2021 Turpan Tourism, Xinjiang Tourism: How many days? How much does it cost?
Xinjiang Customized Travel Planner Guo Jing, Consultation Tel.: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229
Initially, like many people, I thought the only fun place in Turpan was Flame Mountain. However, after visiting the Turpan Museum, I discovered that this is actually a place with a wealth of cultural heritage. Even though I had previously known that it was an important town on the ancient Silk Road and the location of the Western Regions Protectorate.
Obviously, my impression of Turpan is not limited to this. Isn’t it also the intersection of Eastern and Western civilizations? From the ancient Jiaohe Ancient City and Gaochang Ancient City to the Karez, which can be called the Underground Great Wall, and then to Flame Mountain and Grape Valley, Turpan will surely be a stop you won’t forget during your travels. It’s no wonder that a German writer once evaluated Turpan: ‘Few other oases are as culturally diverse as Turpan. It is located at the intersection of an east-west highway and a north-south highway.’
II. So, what are some of the relatively lesser-known tourist routes in Turpan?
First, let’s take a look at the attractions in Turpan, and Xiao Ma will analyze and categorize them according to my personal preferences:
The picture above shows the mountains near Flame Mountain
Flame Mountain
Suitable for: Unless you are a huge fan of Journey to the West, I personally do not recommend coming to this scenic area. Additionally, it suits tourists who enjoy checking in at various locations.
This can be said to be Turpan’s most well-known attraction, thanks to the descriptions in Journey to the West. The entire scenic area is designed around elements from Journey to the West, including a thermometer shaped like Sun Wukong’s magic staff, sculptures of Sun Wukong, and a leaf fan.
Tips: Remember to apply sunscreen when you come here.
Grape Valley
Suitable for: Checking in, especially for first-time visitors to Turpan who want to experience local folklore (of course, tourism-related folklore).
This is Turpan’s grape planting base. If you want to see this, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Bozikli Qianfodong Caves
Popularity: Four stars
Suitable for: Travelers with a strong interest in historical sites
This place was the Buddhist center of ancient Gaochang, first excavated during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. It witnessed the rise and fall of Buddhism, and thereafter the Qianfodong gradually declined. Early in this century, it was stolen from and damaged by可恶 international thieves. The current desolate state is somewhat infuriating. However, when you see the incomplete murals and Buddhist statues, you will still marvel at them. Currently, 57 Qianfodong caves are preserved, along with numerous murals.
The picture below shows the Qianfodong scenic area, which looks quite spectacular.
Astana Cemetery
Popularity: Three stars
If you have been to the Turpan Museum or Xinjiang Museum, you should not be unfamiliar with this place, as many precious artifacts have been unearthed here, with notable ones being the embroidered design of birds with a shared fate, tomb guardians, and the Fu Xi and Nu Wa Diagram, all considered top-tier artifacts. Nowadays, the ancient tomb looks very ordinary with obvious artificial traces, but just to see the few remaining murals inside the tomb, I personally think it is very worthwhile. These murals are hidden in the Astana Cemetery and have not been moved to the museum.
Jiaohe Ancient City and Gaochang Ancient City:
Popularity: Four stars
Suitable for: People who are extremely interested in ancient artifacts
It can be said that this is one of the well-preserved ancient cities in Turpan and even China. Jiaohe was once the capital of the Cheshi Kingdom with a history of over 2,000 years; Gaochang Ancient City was first built in the 1st century BC and was also the city of the Tang Dynasty’s Gaochang Kingdom. The appreciation value of these two ancient cities is somewhat similar. If you have limited time, you can choose just one. Personally, I recommend Jiaohe Ancient City because it is larger in scale and has more convenient transportation. If you have extra time, Gaochang Ancient City is also worth seeing, especially since it has a relatively well-preserved ancient city gate and Buddhist pagoda.
Turpan Museum
Popularity: Five stars
Suitable for: Travelers who like to check off attractions and tourists interested in ancient artifacts
Although the three-story building looks large, there are only four exhibition halls, and some are often closed. Therefore, if you are just here to check it off your list, you can finish exploring in about an hour.
It is recommended to spend at least 2 hours exploring here properly. There will be free guided tours every hour, so remember to join in.
tips:
If you don’t encounter free guided tours, then you can focus on the tomb guardians unearthed from Astana Cemetery, the Fu Xi and Nu Wa Diagram, the Bu Tianshou Documents; the Konghou lute from Yanghai Ancient Tomb; the Sogdian script manuscript scroll, and the giant rhinoceros fossils, which are all worth paying attention to.
