Milan was an oasis city of the ancient Kingdom of Loulan during the Western Han Dynasty. It declined from the Tang Dynasty onward under the rule of the Tibetan Tubo regime (618-842).

The archaeological site includes a Tang garrison fort and ruins from the Wei (220-265) and Jin (265-420) dynasties. It includes stupas and temple remains, as well as city remnants and an irrigation canal system dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). The area spans 11.4 kilometers east to west and 4 km north to south.