Turpan Tourism Consultation Hotline: 0991-8585456, 1813962-2229 (same as WeChat ID)
Turpan is one of the must-visit places for tourism in Xinjiang. Below are some recommended famous attractions:
1. Tuyugou Mazha Village: They have inherited the ancient habit of building houses with loess for over 2,000 years. The houses are all built with loess bricks. They are economical, warm in winter and cool in summer, and have a beautiful appearance with typical ancient characteristics.
2. Uyghur Folk Village: The Uyghur Folk Village is located in Yaguole Village, Yal Township, Turpan City, adjacent to Jiaohe Ancient City. It is a tourist attraction showcasing the original ecology of the Uyghur people and the historical culture of Jiaohe. It fully displays the historical changes, productive labor, residential architecture, customs, and other features of the Uyghurs. Among them, many are displays of original ecological culture that have disappeared or are disappearing.
3. Turpan Desert Scenic Area: Located 10 kilometers southeast of Turpan City, it covers an area of 34 hectares and is the Desert Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Established in 1976, it integrates sand-fixing plants, sand hazard prevention, and sightseeing tourism.
4. Grape Valley: Turpan Grape Valley is a national 5A-level scenic area and also the Taohuayuan (a place resembling a utopia) of Huozhou. It runs north-south, with a total length of about 8 kilometers and a width of 2 kilometers east-west, with Grape River running through the middle. Grapes are widely planted in the valley, lush and green, with a complete variety of grapes, making it a museum of the grape family. Inside the valley, there are attractions such as the Western Song King – Wang Luobin Music Art Museum, Dawazi Folk Customs Park, Oasis Grape Manor, Ethnic Village, and Maxilepu Ethnic Song and Dance Performances.
5. Bezikeri Thousand Buddha Caves: Excavated during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it has gone through seven centuries so far, with the period of the Uyghur Gaochang being the most prosperous for the grottoes. At the end of the 13th century, the royal family of Gaochang moved to Yongchang, Gansu Province, but the remaining murals still showcase the brilliance of ancient Chinese culture and art. Originally, there were 83 caves excavated at Bezikeri Thousand Buddha Caves, with 57 remaining and 40 containing murals.
6. Astana Cemetery: Astana Cemetery is a public cemetery for residents of Gaochang City from the Western Jin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, located 40 kilometers southeast of Turpan City. With a history of over 1,700 years, it is known as an underground museum.
7. Aiding Lake: Aiding Lake is the lowest point in the Turpan Basin and also the lowest place on China’s land, 154.31 meters below sea level, with a lakebed at -161 meters. Its special geographical location, significance, and social value attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists every year.
8. Kumtag Desert Park: The Kumtag Desert is one of the few deserts in the world located near a city, with an area of 2,500 square kilometers. ‘Kumtag’ is a Uyghur word meaning ‘sand mountain’. The desert was formed when southwest winds from the Tianshan Mountain’s Qijiaojing gap and southeast winds from the Dabancheng gap, carrying large amounts of sand particles after traveling long distances, finally met and deposited in the Kumtag area. It is now a scenic area integrating exploration, sand sports, sand therapy and health preservation, and desert sightseeing.