A large part of a city wall of the ancient Gaochang City in Turpan, west China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,  has collapsed as a result of long-term flood irrigation of nearby farmlands. 
 
As many crops, mostly grapes, were being grown on the ancient wall, the wall base was destroyed by long-term flood irrigation, said an deputy of the local People's Congress of Turpan Prefecture.

"The original appearance of the city site is suffering from damages done by local people and visitors such as digging soil from the site to fertilize farmlands, digging caves, climbing and trampling underfoot," said the deputy.

"Moreover, natural factors such as wind erosion, rain saturation and the great variation between day and night temperatures all contributed to the fracture and collapse of the city wall," the deputy said.

Built in 1st century BC, the Gaochang City ruins covers an area of 2.2 million square meters.

Famous for its large amount of cultural relics, especially classic manuscripts, frescos and statues of Huihu, early Uygurs, the city site was listed as a major historical and cultural site under state protection in 1961. 

(CRI.com January 29, 2004)