III. How to Plan a Trip to Turpan?
Above, I have planned the main attractions of Turpan. Below, make a plan according to your own preferences and style, which is also very suitable for first-time travelers to refer to.
If you have about 1 day to explore Turpan:
Then it is recommended to join a one-day tour, which mainly covers Flaming Mountain, Beziklik Thousand Buddha Caves, and Gaochang Ancient City. This one-day tour route is very suitable for both departures from Turpan and Urumqi.
tips:
Why is joining a one-day tour recommended? Firstly, because you don’t have much time, and both of these attractions in Turpan are relatively far away with inconvenient transportation. Therefore, if you want to see more attractions in a day, it is recommended to choose such a time-saving and cost-effective method.
If you have about 2-3 days to explore Turpan:
Then it is recommended that you stay in Turpan for 1-2 days to fully experience the profound heritage of this historic and cultural city.
D1: Mainly visit the major attractions in downtown Turpan:
Turpan Museum – Sutong Pagoda – Turpan Prefecture Mansion – In the evening, you can take a stroll along Qingnian Road in Turpan Pedestrian Street
D2: Delve into the heart of Turpan to appreciate its profound heritage
Ancient City of Gaochang – Astana Tombs – Bezlik Thousand Buddha Caves – Flaming Mountain (On the way back from Bezlik Thousand Buddha Caves to downtown Turpan, you will pass by the Flaming Mountain scenic area. I recommend just taking a picture at the entrance. It’s not recommended to go inside.)
D3: This day is also dedicated to exploring the ancient cities of Turpan and experiencing local folklore.
Ancient City of Jiaohe – Grape Valley – Return to downtown Turpan to search for local cuisine
Attention:
If you have 2-3 days, it is recommended to purchase a local pass in Turpan, which can save you a lot of money. For example, the ticket price for the Ancient City of Jiaohe is 70 yuan, and the Ancient City of Gaochang is also around 70 yuan, while the pass only costs 150 yuan and includes attractions such as Astana and Supong Pagoda. Therefore, it is highly cost-effective and worth purchasing.
To visit the Ancient City of Gaochang, Astana Tombs, Bezlik Thousand Buddha Caves, and Flaming Mountain, I recommend choosing to carpool or rent a car. Spend a whole day to fully appreciate these places. The cost of renting a car is generally around 800 yuan per day.
In addition, the ancient cities of Gaochang and Jiaohe are very desolate and there is little shelter from the sun. Therefore, it is recommended to visit them in the morning or after 5 p.m.
4. What Delicious Food is Worth Trying in Turpan?
Like many cities in Xinjiang, Turpan offers a wide variety of cuisine. It is recommended to visit the night market to taste them.
The following dishes are worth paying special attention to:
Mutton Pilaf with Leg
This is also a must-try dish in Xinjiang. It is similar to pilaf from other regions. If it’s your first time in Xinjiang, I recommend trying it.
Baked Stuffed Buns
This is a must-try dish in Turpan. However, there are many places selling baked stuffed buns in Turpan. Pay special attention to the one opposite the Turpan Museum. It opens in the afternoon and has a long queue of customers.
Unnamed Breakfast Shop
I highly recommend coming to this breakfast shop in the morning. There are a rich variety of dishes, probably 20-30 types, and each one is very characteristic of Xinjiang. More importantly, it’s cheap. Most of the customers are local residents, so sitting among them gives you a special feeling.
The food inside is, in my opinion, worth a try. Pay special attention to milk tea, flatbread, and hand-grabbed rice. The information searched on the map is the previous store name. You can search for it and arrive there early. It is next to the Desert Ancient City Banquet Hall.
Besides, when in Turpan, you must not miss the local cuisine such as Xinjiang meatball soup, Uzbek cold noodles, iced yogurt, spicy chicken with pepper sauce, laghman noodles, thin-skinned stuffed buns, etc. They are all worth trying.
The picture below shows meatball soup and youta (oil tower pastry).
5. How to Travel to Turpan More Cost-Effectively?
You can choose to rent a car to visit Turpan, as there are many scenic spots to explore and plenty of time to spend at each one.
6. Other Travel Tips for Turpan:
1. At first glance, Turpan may not seem like a place with many attractions, but it boasts a profound history and numerous ancient sites. Therefore, it is important to plan your trip in advance and remember to slow down to fully appreciate the surprises this city brings you.
Xinjiang Customized Travel Planner Guo Jing, Consultation Tel.: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229