The original Khotan rugs were made in the Kingdom of Khotan.  This was an ancient Iranian Saka Buddhist kingdom.  This was also a branch of the famous Silk Road that ran along the south of the Taklamaken Desert, now known as modern Xinjiang of Western China. Since the 17th century this area has been producing beautiful carpets and peaking in the 18th and 19th centuries. These rugs are characterized by geometric and abstract drawings with soft or rich color palettes.