Weitou 尉頭

The state of Weitou 尉頭 was located on the northern route of the Silk Road, in the region of modern Uš 烏什 and Aheqi 阿合奇. The population during the Former Han period 前漢 (206 BCE-8 CE) was 2,300 persons. They lived as pastoral nomads, and their customs and habits were similar to those of the Wusun 烏孫 living north of the Tianshan Range 天山. Although the state of Shule 疏勒 was very close, the access to the south was impeded by steep mountains. The king was assisted by two commanders-in-chief (duwei 都尉) and two masters of the cavalry (qijun 騎君). The state of Weitou still existed during the Later Han period 後漢 (25-220 CE) and had even expanded to the north.