Turpan Travel Guide
Basic Facts
Turpan lies in the Turpan Depression, 154km below the sea level and surrounded by desert, and mountains, ruined cities
and Buddhist caves. Turpan was an important centre of commerce and culture on the Silk Road. With a population of 70% Uyghur and 30% of
other ethnicities, Turpan maintains the Silk Road's romantic identity as a cultural crossroads. Because the Uyhur are Muslims, Turpan has
many interesting mosques. Turpan also has many tourist attractions, including the 18th century Emin Minaret, Gaochang Ruins, Astana Graves,
Flaming Mountain, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and the Karez Irrigation Site.
Climate: (Degrees Centigrade)
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| -5 |
-3 |
9 |
20 |
25 |
32 |
33 |
32 |
26 |
14 |
3 |
-4 |
Turpan Hot Destinations
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Gaochang Ruins
Gaochang Ruins are located 46km east of Turpan, was once a town of strategic importance on the Silk Road. Gaochang was the capital of a
local ruler of Tang Dynasty in 7th century and was deserted during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Visitors can walk or hire a donkey carts
around the ruins to ponder the past... |
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The Flaming Mountain
The Flaming Mountain is located east to Turpan and comprised of red sandstones and mudstones. The mountain became famous for an ancient
Chinese classic novel-Journey to the West. These red rocks on the crisscross gullies and ravines reflected the sunshine as if the
hillside were engulfed by the fire... |
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The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, located in Bay County, consist of 236 grottoes. Many Buddhism Silk Road travellers stopped here to
pray for a successfully journey in the past. The caves have a total of 10,000 square metres well-preserved murals and the murals have
great value for artist research... |
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The Karez System
The Karez System is the site the locals are most proud of, it is a unique irrigation system comprised of wells, under ground channels, and
dams. The system was developed some 2,000 years ago, bring the snowmelt waters of the Mount Tian Shan to Turpan through a series of wells
dug into underground water channels. As a unique underground water-conservancy project, it is vital to the survival of oasis villages... |
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