Rawak Stupa 热瓦克佛寺

About Rawak Stupa

Its cross-shaped base and the remains of its surrounding religious complex make it an important witness to ancient Khotan’s connections with Buddhist art farther west and south. Much of the sculpture recorded during early excavations is no longer visible at the site. Museum collections help explain what the surviving earthen forms once contained.

In April 1901, sand dunes covered part of the stupa and almost all of the surrounding site, reaching about 25 feet in places. Eight days of excavation uncovered ninety-one large stucco figures of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, with smaller attendant deities between them. The sculptures were photographed, described and then buried again beneath sand.

The sand protected the stucco from strong winds and supported figures that might otherwise collapse. By a return expedition in September 1906, treasure seekers had removed most of the large statues. Excavation that year also recovered small terracotta reliefs from nearby ruins, which the excavator assigned to the fifth or sixth century.

What to look for

• The stupa’s cross-shaped base is a distinctive architectural feature.
• Surviving enclosure walls suggest the arrangement of the former religious courtyard.

Location & getting there

Getting to Rawak Stupa

Contact the Lop County heritage or visitor authority before arranging a trip to Rawak north of Hotan. A May 2026 report described visitor facilities as still being improved, so confirm actual admission and the permitted approach rather than treating the desert pin as an open entrance.