Turpan Travel Guide

Basic information Area code: 0995 Travel complaints: 0995-8523653 Time difference: -2 hours Travel information Turpan has strong sunlight and a dry climate. Pay attention to the preparation of sun protection and skin moisturizing Destination overview Destination sketch The area around […]

Basic information

Area code: 0995
Travel complaints: 0995-8523653
Time difference: -2 hours

Travel information

Turpan has strong sunlight and a dry climate. Pay attention to the preparation of sun protection and skin moisturizing

Destination overview

Destination sketch

The area around the city, the Turpan Depression is the lowest point in China and second lowest on Earth (after the Dead Sea) at 154 meters below sea level. It is very dry and sometimes very hot, well into the forties Celsius. The local people have developed karez, an irrigation system composed of wells connected by underground channels, to counter the heat and drought of the place. No place in China is hotter than Flaming Mountain in Turpan, a mountain made famous by the classic Chinese mythological novel, Journey to the West.

Turpan is famous for their grapes, grown primarily for raisins but also wine. The locals in the area are called Uygurs.

Beliefs and taboos

Xinjiang is a place where many religions gather and there are many temples. When playing in Xinjiang, we must respect the religious beliefs and customs of all ethnic groups.
There are many Uighur residents in Turpan. The Uighurs believe in Islam and follow the various taboos in Islam.

Best Travel season

The city, which is also known as Huo Zhou (a place as hot as fire), is the hottest place in China. The annual average temperature is 14C (57.2F). It is reckoned that there are 152 summer days on average, and 28 really broiling days with the temperature above 40C (104F).

Consumption level

Traveling in Turpan City, tourists spend an average of about 400-500 yuan per day.

Practical information

Turpan Tourism Service Center in Xinjiang
Address: 312 National Road East Turpan toll station 600 meters
Tel: 0995-8687666

Turpan Tourism Bureau
Address: 815 Youth Road, Turpan City
Tel: 0995-8523216
Luyj.tlf.gov.cn

Intercity traffic

Aircraft

Turpan Cross River Airport, TLQ
Address: North-western suburb of Turpan, about 10 km from downtown Turpan
Arrival method: take a taxi to
Tel: 0995-8621966

Train

Turpan Railway Station
Address: Daheyan Town, Daheyan Town
Arrival method: You can take a passenger bus or taxi to and from downtown, CMB fare is about 7 yuan, taxi fare is about 20 yuan
Tel: 0995-7656222
Turpan North Railway Station
Address: 202 Provincial Road, Turpan, 500 meters south of Turpan Airport
Arrival method: Bus 202 or taxi can be reached

Long-distance bus

Turpan Passenger Transport Center
Address: 264 Old City West Road, Turpan City
Arrival method: bus 1 to the bus terminal, or 2, 5, 7 road to the city People’s Hospital can be
Tel: 0995-8522325

Daheyan Bus Terminal
Address: Daheyan Town, about 300 meters from Turpan Railway Station
Tel: 0995-8642229

Shanshan County Bus Station
Address: 596 Xincheng Road
Tel: 0995-8381360

Traffic in the city

Bus

The traffic in the city of Turpan is mainly buses and taxis. The main buses are Roads 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 202. The routes cover most of the city’s areas and the fare is 1 yuan.

Taxis

The starting price for taxis in Turpan is 7 yuan/3 km, then 1.4 yuan/km during the day and 1.6 yuan/km at night (0:00-8:00). The waiting fee is calculated as a kilometer in 3 minutes. When the one-way passenger mileage exceeds 7 kilometers, an additional 50% of the empty driving fee is charged per kilometer.

