Lücheng ruins

The site is located in the township of Bayan Toroi, roughly 50 kilometers by car southeast of Dalaihubu Town, seat of Ejin Banner, Alxa League, at the far west of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.^[1] Historically, the area was once a fertile oasis with abundant water and vegetation, yet is now a desert zone within the Juyan Delta. About ten kilometers northwest lies Khara-Khoto, it too once ruled by the Tanguts.

Roughly square with a perimeter of 1,205 meters, the city walls were made of rammed earth with a thickness of 11-14 cm.^[1] The wall foundation is 3.5 meters wide, and the remaining height is up to 2 meters. There is a gate on the eastern side of the northern city wall with a barbican. The oval-shaped western wall is dated to the Bronze Age.^[2] In the western part of the city there are remains of a relatively well preserved stupa, with more remains of such across the city.^[1] Unearthed relics were dated from the Bronze Age to the Han, Western Xia, and Yuan dynasties. A canal runs through the city and leaves through the southern wall. Irrigation canals extend outwards to remains of ancient farmland dated to the Western Xia, with indications of abandonment in 1475.

To the east of the city lies a large elevated burial complex.^[2] Based on excavation findings it was concluded that it is a brick-chambered tomb with an earthen mound from the Western Jin dynasty.