Welcome to Turpan
Turpan (吐鲁番; Tǔlǔfān) is China’s Death Valley. At 154m below sea level, it’s the second-lowest depression in the world and the hottest spot in China. In July and August, temperatures soar above 40°C and even 50°C, forcing the local population to sleep on their roofs and visiting tourists into a state of semi-torpor.
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Turpan activities
All Inclusive Private Day Trip to Turpan from Urumqi including Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves and Karez System
At 8 o'clock in the morning, your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your centrally located hotel in Urumqi. Then, you will take a 3-hour ride in a private vehicle from Urumqi to Turpan. On the way, you will see windmill farms, saltwater lakes, and valley of Tianshan. After arriving in Turpan, visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which is an abandoned site that has ruins of fresco and statues from 15th century. Afterwards, you will go to ancient city ruin of Gaochang which was one of the most renowned kingdom along the Silk Road in the history. You can wander around to visit temples, stupas, city walls...etc among the ruin. Lunch will be provided in the yard of a local Uyghur house. Next, you will go to Emin Minaret that was built in 1777AD with a typical Uyghur architectural style. Later, before you head back to Urumqi, you will learn why Turpan could sustain itself in long history by visiting the Karez Irrigation System. After the irrigation system visit, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Urumqi where this wonderful day trip concludes.
7 Days Silk Road Join in Group Tour
Day 1: Upon arrive at Kashgar Airport, our driver will pick you up on time, transfer to hotel, check in hotel, free and easy on your own arrangement. Day 2: In the morning, you will meet the guide in the hotel lobby to start your journey. The first full day tour covers only one scenic spot: Karakuri Lake. The lake is 3 hours riding from downtown Kashgar. Together with the snow-capped Muztag Ata Mountain, they make up a fresh picturesque world. Day 3: After breakfast, we will visit the Id Kah Mosque, a typical Islamic architecture like domes, minarets and arches, as well as pious prayers. It has a 500 years history. Then move to the Abakh Khoja Tomb, which is an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery. Five generations of a famous Islamic master were buried here. It is considered as the largest dome architecture in the east of the cemetery. The last stop of today is the Old Town of Kashgar and Local Livestock Market. Day 4: Take the morning flight from Kashgar to Urumqi. When you land in, local guide and driver will pick you up from the airport and then transfer you to Turpan. It will take about 2.5 hours for riding. When you arrive at Turpan, you will firstly visit the Karaz Well, the gigantic underground irrigation system created by ancient Xinjiang people. Next we will go to the existed largest ancient pagoda in Xinjiang, Sugong Pagoda. The pagoda is a 44-meter-high (144 feet) Islamic pagoda, which bears a history of over 200 years. The last stop will be Jiaohe Ruins, which is one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road. It is also the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world. Day 5: In the morning after hotel pick up, you will pay a visit to the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha, a series of caves with thousands of Buddhism murals. The vivid murals show many Buddhism figures, stories, and the social life about 1,000 years ago in Ancient Gaochang Kingdom. Then we will visit Tuyuq Village, the oldest existed Uygurs village in China where you will see the ancient earth-and wood structure Uygurs house and it is regarded as the Chinese Mekka due to its position in Muslim people. The last stop in Turpan will be the hottest place in China- the Flaming Hill, situated at the north of ancient Silk Road. The temperature is so high that nothing grows on the hill. When driving back to Urumqi, we will visit the Urumqi International Bazaar. Day 6: In the morning our local guide will pick you up from hotel and then go to visit Xinjiang Museum to see the unearthed cultural relics full of Uygures ethnic taste. Then we will pay a visit the Heavenly Lake(Tianchi) in the rest of the day. Day 7: After breakfast at the hotel, you may have all your belongings and luggage packed, check out of the hotel by yourself. Our driver will drive you to the airport to take the homeward flight.
