Brief Introduction: Turpan is a prefecture-level city belonging to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is located in the central and eastern Part of Xinjiang and intermontane basin in the east of Tianshan Mountain. It is adjacent to Urumqi 183 km in the east.

Turpan means a place of abundance in Turkic. According to the recorder of Tongwen Annals of the Western Regions, it refers to "water storage" in the Hui language. In the book of General Name Dictionary is translated into Uygur, which means "metropolis". Turpan,known as Gushi in ancient times, was an important stopover station on the ancient Silk Road.It has a long history of over 2000 years with beautiful and magical features. Since the Han Dynasty(221.BC-220AD), Turpan has been thepolitical, economic and cultural center in the western regions of China and animportant town on the Silk Road. So far, there are still so many remains of ancient castles which reflect the old architecture style and the people’s life in ancient time. So Gunnar Jarin, a Sweden Orientalist gave an evaluation for Turpan that it can be the richest open –air archaeological museum in the world.

The terrain in Turpan is high in the north and low in the south, while the Flaming mountain traverses the central part of the basin from the west to the east. The region is about 240 kilometers wide from north to south and 300 kilometers long from east to west. The Edin lake is the lowest point on the mainland (-154 m above sea level).Water resources include the water system from Tianshan mountain, Flaming mountain and Karez, etc. It is a typical temperate continental climate with dry climate, little rain, strong solar radiation and high temperature and much wind in summer..

Because of the unique climate characteristics , grapes, water melons and other fruits grow in abundance in Turpan. So Turpan is the well-known as "grape city."Among them the seedless white grape is famous at home and abroad .The raisins dried from it are called the treasure of raisins

The Grape Festival is held in Turpan every August. At that time, grape tasting, Dawaz performance,Muqam folk song and dance activities, large-scale dance party and other colorful activities will gather together, visitors can fully appreciate the classic Uygur customs at the hometown of grapes.

Area: 70,000 square km

Population: 653,000

Climate: Turpan has a unique warm temperate continental arid desert climate. Because it is located in the basin, surrounded by mountains, rapid heat increase and slow heat dissipation, it has formed five characteristics, namely, long sunshine, high temperature, large temperature difference between day and night, little precipitation and strong wind force.The average annual temperature is 13.9℃, and the average annual precipitation is 16 mm. In summer the average temperature is above 33℃ and the wind is quite strong. SoTurpan is also known as "fire state"and "wind storage".(You need prepare a sun hat, sunglasses and plenty of moisturizer).

Transportation: As a famous tour city in Xinjiang, the transportation in Turpan City is very convenient. There are many ways for tourists to get to Turpan. Turpan is the hub of southern and northern Xinjiang with several main rail and road intersections. While traveling in Turpan, you can reach to the scenic spots very easily. Read more......

Local foods

Plenty of delicious dishes can be found in the market, in front of the bus station, or in the pedestrian zone downtown. Cheap (but spicy) food is thenorm, with plenty of meat options. Vegetarians had better find a Han Chinese restaurant, many of which are north of the main square ("Grape Girls"square) on a parallel alley on the eastern side of the bazaar opposite the long-distance bus station serves excellent lamian (streching noodles), baked dumplings and barbecue skewers. Try the tandoori lamb or lamb dumplings in black-eyed peasoup for a different taste of Uighur food you won't find in other cities in Xinjiang.
Night Market, Guanghui Street, near Bezeklik Street. An alternative to thenight market outside the bazaar, this option is more for locals than tourists.  Read more......

Shoppings:

As staying in Turpan tourists would like to buy some gifts for their families .Especially they enjoy the different types of grapes because there are more than 600 categories of grapes in Turpan. If you are looking for something else to buy, you may try to find locally made knives, tapestry, hand made caps and knitted carpets as well. Read more ......

Best time to Visit:

July, August and September can be the best time for tourists to Turpan.

Turpan, the hottest place in the whole country and the local saying that "Baking pie on the wall, boiling eggs in the sand" shows that the extreme heat in Turpan. The fruits in this season are quite tasteful. Because of the temperature in this season is very high, you should make a good sunshine protection while you travel in Turpan.

“China Silk Road---Turpan Grape Festival” is held every year in August in Turpan. At the appointed time, there are Darwaz performances, delicious grapes, the largesong and dance party, Mukam dance folk activities and various nationalities and colorful activities. Tourists can fully feel classic feelings of the Uighurs of the grape town. 

Attractions: Jiaohe ruins , Karez well ,   Bezeklik grottoes , Flaming mountains , Gaochang ruins , Emin minaret , Tuyuq Mazha Village , Astana tombs

Related Tours:

8 Days Silk Road Bullet Train Tour       11 Days Classic Silk Road Tour 

8 Days Silk Road Muslim Tour        10 Days Silk Road Muslim Tour

15 Days  Silk Road Chanllenging Tour