Turpan Travel Guide

Turpan, known for its grapes, is found in central Xinjiang on the ancient Silk Road. It's an old town with plenty of history and lies amid one of the lowest places on earth.

Worth It?: Yes, to see an old Silk Road town and stark surroundings.
What to Do: visit ruined Silk Road villages.
Best Time to Go: May to June and September to October.
How Long?: One day at most for Turpan.
Trivia: the surrounding Turpan Depression is China's lowest point at 154m below sea level.

Due to its low altitude at the Turpan Depression, Turpan gets extremely hot and is not the place to be in the height of the summer. Many of the locals have dug wells and channels on their land as a cooling measure.

There are several historical sights to check out in Turpan, such as the 1777 Emin Minaret. Elsewhere is the nearby ruined village of Gaochang, which hails from the 1st century. Jiaohe is another ruined Silk Road town, while the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves are the main draw and lie beneath Flaming Mountain, 45kms from town.

Travel to Turpan - Getting There

Turpan is only accessible by bus from Urumqi, a 3-hour journey. The nearest airport is in Urumqi, Diwopu International Airport. It receives flights from Shanghai (5 hours) and Beijing (4 hours) and is 20kms northwest of town.

Turpan Things to Do

Turpan Attractions

Emin Minaret

an odd mosque lying next to the river in Turpan; it hails from the 1700s and has beauty in its sparseness.

Side trips from Turpan

Bizalkik Thousand Buddha Caves: actually just 57 caves that contain numerous murals amid a stunning canyon.
Flaming Mountain: featuring gullies and ravines and a fiery red look, this boiling mountain is the hottest place in China and is sublime at sundown.

Events

Turpan Grape Festival: takes place every August with stage performances and sports events over several days.