Attractions

Su Gong Pagoda

Also called Emin Minaret, which was built in 1777 in honor of the heroic Turpan general, Emin Khoja; it’s the tallest minaret in China.
Address: Turpan Grape Township
Arrival method: Bus 6 bus terminal to get off
Opening hours: peak season (April 21-October 20) 8:00-20:30, off-season (October 21-April 20) 10:00-18:30
Tickets: Su Gong Tower 45 yuan, County Palace 20 yuan
Tel: 0995-8523216

Turpan Museum

It has items from the Tang dynasty excavated from the Astana Graves which are located outside the town. Items include ancient silks, clothes and preserved corpses.
Address: Munnar Road, Turpan City
Arrival method: Bus 1 and 4 can be reached
Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays)
Tickets: No ticket, but need to provide ID registration
Tel: 0995-7619650
Tlfbwg.com

Flaming Mountains

Flaming mountain, also called “Red Mountain”, is located in the north of Turpan in China’s northwest Xinjiang Region. It lies 6.2 miles (10 km) to the east of Turpan city, stretching about 62 miles (100 km) from the east Shanshan County to the west Turpan with a width of 5.6 miles (9 km). The average height is 1,640 feet (500 meters), while the highest peak is around 2,726 feet (831 meters). It is the hottest place in China with Temperature around 47.8 °C (118 °F) and surface temperature over 70 °C (158 °F) in summer. Because of the high temperature, eggs can even be roasted at that time and no vegetation exists there.
Address: 10 kilometers northeast of Turpan City
Arrival method: It is recommended to use a chartered car. The best way is to get a car with a lot of people in one package. In one day, you can visit Huoling Mountain, Jiaohe Old City, Karezai, Tuogou, Thousand-Buddha Cave, Gaochang Old City, Astana. Tombs, Grape Valley and other places
Opening hours: peak season (April 21-October 20) 8:00-20:30, off-season (October 21-April 20) 10:00-18:30
Tickets: 40 yuan
Tel: 0995-8696015

Turpan Grape Gully

An oasis of greenery, made up of more than 200 hectares of grape. The best grapes in China have been grown here for more than 1,000 years.
Arrival method: bus 5 road car can arrive
Opening hours: peak season (April 21-October 20) 8:00-20:30, off-season (October 21-April 20) 10:00-18:30
Tickets: 75 yuan
Tel: 0995-8614688

Turpan Idikut Ancient City

Ruins of an ancient Silk Road town standing isolated in the Gobi Desert. Built in the 1st century B.C. and originally called Gaochangbi, it used to be a garrison town.
Address: Sanbao Township, Turpan City
Arrival method: Out of Turpan City to the southeast, to the Gaocheng Old City is less than 50 kilometers road, you can charter, you can also take a donkey cart to
Opening hours: 7:00-22:00 Tickets: 70 yuan

 Ancient City of Jiaohe

One of the world’s architectural wonders hides in Yarnaz Valley, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) west of Turpan. Like a willow leaf, the ancient city of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto) with a history of 2300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a Cliff of over 30 meters (98.4feet). The largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen city in the world, Jiaohe is 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) by 300 meters (984 feet) at its widest; with an area of 220,000 square meters (2,368,168 square feet). It was included in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.
Address: Turfan Yaer Township, 13 km from the city
Arrival method: Take bus No. 1,101 to Karezing Folk Park. Take a three-wheeler or taxi to Jiaohe Ancient City.
Opening hours: 7:00-22:00
Tickets: 70 yuan
Tel: 0995-8523216

Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs

The Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs are part of the Underground Museum of Turpan and the Living Archives of Gaochang. Astana means capital in Uigur; Karakhoja was a Uigur hero who protected his people from a vicious dragon.

The tombs are located 42 km (26miles) southeast of Turpan city and 6 km (3.7miles) from the Ancient City of Gaochang. The tombs were the public cemetery of the ancient Gaochang residents, both aristocrats and commoners. Among the excavated 456 tombs, the Gaochang king’s has not been found.
Address: Astana Village, Sanbao Township, Turpan City
Arrival method: Located on the Gobi Desert north of the ancient city of Gaochang, about 30 kilometers from the city. Can be chartered, usually a trip to Flaming Mountain – Thousand Buddha Caves – Astana – Gaochang
Opening hours: peak season (April 21-October 20) 8:00-20:30, off-season (October 21-April 20) 10:00-18:30
Tickets: 40 yuan
Tel: 0995-8523216

