Kizilgaha Beacon Tower

Kizilgaha Beacon TowerIn Uyghur, it means "red-beaked crow" or "red sentry post," built during the Han Dynasty. This towering ancient military structure has withstood over 2,000 years of weathering yet still stands majestic today. It is one of the longest-standing and best-preserved rammed-earth beacon tower ruins among the hundreds along the ancient Silk Road in Xinjiang. The beacon tower's base is rectangular, measuring 6 meters east to west and 4.5 meters north to south, with a remaining height of 16 meters. It tapers from a wider base to a narrower top, gradually narrowing upward.

Kizilgaha Beacon TowerThe main structure is built with rammed earth, with compacted layers about 15 cm thick. The upper part of the beacon tower features a wooden pillar framework, with each layer spaced approximately 1 meter apart, topped by adobe masonry. A watchtower was constructed on top, with remnants of wooden railings still visible. Due to prolonged weathering, the end section has eroded into a concave shape, forming a large groove. On the northern side lie collapsed ruins—remnants of ancient structures that once provided access to the beacon tower's summit.