# Turpan travel guide (吐鲁番) Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region · Northwest, China · 9 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/xinjiang-uygur/turpan ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Jiaohe Ancient City → Karez Folk Park → Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda) → Grape Valley - **Day 2:** Turpan → Flaming Mountains → Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves → Tuyuk Valley → Kumtag Desert ## The feel of the place - **Grapes:** In Turkic, Turpan means 'a land of abundance', and this basin, nearly a tenth of which lies below sea level, is brimming with grapes and scenery. It is home to some of the sweetest grapes in the world, the seedless white Wuhebai, which is mainly used to make raisins. In the villages, people often sit under grape trellises to cool off, and picking a couple of bunches to eat is pure pleasure. Even in the city, on streets such as Qingnian Road, the entire road is shaded by grape trellises, offering a heavy, refreshing coolness. ## The feel of the place ### Commercial Savvy Locals have developed a strong commercial sense, so raisins bought in Grape Valley are not cheap. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out You can reach or leave Turpan by plane, train or bus, but the most convenient option is to hire a car. This may cost more, but it saves travel time. ### By Air Flights run to and from Urumqi, Yinchuan, Dunhuang, Xi'an, Changsha and other cities. ### By Rail Turpan is where the Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway meets the Southern Xinjiang Railway. From here, heading west takes you to Urumqi and the area north of the Tianshan Mountains, while heading south takes you into southern Xinjiang. Turpan Railway Station (火车站) is 46 km north of the city, and minibuses run between the station and the city for ¥7.5. The other station, Qiquanhu Station (七泉湖站), is closer to the city and has many express trains stopping there. ### By Road Travellers can catch buses from Turpan Prefecture Passenger Transport Centre (吐鲁番地区客运中心) and Dahe Yan Bus Station (大河沿客运站) bound for Urumqi, Kashgar, Hotan, Qitai, Shanshan, Toksun, Korla, Luntai, Kuqa, Aksu, Shajingzi, Sanchajing, Bachu, Artux, Alar, Yarkant, Yecheng, Zepu and other destinations. ### Getting Around the City Turpan has relatively few city bus routes, and the fare is a flat ¥1. If you only want to visit the bazaar in town or go to the outskirts, you can hire a donkey cart, known locally as a 'donkey taxi'. Agree on the price beforehand. Touring Turpan by donkey cart is a uniquely enjoyable experience. - **Turpan Jiaohe Airport (吐鲁番交河机场)** — - **Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (乌鲁木齐地窝堡国际机场)** — - **Railway Station Enquiry Desk (火车站问询处)** — - **Turpan Prefecture Passenger Transport Centre (吐鲁番地区客运中心)** — (Chunshu Road, Turpan City, 0995-8522325) - **Turpan Dahe Yan Bus Station (吐鲁番大河沿汽车客运站)** — (Dahe Yan Town, Turpan City, 0995-8645849) - **Shanshan Passenger Station (鄯善客运站)** — (Middle section of Xincheng Road, Shanshan County, Turpan, 0995-8381360) ## Eat & drink Turpan's local snacks include mi changzi (rice sausage), mian feizi (wheat 'lungs') and kebabs. ## Shopping Specialities include fresh grapes, raisins, Hami melons, fresh mare's milk, sour mare's milk, long-staple cotton and almonds. Turpan grows more than 500 fine grape varieties, including seedless white, red, black, Rose-scented and Baibuurui, earning it the nickname 'the world's grape botanical garden'. Fresh grapes are generally on sale from July to October. There are many raisin varieties. Mǎnǎizi (also called 'Men's Fragrance'), Women's Fragrance, Red Rose and Yellow Rose are among the best known. Raisins can also be classed as warm or cool types, depending on how they are dried. ## Where to stay Because Turpan is easy to reach and its sights are concentrated, it has become a popular destination in Xinjiang. Large numbers of visitors arrive each year from July to September, when accommodation is tight and room rates are higher. ## Things to see - **Flaming Mountains** (★★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 8:30–20:00 (summer); 10:00–19:00 (winter); Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/flaming-mountains - **Grape Valley** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 9：30—19：30; Time needed 3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/grape-valley - **Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda)** (★★★): Admission ¥45; Opening hours 10：00—19：00; Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/emin-minaret-sugong-pagoda - **Kumtag Desert Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥30, with additional charges for recreational activities inside the scenic area; Opening hours 9：00—21：00; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kumtag-desert-scenic-area - **Tuyuk Valley** (★★★): Admission ¥30; Opening hours 10：00—20：30; Time needed 0.5 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tuyuk-valley - **Jiaohe Ancient City** (★★★★): Admission ¥70; Opening hours 9：30—19：00; Time needed 3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiaohe-ancient-city - **Gaochang Ancient City** (★★★): Admission ¥70; Opening hours 9：30—21：00; Time needed 3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/gaochang-ancient-city - **Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves** (★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 9:30–19:00 (summer); 10:00–18:00 (winter); Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bezeklik-thousand-buddha-caves - **Karez Well Paradise** (★★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 8:00–20:00 (April 21–October 20); 10:00–18:30 (October 21–April 20 of the following year); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/karez-well-paradise --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 826–836. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.