China Has a Sky-High Ticketed Scenic Area: One Ticket Costs 3500 Yuan, Foreigners Must Also Pay a Security Deposit
There is a most difficult and expensive scenic area in all of China, with a ticket price of 3000 RMB, plus an additional 500 RMB in scenic management fees. Furthermore, if you are a foreigner, you unfortunately need to pay a security deposit of 300,000 RMB, and to date, no more than 50,000 tourists worldwide have ever visited it.
This place is located in China's mysterious Luolan Ancient City of the Robu. Many mysteries remain unsolved here.
Strictly speaking, Luolan Ancient City is not a formal tourist scenic area, but rather a national-level key protection unit, which is currently not officially open to tourists. The only way to enter is to apply for a travel permit six months in advance to the relevant departments.
Its inaccessibility, combined with its mysterious disappearance, all contribute to the mystery of Luolan Ancient City.
Mysterious Luolan Culture
2100 years ago, the ancient Kingdom of Luolan was established in Luolan, and it did not disappear until 630 AD, lasting only 800 years of prosperity. There are no records of its mysterious disappearance, as if it vanished overnight, leaving behind only ruins.
The disappearance reason has yet to be determined. It is believed that human activity in the Tarim River Basin has a history of over 10,000 years. If all the ancient cities, including Luolan, are connected across the Tarim Desert and the Taklamakan Desert, they all disappeared around 415 AD. All the sites remain, located 50-200 kilometers from today's inhabited areas.
The sudden drying up of the Robu
The neighboring Robu is known as the ‘Sea of Death’, which is a forbidden zone for life. It’s incredible that it was once China’s second largest inland lake, covering an area of over 3,000 square kilometers, with beautiful scenery that was breathtaking like a fairyland. However, this large lake suddenly dried up, which further adds to the mystery of Luolan.
The Robu wilderness area has China’s best off-road crossing routes, it’s the ultimate travel destination for countless self-driving off-road enthusiasts. The twenty-kilometer cannon pit road to Luolan Ancient City, also one of the worst and most exciting roads in China, is without a doubt the top off-road section. Many people start their off-road dreams here.
“Yellow sand battles through golden armor, never returning after breaking Luolan”
Over a thousand years have passed, the mysterious ancient Luolan has disappeared into the long river of history, but it always fascinates and inspires endless imagination, making it difficult to let go.
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