5-Night Private Silk Road Trip from Urumqi to Dunhuang including Hotel Accommodations
Day 1: Arriving Urumqi Pick up from Diwopu International Airport or Urumqi Rail Station and transfer you to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the streets of Urumqi.Accommodation: 4-Star Xiangjiang Lihua Hotel, Urumqi Day 2: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi (B) Visit Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. The spectacular one stands out from the rest named "Beauty of Loulan," who was buried 4,000 years ago near the town of Loulan in Taklimakan Desert. "Beauty of Loulan" was remarkably preserved in an open coffin under hot desert sands of the Taklamakan when she was excavated in 1980. After lunch, head up to Heavenly Lake, located on the north side of the Bodga Shan range of the Tianshan Mountains t. Later, return to Urumqi and stroll through the wonderful Erdaoqiao Bazaar before driving back your hotel.Accommodation: 4-Star Xiangjiang Lihua Hotel, Urumqi Day 3: Urumqi - Turpan (B, L) Visit Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road that was once adjacent to the kingdoms of Kroran and Yanqi. Visit Emin Minaret, the symbol of Turpan before your authentic local lunch at a Uyghur home under the grape vine in open air. Explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs before returning to your hotel.Accommodation: 4-Star Xiangjiang Lihua Hotel, Urumqi Day 4. Turpan - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Dunhuang (B) Explore ruin of ancient Jiaohe city, the capital of Anterior Jushi kingdom during 108 B.C. to 450 A.D. With Karez Irrigation System helps irrigating the oasis, Jiaohe was an important site along the Silk Road trade route leading west adjacent to Korla and Karasahr kingdoms. Catch a bullet train to Liuyuan and be transferred to Dunhuang hotel. Visit the night market nearby the hotel if you like.Accommodation: 4-Star Dunhuang Hotel Day 5: Dunhuang (B) Visit the highlight of Silk Road today, Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas), where you will be impressed by the fresco and statues in the caves. These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details. Enjoy a fun hike on the sand dunes to visit the Crescent Spring.Accommodation: 4-Star Dunhuang Hotel Day 6: Departing Dunhuang (B) If time allows, visit Dunhuang Museum before heading to Dunhuang Airport where this 6 days trip concludes.
6-Night Private Silk Road Trip from Urumqi to Dunhuang and Jiayuguan with Accommodations
Day 1: Arriving UrumqiUpon arrival at Urumqi Airport or Urumqi Rail Station, your guide will send you to the hotel for check-in. Accommodation: 5-Star Mirage Hotel, UrumqiDay 2: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi (B)Visit Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. Among which, you will find the spectacular one standing out from the rest named "Beauty of Loulan". After lunch, take a one hour ride to Heavenly Lake, which is located on the north side of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery. Later, return to Urumqi and stroll through the Erdaoqiao Bazaar. Accommodation: 5-Star Mirage Hotel, UrumqiDay 3: Urumqi - Turpan (B, L)Take a 3 hours ride to Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road. You will visit Emin Minaret which is the symbol of Turpan before sampling an authentic local lunch at a Uyghur home under the grape vine in open air. In the afternoon, you will explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs before returning to your hotel. Accommodation: 4-Star Huozhou Hotel, TurpanDay 4. Turpan - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Dunhuang (B)Explore ruin of ancient Jiaohe city that was once the capital of Anterior Jushi kingdom during 108 B.C. to 450 A.D. but abandoned in the 15th century. With Karez Irrigation System helps irrigating the oasis, Jiaohe was an important site along the Silk Road trade route leading west adjacent to Korla and Karasahr kingdoms. Then, catch a bullet train to Liuyuan arriving in approximately 4 hours and be transferred to Dunhuang hotel in about two hours. Be sure to explore the night market nearby the hotel in the evening! Accommodation: 4-Star Dunhuang Silk Road HotelDay 5: Dunhuang (B)Visit the highlight of Silk Road today, Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas). These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details.After lunch, enjoy a fun hike on the sand dunes to visit the Crescent Spring. Accommodation: 4-Star Dunhuang Silk Road HotelDay 6: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan (B)Catch 4-hour train/ride to Jiayuguan, the western end of the Great Wall for Ming Dynasty. Visit Jiayuguan Fort that is called The First Pass Under Heaven. Climb up the Overhanging Great Wall (reconstructed in 1980s based on the original site with a wonderful view). Accommodation: 4-Star Jiayuguan Great Wall HotelDay 7: Departing Jiayuguan (B)If time allows, visit Wei and Jin Tombs before heading to Jiayuguan Airport where the tour concludes.
