The remains of a house, 3rd-4th century, Niya, north of Minfeng. Niya occupies a vast area beside the dried up bed of the Niya river _ as much as 30km north to south and 5km east to west. To reach it requires a journey by jeep and camel, north from the town of Minfeng (New Niya) across 100kms of lifeless, post-apocalyptic wilderness. During visits in 1901, 1906, 1914 and 1931, Stein unearthed extensive remains at the site indicating that it was once a major commercial centre on the Southern Silk Road