This 9m-tall ruin is the largest of the southern Silk Road stupas yet discovered. Built between the 3rd and 5th centuries for a wealthy Khotanese monastery, it might have been visited by the Chinese monk Faxian in 401AD on his way to India. It was certainly explored by archeologist Aurel Stein, who excavated the site in 1901, and declared it a magnificent ruin. Stein's original work also uncovered 91 large Buddhist statues (now all sadly gone).
Rawaq is about 50km north of Hotan. You’ll need to buy a ticket in advance to visit (expect to pay several hundred rénmínbì for this). Contact the Cultural Department at Hotan Museum for information on this and other specialised archaeological sites.
