Turpan is an old city with a long history. It is a remote desert city in the far west of China, one of the lowest places on earth, where rain never falls and summers are scorching hot. Turpan was once an important staging post on the Silk Road and its large oasis produces most of the best grapes in China. Traces of humans being there can be dated as far back as 6,000 years ago. You can see the ancient Karez system of irrigation whereby the melted snow from the surrounding mountains is brought down to the town in underground channels, all dug by hand and stretching around some 3000km.

Occupying an area of 15,738 square kilometers (6,076.5 square miles), Turpan City Prefecture is located to the southeast of Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 80% of the town’s population are Uighurs, one of China’s minority peoples, Moslems, whose physical characteristics are more Central Asian than Han Chinese. Visit the bazaar, thronging with people, donkeys and carts with the smell of barbequed kebab in the air and in the evening sit under the grape trellises watching traditional Uighur dances and singing.

The city, which is also known as Huo Zhou, is the hottest place in China. Although the high temperature can be oppressive people can also get some benefits from it. The abundant sunshine gives the melons and grapes ideal conditions to grow. The fruit here is famous for its high sugar content, especially the grapes. Turpan is praised as the 'Hometown of Grapes' and the Grape Valley is a good place to enjoy the grapes of hundreds of varieties. Also you can find various kinds of fruits and snacks, Kebabs, Zhua Fan, Nang, Roast Lamb, milk tea, black tea, grape wine and mare's milk all make you mouth water. The traditional handcrafts are the tourists best favorites, carpets, clothes, caps and knives are favorites, with distinctive folk characteristics.

As a city which is blending Western and Eastern religions and culture together perfectly Turpan is a marvelous city. There are many popular attractions there, the Flaming Mountain, which is mentioned in a classical Chinese novel is the hottest place in China; Emin Minaret is the largest ancient Islamic tower in Xinjiang; and Jiaohe Ancient City and Gaochang Ancient City are witnesses to the long history of Turpan. Aydingkol Lake, at the bottom of Turpan Basin, is the lowest point in the country, and Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs, Bizalkik Thousand Buddha Caves, Tuyu Valley, Karez System is one of the four great irrigation system of China and it is a crystallization of ancient people's wisdom and the life source in Turpan.