Tarim River
The river curves past the city, wide and braided in places. It is the one natural line crossing an otherwise planned landscape.
Minimalist map poster · China
Ālā'ĕr Map Poster & Print
40.5418° N / 81.2657° E
A planned oasis city on the Tarim River, laid out in wide avenues at the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert.
- What you see is exactly what you get
- Up to 7,200 × 10,800 px · 300 DPI
- PNG + print-ready PDF
- No watermark
One city, five moods
Ālā'ĕr in every style
Tap a style to see it on the wall. Every style costs the same — printed, framed or as HD files.
Actual pixels · 24 × 36″ print filePrint-sharp
Every street in Ālā'ĕr, razor sharp
This is a 100% crop of the real print file. Every poster — printed, framed or downloaded — is rendered on our servers at 300 DPI, up to 7,200 × 10,800 pixels, so even the smallest lanes stay crisp on a 24 × 36″ print.
On the wall
Ālā'ĕr at home
The map
About this Ālā'ĕr map poster
Ālā'ĕr, also written Alar or Aral, lies in western Xinjiang on the Tarim River, close to where the Aksu, Hotan and Yarkand rivers join to form it. The city was founded by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and its map shows this clearly. Broad, straight avenues and large rectangular blocks form a planned grid, surrounded by irrigated farmland reclaimed from the desert.
The land around the city is a patchwork of cotton fields, orchards and rows of poplar trees planted as windbreaks. Canals and farm roads divide it into strikingly regular plots. To the south, the farmland ends at the Taklamakan Desert, one of the largest sand deserts in the world. The city is also home to Tarim University, whose campus is part of the urban area.
An Ālā'ĕr map poster is all about order. The straight avenues of the centre are repeated in the geometry of the farmland, and the curving river is the only irregular line. The result is a clean, rhythmic print that suits modern interiors and anyone who knows this corner of Xinjiang first hand.
- Population
- 126,000
- Coordinates
- 40.5418° N / 81.2657° E
- Elevation
- 1014 m
- Time zone
- Urumqi
- Region
- Ālā'ĕr, China
Wide planned avenues
The centre is laid out on a generous grid of straight roads and large blocks, typical of cities built by the Production and Construction Corps.
Farmland geometry
Canals, roads and tree belts divide the surrounding fields into repeated rectangles. The pattern extends far beyond the city and fills the edges of the poster.
Make it yours
Frame your part of Ālā'ĕr
Add a date, a name or a line of your own, switch style, size or orientation.
The free preview is low-resolution with a watermark. Prints and HD files are rendered at 300 DPI, up to 7,200 × 10,800 px, without a watermark.
Why Ālā'ĕr
A map that means something
Many people came to Ālā'ĕr to work on the farms or study at the university, and many families have long histories here. Write the title in your preferred spelling, add a subtitle with a year or a name, and keep the coordinates line.
Sand suits the desert edge and Blueprint emphasises the planned grid, while Classic black and white, Noir and Paper are also available. Download six print sizes for $9, or order a matte printed poster, with a wooden frame if you like.
Order the Ālā'ĕr posterWhat's in the HD download300 DPINo watermarkPNG + PDF
| Print size | Resolution | Files |
|---|---|---|
| 30 × 40 cm11.8 × 15.7″ | 3,543 × 4,724 px | PNG · PDF |
| 29.7 × 42 cm (A3)11.7 × 16.5″ | 3,508 × 4,961 px | PNG · PDF |
| 42 × 59.4 cm (A2)16.5 × 23.4″ | 4,961 × 7,016 px | PNG · PDF |
| 45.7 × 61 cm18 × 24″ | 5,400 × 7,200 px | PNG · PDF |
| 50 × 70 cm19.7 × 27.6″ | 5,906 × 8,268 px | PNG · PDF |
| 61 × 91.4 cm24 × 36″ | 7,200 × 10,800 px | PNG · PDF |
For comparison, the free preview is 900 px wide, watermarked and meant for screens. The HD files have up to 8× the resolution in each direction and print cleanly at full poster size.
Ālā'ĕr map poster — FAQ
How do I order the Ālā'ĕr poster?
Pick a style at the top of the page, then choose Printed Poster — a size and, if you like, a frame — or Digital HD Files. Checkout takes one step, and your order page updates as soon as the payment goes through.
What is the printed Ālā'ĕr poster like?
It is printed on premium 200 gsm matte paper in one of six sizes, from 30 × 40 cm to 24 × 36″. Printed posters start at $39, shipping included.
Can I order the Ālā'ĕr poster framed?
Yes. Choose a solid wood frame in black, white, natural oak or dark wood. It comes with shatterproof glazing and is ready to hang. Framed posters start at $99, shipping included.
How long does delivery take, and what does it cost?
Shipping is free to 60+ countries. Each poster is printed by the nearest of our print partners in 30+ countries and usually arrives in 3–7 business days. You can follow the status and tracking under My Orders. A few countries take 2–5 weeks, and where we don't ship yet, the site tells you before you pay.
What if my poster arrives damaged?
Send us a photo within 14 days of delivery and we will reprint it for free or refund you.
Can I add our names or a date to the Ālā'ĕr poster?
Yes. In the editor on this page, change the title, the subtitle and the coordinates line to anything you like, and pick a style and size. Printed, framed and digital orders all use exactly your design.
What do I get with the digital HD files?
For $9 you get 300 DPI PNG and print-ready PDF files in all six sizes, without a watermark, to print anywhere. Not sure yet? Download a free watermarked preview first.
Nearby