A high-altitude LiDAR survey in the Qaidam Basin of the Tibetan Plateau has identified a massive, previously unknown 1,500-Year-Old trading citadel. The site, which covers roughly 10 hectares, features stone fortifications, complex residential clusters, and evidence of a sophisticated irrigation system. This discovery suggests the 'Silk Road on the Plateau' was more heavily urbanized and strategically managed than previously estimated.
Archaeologists believe this site served as a vital high-altitude hub connecting the Tang Dynasty with Central Asian and Indian trade networks. Initial ground surveys have already yielded fragments of Sassanid Persian coins and Indian silk, confirming the city's role in international commerce. The harsh, arid environment of the basin has left the stone foundations and several defensive towers in a remarkably pristine state.