Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhang Dongmei) news: On November 2, 2025, the delegation of "Overseas University Delegation Visiting Xinjiang" themed event arrived in Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. They followed the historical traces of the Subash Buddhist Temple Ruins, the Kuqa Palace, and the Qiuci Wei and Jin Ancient Tomb Site Museum to explore the millennia-old civilization of Qiuci. By touching the historical remains and listening to cultural stories, they deeply felt the unique charm of the diverse cultural integration in Xinjiang.

The Subash Buddhist Temple, initially constructed during the Wei and Jin dynasties and reaching its zenith in the Sui and Tang dynasties, covers an area of approximately 20 hectares. Comprising structures such as pagodas, temples, caves, halls, and monks' quarters, it stands as the largest, best-preserved, and oldest Buddhist architectural complex ruins in Xinjiang. In 2014, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Photo taken on November 2, 2025 shows the delegation members visit the Subash Buddhist Temple Ruins in Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Zhang Dongmei)

Standing in front of the ruins, Tarek Bouattour, head of the Department of Arabic & Translation at the Institut Supérieur des Langues de Tunis (ISLT), Carthage University, listened attentively and observed carefully. He often stooped to examine the historical marks between the ruins. The Subash Buddhist Temple Ruins, carved by thousands of years of wind and sand, tell the story of their past glory through the mottled temples.

Tarek said that Kuqa has always been a place where diverse cultures converge and different ethnic languages and cultural habits blend. He added that the local government's strong protection of cultural diversity and historical relics has fueled the development of tourism and brought more opportunities to young people.

The warm autumn sun bathed the vermilion gates of the Kuqa Palace. Known as a "model scenic spot for ethnic unity," the palace houses royal artifacts, family documents, and tokens of merit. In exhibition halls, the murals and cultural relics from the Qiuci period attracted the attention of the delegation members.

Ali Khalifa Ali Al Shamli, Dean of Faculty of Education & Arts at Sohar University, listened to the explanations while taking photos to record the experience. Everyone gained a deep understanding of the hereditary history of the "Kuqa King" and felt the long-standing Qiuci culture.

Photo shows the delegation members visit the Kuqa Palace in Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Zhang Dongmei)

The Qiuci Wei and Jin Ancient Tomb Site Museum, built on the tomb site on Youyi Road in Kuqa City, showcases the brick-chamber tombs discovered for the first time in Xinjiang in their original location. Here, the delegation members got up close to the precious Han-style brick tombs.

Nikola Pirovski, Assistant Professor at Trakia University, said that the museum uses advanced means such as AI technology to bring history to life. He added that this innovative approach is truly impressive and that among all the museums he has visited, it definitely ranks in the top ten. He expressed his admiration for the careful protection of these historical and cultural relics and highly praised the efforts Xinjiang has made in cultural protection and inheritance.

On this trip to Kuqa, overseas teachers not only gained insight into the thousand-year-old essence of Qiuci culture but also witnessed firsthand Xinjiang's remarkable strides in cultural preservation and ethnic unity. They stated that these vivid experiences will serve as compelling materials to tell the story of Xinjiang to the world.

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