Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 8.2
The ancient delta of the Ruo-shui
dense and luxuriant groves of Euphrates poplars covering its banks. On the way
southward, the Huns found it very convenient to assemble at the delta before push-
ing forward along the Ruo-shui. It provided them with a most ideal route to cross
the Gobi and the desert which stretched over hundreds of kilometres from east to
west, but it exposed the Silk Road to an extremely serious threat.
To protect the Silk Road, the Han Dynasty had to enclose the banks of the Ruo-
shui and the delta of Lake Ju-yan within their military defence line. By stationing
garrison troops in the delta, they opened up an important area for reclamation and
developed agricultural irrigation. At that time, the Ruo-shui settlement area was
mainly composed of the middle and lower parts of the delta and in the year 102 B.C.
the famous Ju-yan City was built at the centre of the area. But if you go there today,
you will see that everything has changed. What meets your eyes is a vast stretch of
sand dunes. With the help of a local guide we were able to penetrate into this area
five and a half years ago. We saw nothing but ruins of castles, beacon towers, houses,
abandoned fields and irrigation ditches, broken earthenware, wells choked with
sand, slightly worn millstones, antique coins, arrowheads and many other artefacts.
The ancient Ju-yan Lake had shrunk to a small lake. Amidst the deep sand to the
