Turpan Attractions
Turpan has long been the important trade centre of a fertile oasis located along the Silk Road's northern route. It is provided water by Karez Well and has Emin Minaret, Gaochang ruins with Uyghur Muslim culture.
Jiaohe Ancient City
Located 10 kilometers west of Turpan in China’s Xinjiang Province, the Jiaohe Ruins is an archaeological site which was an important stop on the Ancient Silk Road. It is the largest, oldest, and best preserved earthen city on earth.
Emin Minaret
The tallest minaret in China, the Emin Minaret is located 2 kilometers east of Turpan. Built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the minaret is 44 meters tall and took 19 years to complete.
The Flaming Mountains
Located in China Xinjiang, the Flaming Mountain is a barren, eroded, red sandstone mountain. The erosion of the sandstone rock has given the mountain an appearance of being on fire.
Ancient Gaochang City Ruins
30 kilometers southeast of Turpan Xinjiang, the ancient Gaochang Ruins are all that is left of an ancient oasis city that was a major stopping point on the Ancient Silk Road.
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
The Bezeklik/Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves is famous for ancient muralsWith with exsiting 60 caves, and over 40 caves have ancient murals of 1200 square meters.
Loulan Kingdom Ruins
In 1980, a 3,800-year-old female mummy (Loulan Beauty) was firstly discovered in Loulan known as the Tarim mummies. This opens an insight into the Loulan culture to the world. Loulan was an ancient kingdom based around an important oasis city along the Silk Road.
Turpan Desert Ecological Plant Park
The park is located southeast of Turpan Basin, the western sandy Cat Kale Township. Geographical coordinates: 40 ° 51'N, 89 ° 11'E, altitude -105 ~-76m.
Sugong Pagoda
The Sugong Pagoda, known as Emin Minaret or the Turpan Pagoda among local residents is a Islamic building. A stone tablet at its entrance cites the reason for the pagoda's construction in Wei and Han characters.
Karez Underground Water System
The Karez underground irrigation channel in Turpan is one of China's three greatest feats of ancient engineering, along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Construction began on this ancient irrigation system during the Han Dynasty and as the Silk Road developed, methods of construction found their way to Central Asia and Persia.
Grape Valley
Xinjiang grape valley, lying on the western slopes of the Flaming Mountains in Turpan Depression, one can see nothing but glowing barren red sand. Only the Grape Valley, presenting a world of unique beauty, is a striking contrast with the hot, dry and barren outside.
Turpan Museum
Turpan Museum is a museum in Turpan, Xinjiang, China. It has items from the Tang dynasty excavated from the Astana Graves which are located outside the town. Items include ancient silks, clothes and preserved corpses.
