One-Hundred Years of Investigation and Exploration in Lop Nur

The history of exploration in Lop Nur before 1896 was written by the Russian explorers. From Ili to Lop Nur by Way of Tianshan Mountains written by 普尔热瓦尔斯基, Lop Nur written by Piotr Kozlov, Travels Kashgar and Kunlun written by 别夫佐夫, 1893-1895 Summary of Central Asia Investigation Team of Russian Royal Geography Association written by 罗布罗夫斯基 and Travel West China written by 格卢姆尕什麦罗 brothers were the true records in that period. The two Russian scholars should be introduced here. The famous anarchist 克鲁泡特金 was a geographer and he was interested in issues on Central Asia and Lop Nur. In 1876, he arrived at the east-end of Tarim to make an exploration, but the research reported hadn’t been seen until now. 奥勃鲁切夫 (1863-1956) was the grand old man of the Russian geography academe. He went through two historical periods and he was the grand old man. And he was mentioned in Exploration in Lop Nur published in 1905 and he was known as the neutral in the location of Lop Nur in Russian geography academe. In 1955, he published Desert in Central Asia. The contents of Lop Nur area in that book were very attractive.

In 1896, the investigation and exploration of Swedish explorer Sven·A·Hedin was the important thing in Lop Nur exploration history. Hedin had arrived at Lop Nur three times: 1896, 1900-1901 and 1934. The time gap was 40 years. His experience in 1896 was recorded in Cross Asia; his experience from 1900 to 1901 was recorded in Exploration in Lop Nur and Central Asia and Tibet; his experience in 1934 was recorded in Moving Lake. He initiated the theory of “moving lake” and speculated the period of alternant use of the southern and northern basins was 1,500 years. In March 1901, he found the ancient Kroraina City; in 1934, he went the maiden shipping in Lop Nur which was returning from the north.

Later, the American meteorologist E·Huntington investigated Lop wasteland during 1905 to 1906 and wrote Pulse of Asia and Weather and Civilization. The British Hungarian Marc Aurel Stein investigated Lop Nur twice in 1906-1907 and 1913-1914. At present, the marks (20 from LA-LT) of Lop wasteland relics used in the academe were made by him. The Japanese 橘瑞超 arrived at Lop wasteland in 1908 and in the New Year's day of 1901 on the way to Abudan and he was famous for finding Li Po Writ. In 1927, China established the Scientific Investigation Team of Northwest China with Sweden and started the “8-year exploration in Central Asia”. The scholars in this team entered Lop Nur many times: Huang Wenbi in April and May 1930 and May 1934; Beigeman in 1934; Chen Zongqi from 1930 to 1931 and in 1934; Huonieer from 1930 to 1931 with Chen Zongqi. Huang Wenbi wrote Archaeological Studies in Lop Nur, Beigeman wrote Archaeological Studies in Xinjiang, Chen Zongqi wrote Lop Nur and Lop wasteland and Alternate Lake in Northwest China (collaboration with Huonieer), and Huonieer wrote the Way to Lop Nur.

After People’s Republic of China was established, Chinese Academy of Sciences organized Xinjiang Integration Investigation Team and started a multi-subject in Xinjiang from 1956 to 1959. In this period, the Geography Academe of Soviet Academe of Sciences was invited to join the investigation. This subject was listed to be the perspective program of national 12-year scientific development. They arrived at Lop Nur in 1959 and saw Puchang Sea. According to the photos of American Resource Satellite, Lop Nur died up in 1972. Because of limit of conditions, the investigation was not developed in Lop Nur area and the comprehensive investigation report had not been published until now. The achievements had been published in succession since 1950’s. The thesis Natural Conditions in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was published in 1959. Xinjiang Soil Geography was published separately in 1965. Birds and Beasts in South Xinjiang in 1965 and Xinjiang Physiognomy in 1978 hadn’t been published completely. In Xinjiang Physiognomy written by Physiognomy Branch of Investigation Team and Issues on Movement of Lop Nur written by Zhou Yanru, the theory that Lop Nur hadn’t moved was mentioned firstly. And it denied the theory of moving lake which had been the rage for 70 or 80 years.

At the beginning of 1980’s, Xinjiang Branch of Chinese Academy of Sciences organized Lop Nur Integration Sciences Investigation Team researched and investigated Lop Nur from 1980 to 1981. Because of the leader Peng Jiamu being missed, the first investigation had to be stopped in June 1980. The reason was not known, the investigations were arranged in 1980 and in May and June 1981. Those seasons were unfit for investigating in the wild field. Xia Xuncheng took charge of the publication of Scientific Investigation and Research in Lop Nur (thesis) and Mysterious Lop Nur (picture album). This investigation was very famous for Peng Jiamu’s disappearance. On the location of Lop Nur, this thesis agreed on the viewpoint that Lop Nur hadn’t moved.

Making a comprehensive view on the history of exploration in Lop Nur, the first explorer who arrived at Lop Nur was 普尔热瓦尔斯基 (1876); the first explorer who found the ancient culture of Kroraina was Sven·A·Hedin (on March 28th, 1900); the first explorer who found the writ of Kroraina’s period was Aurel Stein (January 1901); the first explorer who found the ancient graves was E·Huntington (1906); the first explorer who was engaged in do scientific investigation was Sven·A·Hedin (1900, 1901); the first carried on multi-subjects scientific investigation was Lop Nur Integration Sciences Investigation Team of Xinjiang Branch of Chinese Academy of Sciences (1980 and 1981); the first scientist who died in Lop Nur was Peng Jiamu (in June 1980). The scholar who worked for a long time was Chen Zongqi Chinese physical scientist of celestial bodies (from December 1930 to June 1931 and from Aril to August 1934, the gap was one year.

Making a comprehensive view on the history of exploration in modern times, the scientific investigation in Lop Nur was not abominable but long-drawn and attention getting. From a certain extent, the about 100-year fashion of the Silk Road meant the fashion of Lop Nur—Kroraina. It should be pointed out that the situation of Lop indigene were out of the center, in spite of the Lop indigene having been the participators of the explorations since the explorers arrived at Lop Nur. No subjects of the history of Lop indigene were established and the research works were written. The discussion on the movement of Lop Nur had risen and fell during 100 years until it disappeared. The subject with real meaning became the typical archaeological studies and the academe was still waiting for its result.

Translated by Beijing Star-light Translation Center
Compiled by Historical Department of www.travel-silkroad.com
December 31st, 2000