Turpan

The Imin Minaret

The ancient city of Gaochang

Bezeklik

Turpan is a small oasis city set in a vast tract of grain fields, a pleasant, relaxing place.
It was called Gushi in ancient times. Renamed into Xichang prefecture during the Tang dynasty until 1913 when Turpan County was established. It is also famous with its grape, melon, and long staple cotton.
Only a few old buildings have been preserved in Turpan.

The Imin Minaret, built with clay bricks in 1776 and the sparsely furnished mosque next to it are the symbols of the town.

The Karez underground irrigation system is worth visiting. In Karez, the melting water from the mountains is channelled underground to the oasis over long distances.

The Turpan Museum shows relics from the Silk Road, mummies from the Astana Graves, silks from the early period of transcontinental trade and funerary objects.

The ancient city of Gaochang is 46 kilometres (29 miles) south-east of Turpan near the "Flaming Mountains". Built in the first century B.C. and originally called Gaochangbi, it used to be a garrison town and later became a key point along the ancient Silk Road.

The Ancient City of Jiaohe is located in the Yarnaz Valley, 13 kilometres (8 miles) west of Turpan, and was once the capital of the State of South Cheshi, which was one of the 31 states in the Western Region of China.

Astana Tang-Dynasty burial ground known as the "Underground Museum" attracts streams of archaeologists from both at home and abroad.

Grape Valley, lying at the base of the western end of the Flaming Mountains is a unique world of vineyards and fruit trees. There are several types of grapes that are grown in this area, including the seedless white, rose-pink, ‘mare’s-nipple’, black, Kashihar, bijiagan and suosuo. The nearby fruit wineries produce divine wines and canned grapes.

Bezeklik are the Thousand Buddha Caves. Comprising 67 caves dating from the Northern and Southern dynasties (317 – 589) to the Yuan dynasty (1279 – 1368) it used to be an important centre for Buddhist worship.