The archeological monuments of the ancient Uigurs of Central Asia, including Por-Bajin fortress, refer to the period of existence of Uigurian Kaganate (745–840).

The Uigurs is one of the most ancient Turkic nations of Central Asia. Their ancestors – nomadic tribes of Eastern Turkestan played an important role in the Hun tribal union (3rd century B.C. – 3-4th centuries A.C.). First mentioning of the Uigurs in written records is dated to the 3rd century A.C (including the Orhon inscriptions of 8th century A.C.). On different stages of their development the Uigurs created their state formations.

The first Uigur kaganate was created in Khangay in 323. It existed during 200 years, and after a centenary break, the second Uigur kaganate appeared in 523, it existed for 80 years and was destroyed in 603 by the Turkic kaganate. In 743 on the ruins of the Eastern-Turkic kaganate in the territory of the Northern Mongolia was formed the third Uigurian kaganate, which constituted a feudal state with some remains of tribal relations.

In 840 the state of the Uigurs was destroyed by the ancient Khakases. The part of the Uigurs moved to the Eastern Turkestan and to the western part of Gansu, where two independent states were formed. Their centers were in Gansu and the Turfan oasis. The first state was destroyed by the Tanguts, and the second state became the vassal of Karachinese in 12th century, and in 14th century joined Mogolistan. The long domination of conquerors, division and a number of other reasons lead to the fact that the ethnicon “Uigur” was rarely used. Uigurs were named by their location – kashgarlik (kashgar), turfanlik (turfan) etc., or by their occupation – taranchi (landowner). In spite of that Uigurs saved their ethnic consciousness and their language.

In 17-18th centuries in the Eastern Turkestan the state of the Uigurs existed, which in 1760 was conquered by the Manchurian leaders of China. National oppression and cruel exploitation were causing numerous revolts against the Manchurians and later gomindanovians oppressors. After the victory in the National Revolution in China in 1949 and the creation of Shinjang Uygur Autonomous District in 1955, the economy and culture of the Uigurs gained some development.

The main occupations of Uigurs were agriculture and house crafts; the working class started to form. The Uigurs created a rich and original culture (monumental religious architecture, musical compositions and writings, which influenced the culture of many Eastern countries.