Turpan Jiaohe Ruins: The Second Lowest Place on Earth - Silk

Exploring the 2nd Lowest Place on Earth 🌏 | Turpan, China

Destination:ChinaCity:TurpanPopulation:0.6 million
Exploring the 2nd Lowest Place on Earth 🌏 | Turpan, China
Wilko Wanders2025-08-1212 min

In this video Wilko Wanders visits the Jiaohe ruins, over 2,000 years old, in the Turpan desert, 154 metres below sea level, the second lowest place on earth. The site was dug into the earth and served as a Silk Road outpost. Wilko travels with a slow travel approach, aiming to connect with local people and understand the culture more deeply. He shares the history of the ruin and the desert setting, inviting viewers to experience the atmosphere of this remote corner of Xinjiang as part of a living travel story.

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--- Wilko Wanders
August 12, 2025, Summer in China

Video Chapters

  1. 0:00Intro to Silk Road route
  2. 00:13Jiaohe ruins below sea level
  3. 02:01Buddhist temple complex
  4. 08:18Emmen minouret details
  5. 10:13Tu York Village earthquake and rebuild

More about the current video:( 14 / 17 )

Exploring the 2nd Lowest Place on Earth 🌏 | Turpan, China

Wilko Wanders explores Turpan in northwest China, zeroing in on the Jiaohe ruins, an ancient complex carved into the earth that dates back more than two millennia. Nestled in the Turpan desert and sitting 154 metres below sea level, this location is presented as the world’s second lowest place on earth. The video invites viewers to see a remarkable Silk Road outpost that was dug into the earth to shelter, trade, and endure the harsh desert climate. Throughout the journey, Wilko emphasizes slow travel and connecting with local culture, offering genuine moments of discovery rather than quick highlights. The tone blends curiosity about ancient history with a traveler’s appreciation for the landscape, the ruins, and the stories of people who once walked these routes. By focusing on immersion and respectful exploration, the video aims to make viewers feel as if they’re stepping onto a quiet corner of a long, interwoven global past.

Turpan Jiaohe Ruins: The Second Lowest Place on Earth - Silk

In this video I visit Jiaohe ruins, which are over 2,000 years old and in the Turpan desert, which is 154 metres below sea level. The second lowest place on earth! This town has to be seen to be believed; it was dug down into the earth and a key outpost on the ancient Silk Road. 🔥 Exclusive...

Attractions in this video: Jiaohe Ruins, Emmen Minouret, Su Kon Minet, Tu York Village