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吐鲁番North-West China42.95° N · 89.19° E
A green oasis in one of the lowest and hottest places on earth, with ancient cities of earth and wind, red mountains and vineyards fed by underground channels. Here is what to see, how to handle the heat and how to fit Turpan into a Silk Road journey.
Turpan sits in a deep basin on the southern side of the Tianshan, where Aydingkol Lake lies well below sea level, the lowest point in China. Summers here are famously hot, yet the oasis is green with poplars, vines and orchards. The water comes from snowmelt carried underground through the karez, a network of hand-dug channels that has supported farming here for centuries.
For travellers, Turpan is about Silk Road history in a dramatic desert setting. The ruined cities of Jiaohe and Gaochang, the painted caves of Bezeklik and the elegant Emin Minaret all lie within easy reach, along with the red ridges of the Flaming Mountains and the Uyghur village of Tuyoq. Jiaohe and Gaochang form part of the Silk Roads UNESCO World Heritage listing of 2014.
The town is small and relaxed, with vine-shaded streets and a busy evening food scene. Two nights is ideal: a day for the ruins and the Flaming Mountains, and time to enjoy the vineyards and markets. Turpan is about an hour from Urumqi by high-speed train, so it pairs naturally with Heavenly Lake and Dunhuang.
Our Turpan journeys are private and tailor-made, usually combined with Urumqi and Heavenly Lake or as a stop on an overland route to Dunhuang.
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Both ruined cities are worth seeing, but they feel very different. If time is short, this is how we would choose.
A whole city laid out on a narrow island of rock between two river valleys, its streets and buildings cut down into the earth. The best preserved and most atmospheric.
The vast walled capital of a former kingdom, with crumbling earthen walls spread across the plain. Combine it with the Flaming Mountains and Bezeklik.
A traditional Uyghur village of mud-brick houses in a green valley cut through the Flaming Mountains. Quiet and photogenic.
The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
An ancient city built on a long, narrow plateau between two rivers. Paths lead past earthen streets, houses and a great monastery, with sweeping views over the valleys at the far end.
The remains of a once-great city on the Silk Road, with massive earthen walls and a large temple complex. The site is vast, so carts carry visitors between the main areas.
Bare red sandstone ridges folded by erosion, which seem to shimmer in the summer heat. Made famous by the classic novel Journey to the West.
Buddhist cave temples set in a cliff above a river gorge in the Flaming Mountains. Many murals were damaged or removed long ago, but the setting is striking.
An elegant 18th-century minaret of patterned mud brick, rising beside a mosque at the edge of the vineyards. Lovely in the soft late afternoon light.
Discover how underground channels carry snowmelt from the mountains to the oasis. Some sections can be seen at museum sites in town, with explanations of how they were dug.
A green valley of vineyards and orchards at the foot of the Flaming Mountains. Best from late summer, when the harvest is in and grapes are drying in ventilated brick houses.
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Customise My TripLocal specialities worth seeking out, and when the locals eat them. Your guide will know the best places to try each one.
Add a food experience →Most travellers arrive by high-speed train from Urumqi or along the Hexi Corridor. You can also drive from Urumqi in about 2.5 hours, which makes it easy to add stops on the way.
The only practical way to link the ruins, caves and villages scattered around the oasis; included on our journeys.
Best for: Sightseeing dayPleasant in the town centre and the evening markets once the heat has eased.
Best for: EveningsDiDi and taxis work well for short trips around town.
Best for: Short hopsPlaces that pair well with Turpan, with approximate travel times.
April, May, September and October are the most comfortable months, with warm days and cool evenings. Summer is extremely hot, though August and September are the grape harvest season. Winter is cold and dry, with very few visitors.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppYes, especially if you are interested in the Silk Road. The ruined cities of Jiaohe and Gaochang are among the most evocative ancient sites in China, and the desert scenery is dramatic. It is an easy addition to a trip to Urumqi, about an hour away by high-speed train.
Very hot. In July and August afternoon temperatures often climb above 40°C, and it is one of the hottest places in China. Plan sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon, rest indoors at midday, and carry water, a hat and sun cream at all times.
One full day covers the highlights: Jiaohe, Gaochang, the Flaming Mountains, Bezeklik and the Emin Minaret. We suggest two nights, so you can see the ruins in the gentler light of early morning and evening rather than rushing them in the heat.
High-speed trains run from Urumqi to Turpan North in about an hour, followed by a short drive into town. Driving takes about 2.5 hours and allows stops on the way, such as wind farms and salt lakes. Both are easy with a private driver and guide.
Karez are underground channels dug to carry snowmelt from the foot of the mountains to the oasis without losing it to evaporation. They are linked by vertical wells along their length, and they made farming possible in this extremely dry basin. Several sites in Turpan explain how they work.
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