Loulan, whichcorresponds toPompeii buriedunder the desert, always intrigues me. So I was thrilled when I won a trip to it. Iset out on 23 July and arrived on 30 July. Seeing theruins in front of me, I couldn’tdismiss the idea that this city was once busy and had notablecivilisation.
There was a scholar in our team who had thrown himself into the archaeological research of Loulan for years. With him being our guide, we learnt a lot about this mysterious city. The reason why Loulan wasabandonedand fell intoruin is unclear. Some believe that the downfall of this civilisation is because of climate change. The residents had no choice but to make a getaway and run for their lives.