Qietai

Qietai lay southeast of Charchan, on the southern road around the Tarim Basin. In 1286 the Yuan established a postal station here, along with stations at Lop, Charchan and Khotan. The route joined scattered oases at the edge of the Taklamakan, where travellers crossed long stretches of arid country between the rivers descending from the Kunlun and Altun mountains. Qietai offered a stopping place on this demanding journey.