Subash Monastery Ruin in Kuqa

Located in the suburb of Kuqa Xinjiang China, Subash used to be a big monastery in Tang Dynasty, 7th century, described by Monk Xuanzang when he travelled here as the most impressive monastery in Western Region. Unfortunately it was abandoned after 14th century.
Subash is from Uyghur language, which means the outlet of the river because it is located near Kuqa river.
The Subash Ruin is divided into eastern and western temple by the Kuqa river, of which western temple is open to visitors. There are well-preserved stupas, temple walls, and the ruin of Buddha sculptures in the temple where you can wander on the wooden pavement.
In 1970s, the archeologist had excaved the painted coffin near a stupa, and a dried corpse in the coffin. As per their research, the man in the coffin is native Kupa person who was from high-rank family as his front head was flat, which was the ancient tradition for the royal family to make their front head flat by a heaven weight since they were born.
In 1902, a Japanese team came to Subash and excavated a Holy Relic Container which was painted 21 dancing and singing native assembles that mirrored the ancient kuqa life.
In 2014, Subash was listed on the World Heritage for Silk Road with other sites by UNESCO.
There are few people coming here to visit, however, it is a really interesting place to wonder around when you travel to China on the ancient Silk Road.