of the Silk Road and also promoted the prosperity and development of the Tang Dynasty. In today's Xinjiang, there are many construction sites related to the Tang Dynasty, some of which have gone through thousands of years and are still intact.
The Ruins of the Tang Dynasty Beacon Tower, located in the Xishan Ranch of the 12th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, are one of them.
Beacon Tower was built in the Tang Dynasty, is the southwest frontier post of the ancient city of Ulapo, up to 12 meters high, in the shape of a square cone, after the baptism of fire and many repairs, standing to this day.
Although the beacon of the past has been dissipated, it has recorded the heroic feats of countless brave and good warriors in defending their homes and defending the country over the past thousand years, and has not been forgotten. At the same time, this ancient beacon tower also witnessed the historical achievements of the corps in reclaiming the border and turning the Gobi into a fertile field.
Under the blue sky, the sun is shining, and the mottled ancient beacon tower exudes a quaint historical atmosphere. It is the most well-preserved of the five beacon ruins in the ancient city of Ulapo.
Along the ancient beacon tower, the course of history began to reverse. Ulabo Ancient City is the earliest and best preserved ancient city in Urumqi, and is known as the first city in the history of Urumqi city construction.
More than a thousand years ago, this was a military-level tunbing garrison, and some people called it Luntai City, an important town in the northern silk road of the Tang Dynasty, which is still controversial.
Many scholars believe that this is a city built by the Tang central government more than a thousand years ago to garrison Xinjiang garrisons. The structure within the ruins of the ancient city also reflects its military function.
As the most complete preserved beacon tower site in the ancient city, it has become one of the most worthy historical monuments on the outskirts of Urumqi today. Between the empty heavens and the earth, this isolated beacon tower vividly shows the vicissitudes and glory of history.
On the edge of the beacon site, there is also a sand date tree.
This jujube tree sways quietly in the wind, and the small yellow flowers in bloom are extremely eye-catching. Just when everyone thinks it's just an ordinary jujube tree, they don't know that there is a magnificent love story behind it. Suddenly, the wind blew into the history books, yellowing the time.
During the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, there were constant wars in the western region, and a young man named Bai Yang in northern Shaanxi bid farewell to his fiancée Jujube flower, enlisted in the army, and went to the western region.
Poplar was sent to the West Mountain Beacon in Ulapo City and served as a pawn. Three years have passed, and Bai Yang Tun Tian Shu Bian, who has made many military achievements, has been promoted to the position of chief of 100 households. According to the law of the time, Shubian could marry and bring his family with him after three years of promotion to lieutenant. Poplar was full of joy, and a family letter was sent to his hometown. After receiving the letter, Jujube embarked on a journey to the west to find a husband with happiness and hope for the future.
At the same time, there was a sudden battle around the city of Ulapo, and the poplar bravely resisted the enemy while lighting the beacon. Wolf smoke billowed and the wind blew, sending a message to the defenders of the city. By the time reinforcements arrived, Poplar had already died on the beacon.
At that time, the jujube flowers were still on their way. When she finally arrived at the beacon tower and was full of joy to see her fiancé, the soldiers on the side told her about poplar's sacrifice. Jujube burst into tears, sad and proud of her fiancé.
Later, she stayed here, cooking and washing for the soldiers. However, due to the long distance, physical exhaustion and the loss of relatives, Jujube died of illness soon after. The soldiers buried her in the open ground not far from the beacon.
In the spring of the following year, a jujube tree grew in the open. In order to commemorate the jujube flower, the soldiers called it the jujube tree, and the flowers that bloomed were called the jujube flowers. Another poplar tree was planted next to the jujube tree. Poplar trees and jujube trees accompany each other, closely clinging to each other, dotting the vast Gobi with the green of life.
More than a thousand years have passed, and the jujube flowers in front of the beacon tower are still fragrant, and the poplar trees are still strong. After two generations of soldiers' reclamation, Beacon Tower Town is like a pearl embedded in the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and has developed a four-star farm attraction, close to the 216 National Highway, 26 kilometers away from Urumqi City.
The town's landscape includes Tianrun Beacon Terrace Silk Road Cloud Ranch, Xishan Farm And Pasture Small Potato Farm, Chasing Deer Pastoral Farm, "Flower Year One House" Succulent Plant Cultural and Creative Park, etc.
In 2015 and 2020, Beacon Tower Town was successively selected as the third batch of "National Characteristic Tourist Towns", "China's Most Beautiful Leisure Villages", and National Rural Tourism Key Villages.