Located in the most south area in Xinjiang and between the Karakorum Mountains and the Taklimakan Desert, Hetian is one of the birthplaces of the ancient Xinjiang Civilization and one of the important towns on the Silk Road, especially the trading route for jade.

　　Hetian was long famous for its silk, jade, and carpets as the three items of ancient treasure in Hetian, and now the Uygur medicine, Da Yun, and E-Jiao as its three items of new treasure. As a matter of fact, the well-known Jiayu Pass gained its name from the Hetian Jade.

　　Hetian is recently famous for the discovery of Caucasoid mummies, which are evidence of long term inhabitation of the area by the Tocharians. The desert atmosphere has preserved perishable items such as wood and fabric, attracting archaeologists. The area is rich in archaeological sites that are buried beneath the desert sand.