Khotan traces its history back at least as far as the 3rd century BC; when the eldest son of the Indian emperor Asoka is said to have settled here. It was of great importance on the Silk Road; and is claimed to have been the first place outside China to have cultivated silk.

It sits astride the Karakash or 鈥楤lack Jade' and Yurungkash or 鈥榃hite Jade' Rivers; which here conjoin to form the Khotan Darya; and has been famous for its jade for well over two millennia.

In times past trade routes crossed the desert to the north all the way to Kuqa; and as recently as 2007 this link has been re-established for the first time in centuries with the opening of a second Desert Highway leading to Aksu; distant some 424km to the north.

In 1006 Khotan was conquered by Uighur Muslims from Kashgar; and since that time the city remains a very Uighur place