Why don't they just rename it "Thunderdome"?

With a documented history of at least 2,500 years, there have been a succession of different peoples and empires vying for control over the territory.

Prior to the 21st century, the region has been ruled at various times by the Yuezhi, Xiongnu Empire, Han Dynasty, Sixteen Kingdoms of the Jin Dynasty (Former Liang, Former Qin, Later Liang, and Western Liáng), Tang Dynasty, Uyghur Khaganate, Kara-Khanid Khanate, Mongol Empire (Yuan Dynasty), Dzungar Khanate, and Manchu Qing Dynasty.