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Stand high on the cliffs of west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountain. Of the 83 original caves, 57 caves currently remain. The murals cover an area over 1,200 square meters in more than 40 caves. Beginning in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the construction experienced Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties, Song and Yuan dynasties. The Caves had been the Buddhist center of Gaochang. Near the end of the 13 century, the royal family of Gaochang moved to Yongchang, Gansu. Around this same time, Buddhism in Turpan began to decline in popularity with the introduction of Islam. Subsequently, the religious importance of The Bizalkik Thousand Buddha Caves became less apparent. Many of the caves were destroyed during the ensuing religious clashes. Vandals dug out the eyes of many of the portraits human figures contained in the murals. Later, at the beginning of the 20 century, foreign explorers robbed the caves of much of the treasures. Despite all the destruction, the surviving parts, such as the delicate Buddha seat and the bright color of the murals, give us some idea of its past glory.
Address: 48 kilometers east of Turpan City, 15 kilometers to the south is Gaochang Old City
Arrival method: Taxi round-trip, additional stay for 1 hour The total cost is about 80 yuan/car. One-way to Thousand Buddha Cave, about 50 yuan/car; In addition, you can take the bus from Turpan to Turpan to Shanshan or Sanbao Township, get off at Shengjinkou, the fare is 5 yuan, then transfer to local passengers for 3 rounds. Motor to Thousand Buddha Cave
Opening hours: 7:00-22:00 (June 10 to August 30)
Tickets: 40 yuan
Tel: 0995-8689116

Karez System

Karez systems are the crystallization of ancient people’s diligence and intelligence. At its peak, this irrigation system exceeded 5,000 km (3,106 miles) and was also referred to as ‘the underground Great Wall’. It is among the three ancient major irrigation projects with the other two being Ling Canal and Dujiangyan Irrigation Project.

Karez systems are the life source of Turpan. In a sense, without them, there would be no Turpan culture. According to records, the history of the karez in Xinjiang dates back to 103B.C. Currently there are still over 400 systems.
Address: Karez Well Folk Park is located in Yaer Township, Turpan City, 3 km from the downtown area
Arrival method: In the urban area, you can take buses 1, 101 and 102 to
Opening hours: Peak season (April-October) 8:00-20:30, Off season (October-April) 10:00-18:30
Tickets: Paradise 40 yuan, Folk Park 40 yuan

Aydingkol Lake

Aydingkol Lake, 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) from Turpan City, is at the bottom of the deepest depression in China’s land mass, known as Turpan Pendi. It covers an area of 22 kilometers (about nine square miles) and measures 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) from west to east, eight kilometers (about five miles) from north to south. Lying 155 meters (about 509 feet) below sea level it does not quite compare with the Dead Sea which, of course is the lowest expanse of water on earth at some 283 feet below sea level. However, Aydingkol Lake, together with the Flaming Mountains and Grape Valley are three outstanding natural features in Turpan.
Address: Aydingkol Lake Township, Turpan
Arrival method: Lake Aiding is more than 40 kilometers away from the urban area. There is no public transport to get there. It needs a chartered bus and the round-trip fare is about 300 yuan.
Opening hours: Peak season (April-October) 9:30-20:00, Off season (October-April) 10:00-19:00
Tickets: 30 yuan

Tuyu Valley

Tuyoq is a valley village cutting into the flaming mountains located in the Taklimakan Desert. Tuyu Valley is a desert oasis seldom visited by tourists, known for its fantastic rock peaks, seedless grapes, and Buddhist meditation caves dating back to the 3rd century AD.Tuyugou is an ancient village with roughly 1700 years of history, till this day they still preserve and use ancient Uyghur customs and culture. This valley village is also a pilgrimage area for many Muslims, with the main destination being The Mazar, or the tomb of the first Uyghur Muslim. It’s said that seven trips to Tuyoq is equal to one trip to Mecca.
Address: About 55 km east of Turpan Valley in Turpan City, in Shanshan County
Arrival method: The bus that Turfan sends to Shanshan is a stop on the way. If you go, you can get off the bus.
Opening hours: High season (April-October) 8:00-20:30, Low season (October-April) 10:00-18:30
Tickets: 30 yuan
Tel: 0995-8360032