Private 6-Night Silk Road Tour From Dunhuang to Kashgar
Day 1. Arrival DunhuangUpon arrival, met by our guide and transferred to hotel. Overnight: Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel or similar hotelDay 2. Dunhuang(B) In the morning, you will visit Mogao Caves, the most important site on the Silk Road. Colorful fresco, statues telling you various stories about Buddha. In the afternoon, you will view the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Spring in the desert. Explore the night market in the evening. Overnight: Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel or similar hotelDay 3. Dunhuang/Turpan(B) via Bullet TrainYou will visit the Dunhuang Museum(Close on Mondays). Afterwards you will be transferred to Liuyuan railway station catch 3.5-hour bullet train to Turpan. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. Overnight: Turpan Huozhou Hotel or similar hotelDay 4. Turpan/Urumqi(B)Today you will visit Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret. Afterwards you will take 3-hour ride to Urumqi.Overnight: Urumqi Wanda Vista Hotel or similar hotelDay 5. Urumqi/Kashgar(B) Via FlightIn the morning you will visit Xinjiang Museum, mummies are a must-see in it, particularly Loulan Beauty and Xiaohe Beauty. Then you will take one-hour ride to Heavenly Lake where you can wander around the lake to view the stunning snow-capped mountains. Then you will be transferred to Urumqi airport to catch flight to Kashgar. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel.Overnight: Kashgar Tianyuan International Hotel or similar hotelDay 6. Kashgar(B)It is a busy day, you will see the well-known Grand Bazaar, Apa Hojia Mausoleum, Idkar Mosque, old town of Kashgar.Overnight: Kashgar Tianyuan International Hotel or similar hotelDay 7. Departing from Kashgar(B)Transferred to the airport to catch your flight heading your next destination.End of the trip.
5-Night Private Silk Road Trip from Dunhuang to Urumqi including Hotel Accommodations
Day 1: Arriving DunhuangUpon arrival at Dunhuang Airport or Dunhuang Rail Station, meet your guide at arrival lobby and go to the hotel for check-in. You may spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the streets of Dunhuang. Be sure to explore the night market nearby the hotel in the evening! Accommodation: 4-Star Dunhuang Hotel Day 2: Dunhuang - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Turpan (B) You will visit the highlight of Silk Road today, Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas), where you will be impressed by the fresco and statues in the caves. These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details. In the afternoon, you will catch a bullet train to Turpan arriving in approximately 4 hours and be transferred to hotel in about 30 minutes. Accommodation: 4-Star Huozhou Hotel, Turpan Day 3. Turpan (B, L) After breakfast, you will start to visit Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road that was once adjacent to the kingdoms of Kroran and Yanqi. You will visit Emin Minaret which is the symbol of Turpan before sampling an authentic local lunch at a Uyghur home under the grape vine in open air. Later in the afternoon, you will explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs and Karez Irrigation System before returning to your hotel. Accommodation: 4-Star Huozhou Hotel, Turpan Day 4: Turpan - Urumqi (B)After breakfast, you will take a 3-h ride to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The impressive stop of the day is Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. Among which, you will find the spectacular one standing out from the rest named " Beauty of Loulan," who was buried 4,000 years ago near the town of Loulan in Taklimakan Desert. " Beauty of Loulan" was remarkably preserved in an open coffin under hot desert sands of the Takliamakan when she was excavated.Later, you will head to stroll through the wonderful Erdaoqiao Bazaar before driving back your hotel. Accommodation: 4-Star Xiangjiang Lihua Hotel, Urumqi Day 5: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi (B)Today you will take a one hour ride to Heavenly Lake, which is located on the north side of the Bodga Shan range of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery. Then you will be taken back hotel. Accommodation: 4-Star Xiangjiang Lihua Hotel, Urumqi Day 6: Departing Urumqi (B)Transferred to Urumqi Airport where the tour ends.