In an area in the far northwest of China are earthen walls and temple ruins spread over an area of about 1.45 square kilometers. Locals call this site situated in a desert "the broken city".

Xin Junfeng, 32, grew up near this site in Jimsar county, in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"Many years ago, people of my father's generation often found jade bracelets there," he says.

"And, in my childhood, the walls were bigger and more complete. I saw many colorful murals there."

But wind and rainfall have eroded the site. Now, only a small portion of the murals is visible, but what exists is still exquisite enough to enthrall.

The area referred to is Bashbaliq City, commonly known in China as Beiting, a stronghold on the legendary ancient Eurasian trade route, the Silk Road.

The city was established in the second century BC when Zhang Qian built up political connections between the Middle Kingdom and Central Asia.

It was ruled by several nomadic ethnic groups until AD 640, when the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) defeated the Gaochang regime and established a county-level administrative region there.

In 702, the Protectorate General for Pacifying Beiting was founded and became a political, cultural, and military center north of the Tianshan Mountains.

The city is believed to have been abandoned in the late 14th century after the Mongols fell.

The city was called Bashbaliq by the Mongols.

Together with 21 sites in China along the Silk Road: the Routes Network of the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor, the ruins of Bashbaliq City was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in June 2014.

But despite Bashbaliq making it to the UNESCO list, Guo Zhan, an expert in the field of world heritage protection with the China Cultural Relic Academy, says that Beiting has not been studied properly.

"The city that witnessed the mixing, peaceful coexistence and communication between agrarian and nomadic civilizations is an example of multiculturalism, and proves that China governed the region since ancient times," says Guo.

"However, relevant historical records are not available, and we need a better platform to combine the resources together."

On June 22, the second anniversary of Bashbaliq being listed as a World Heritage site, the Beiting Academy was founded in Jimsar to bring together the country's top scholars and help the institution become a hub for interdisciplinary studies on the site.

Beiting will now be studied independently, says Guo, who is also the director of the organization.

Pointing to the challenges ahead, Guo says that the layout of the city is still unclear, and the authorities also do not know exactly what steps to take to protect the site.

Between 1979 to 1980, a large-scale archaeological excavation unearthed many wood, jade and pottery articles, and archaeologists found many murals in the temple ruins in the west of the city, some of which local resident Xin also saw.

However, due to lack of advanced protection methods then, the colors began to fade, until 2008 when a museum was constructed to cover the temple and control temperature and humidity in the area.

Meng Fanren, 80, was one of archaeology team leaders at the site decades ago.

Now, despite the damage suffered over the years, he is cheered that Bashbaliq is a World Heritage site, and hopes it will give an impetus to conducting more studies on it in the future.

Speaking at the first seminar of the new Beiting Academy, Meng says: "This is the time to re-evaluate the history of the area in the light of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

"Studies on the diplomacy, religions, ethnology, and transportation in the area and its influence on Central Asia and even Europe will provide important references for people."

Meanwhile, though more archaeological work is proposed in Bashbaliq, Guo says it will not be the only focus, and academic research to benefit local communities will also be done.

As Guo sees it: "The social effects of a World Heritage site have also to be emphasized.

"That can be seen through whether it can provide for local residents, especially for those living in poverty-stricken areas."

As preparations were being made to seek World Heritage status for the site, 136 families living within the city ruins were relocated, and their farmland in the area was acquired and they were alloted land elsewhere, says Liu Xuezhen, deputy head of the county government.

"We also improved the environment in the area, and wild animals began to return," says Liu. "However, what is visible at the site now is not enough to impress visitors. Some visitors even complained to us there was nothing to see other than the earthen walls.

"Archeologists were willing to create some city gates at the site in Tang Dynasty style."

But, as a World Heritage site, what is demanded is that the area's integrity and authenticity be maintained, and Liu says that they have to be cautious about such projects.

"Some people even suggested that we grow roses in the city ruins rather than grass so that the site would become more eye-catching for visitors," she says.

"However, we rejected the proposal. There is no record of roses in this area. So, how can we create this kind of scenery?"

Plans for a cultural park near the city ruins reflecting life in the Tang Dynasty have been discussed for six years, but nothing has come of it.

Despite the current lack of a proper visitor experience at the site, Guo expects research by the Beiting Academy to help create a solid foundation for development of tourism in the area.

When the 2014 bid was made for World Heritage status for the site, it was the result of cooperation between China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Now, Guo believes there is a possibility of using overseas resources to develop the site's tourism potential.

While local residents like Xin may not discover jade trinkets at the site like his father's generation, a bigger treasure probably awaits them.