Lukeqin Township

Lukeqin Town is one of the famous historical and cultural towns in China. In the Qing Dynasty, this was once the political, economic, and cultural center of the Turpan region. Even now, there are many cultural relics preserved around the city walls.
Luke Township is the birthplace of Turpan’s 12 Muqam art
Address: 45 kilometers west of Shanshan County, Turpan
Arrival method: From Turpan City to Huoyan Mountain and Tuogou Ditch, reach Lukeng Town, Shanshan County, and there is a shuttle bus (fare is less than 10 yuan)
Opening hours: open all day

Kumutage Desert

Kumutage, in Uygur means mountain of sand, is the third largest desert in China, lies between Tushantuo Basin and Lop Nur, and east it reaches Hami Oasis, and west it connectes with Aiding Lake, occupying a total area of 2,500 square kilometers. Stand on top of sand mountain, you could watch the sun rising up from desert, and the setting with different and wonderful colors. The Poem is now reading your mind “Straight up is the smog in desert, round one is the setting sun on the river”.
Address: South Side of Shanshan Old Town, connected to the southern section of Donghuan Road in the Old City
Arrival method: Just on the edge of the county, 15 minutes on foot
Opening hours: 8:30-20:00
Tickets: 30 yuan

Activity

Desert hiking

There are two hiking routes through the Kumtaga Desert, one is a full north-south crossing, from Dikaner Village in the southwest of the desert to the Shanshan Desert Park, with a straight-line distance of 42 kilometers. This is the most classic desert crossing route. It takes 2-3 days. Difficulty coefficient is very large, inexperienced people must not to join it. The other trekking route is a half-moon crossing and finally to the desert park. The straight line distance is only about 10 km.

Turpan Sand Therapy

Turfan’s sand therapy is a folk traditional therapy that combines sunbathing, hyperthermia, magnetic therapy, and massage therapy. The sand treatment here contains a large amount of magnetite crumbs, which has a significant effect on the treatment of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and hemiplegia.
Turpan Uygur Hospital has a sand clinic. There are two black-gray sand dunes here, and there are two sand treatments on the sand dunes that you can visit.

Itinerary

One day trip to Turpan

Jiaohe Ancient City – Karez system – Sugong Pagoda – Flaming Mountain – Grape Gully

Turpan Self-drive three-day tour

DAY1: Karez system – Aydingkol Lake – Uygur Ancient Village – Jiaohe Ancient City
DAY2: Flaming Mountain – Astana Ancient Tombs – Gaochang Old City – Tuyu Scenic Area
DAY3: Kumutage Desert Scenic Area – Bizalkik Thousand Buddha Caves – Grape Gully – Sugong Pagoda

Food

As a city inhabited by minority nationalities, Turpan is famous for delicious Uygur snacks, which are quite like those in Urumqi. Famous snacks such as Kebabs, Nang, Zhua Fan are visible at every corner of the old city. A bite of any of these snacks will give you a flavor that will linger in your memory for quite a long time. Apart from that, there are many other local dishes:

Roasted Dumplings

The stuffing for these dumplings is made from first-class mutton, with added onions, salt and pepper. After wrapping the stuffing in dough, the locals roast the dumplings in a big oven for about 20 minutes. The roasted dumpling is really delicious with its rather crispy skin and tender stuffing.

Sanzi

Sanzi is one of the Hui snacks eaten at festivals. It is considered as a table delicacy for giving guests a special treat. To make Sanzi, you should mix the flour with oil, Chinese prickly ash and egg white to make dough. And then, pull the dough into thin noodles and deep-fry the noodles in oil for several minutes.

Accommodation

As a tourist city, Turpan has many hotels, ranging from youth hostels to five-star hotels. In general, the price of budget hotels is between 150-200 yuan/room.

Shopping

As a city inhabited by minority groups, you can find Uygur snacks in the streets and lanes. Kebabs, Zhua Fan (Rice Eaten with Hands), Nang, Roast Lamb will make your mouth water. There are also many traditional drinks there, including milk tea, black tea, grape wine and mare’s milk. The traditional handcrafts are exquisite and are worth collecting. Carpets, clothes, caps and knives are favorites, with distinctive folk characteristics.

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