Ruins of Desert Cathay 112 - Ruin of ancient stupa, Lop-nor site, from south-east - In foreground remans of ancient dwelling, LA ix, on wind-eroded terrace covered with dead tamarisk. The ruin was first discovered by Swedish explorer, Sven Hedin, who passed by but who was not an archeologist. Stein read Hedin's book and made work here a main objective of his second expedition (and third as well).