Kuqa

From here the Silk Road bifurcates. In times of unrest, the caravans would move south through the sparse towns along the foot of the Kunlum Mountains, protected from robbers by the Taklimakan desert. But more often they would brave the great northern route with its line of rich oases - Turfan, Korla, Kuqa, Aksu - and hope to evade marauders from the grasslands just to the north.

Source: wiktionary

The Kizi Kuqa Beacon Tower Standing 6 mi. (10 km) west of Kuqa County, this ancient watchtower—or the weather-beaten remains of it—was one of many built along the southern arm of the Silk Road to protect traveling merchants and emissaries from bandits.

Source: wiktionary

Under his instruction, Yasin Molla Memet and a dozen other followers in the Chinese territory broke into the homes of Kawul Tika and three other villagers in Kunas Village of Alahag Township, Kuqa County, Xinjiang, on April 29, 1996, killing four villagers and injured^([sic – meaning injuring]) three others with explosives, guns and knives.

Source: wiktionary

In the north-west of Kuqa County, in a ravine, is the site of the 47 Kizilgaha Caves. This is one of the large groups of Buddhist caves in China.

Source: wiktionary