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Local raisins.

Turpan (Chinese: 吐魯番, Tǔlǔfān; Uyghur: تۇرپان‎, Turpan; Turkish: Turfan) is a city in Xinjiang, on the Silk Road.

[edit] Understand

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 40'sC. 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 Uigurs.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

Tulufan Zhan - located in the town of Daheyan, 50 km NW of the town center

• Kashgar - takes about 25 hours
• Korla - takes about 8 hours
• Lanzhou - takes about 25 hours
• Liuyuan - takes about 8-9 hours
• Xi'an - takes about 40-45 hours

[edit] By bus

Long Distance Bus Station is on Laocheng Road

• Hami - takes about 6-7 hours
• Kashgar - takes about 32 hours
• Korla - takes about 6-7 hours
• Kuqa - takes about 13-14 hours
• Urumqi - takes about 3 hours

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Turpan Grape Gully (吐鲁番葡萄沟; Tǔlǔfān Pútaogōu), (10km from the city). Nicknamed Green Pearl City, 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.  edit

Emin minaret.

• Emin Minaret (额敏塔; Émǐn Tǎ; also known as 苏公塔, Sūgōng Tǎ). Emin Minaret was built in 1777 in honor of the heroic Turpan general, Emin Khoja.  edit

Gaochang.

• Turpan Gaochang Ancient City (吐鲁番高昌故城; Tǔlǔfān Gāochāng Gùchéng), (46km southeast of the city, you can get there either by taxi or first by bus to Doushan or Sanbao Township and then by motorbike). 8AM-5PM. 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. ¥20.  edit

• Jiaohe Ancient City (交河故城; Jiāohé Gùchéng), (about 20km west of Turpan). Ruins of an ancient Silk Road town. This city was established during the Western Han Dynasty and continued through from the period of Northern Wei Dynasty.  edit

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves.

• Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (柏孜克里千佛洞; Bózīkèlǐ Qiānfódòng), (45km east of Turpan). 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.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

• Oasis Hotel Turpan, 41 Qingnian Road, ☎ +86 995 522491 (fax: +86 995 522768).  edit

• Turpan Hotel, Qingnian Road, ☎ +86 995 522025 (fax: +86 995 522025).  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Tuha Petroleum Hotel (吐鲁番吐哈石油大厦; Tǔlǔfān Tǔhāshíyóu Dàshà), 230 Wenhua Road (文化路230号; Wénhuàlù 230hào), ☎ +86 995 8666666 (fax: +86 995 8666668). Five star hotel with large rooms with internet access against surcharge and with safes, air-conditioners and mini bars. Business center, currency exchange, gift shop, beauty salon, ticket office, karaoke, night club, billiard, table tennis, fitness, bowling, indoor swimming pool and massage available. Chinese and Western restaurants as well as coffee shop, bar and room service. The food in the Western restaurant is great, but the breakfast could be better. Listed rates for doubles ¥1,080-1,280, including breakfast.  edit

[edit] Get out