The Main Destination to Experience Silk Road Atmosphere - Turpan - the Fiery Land

A depression enclosed by mountains in eastern Xinjiang （one of main China Travel Destinations）, also called Gushi in ancient times. In the center of the Turpan Depression is the Aydingkol Lake which is 154 meters below sea level, second only the the Dead Sea in Jordan, lowest in the world. The mean temperature there all-year-round is 12.1 degrees to 14.9 degree centigrade, and in the sweltering summer days it rises up to 40 degree centigrade, with a ground temperature as high as 80 degree centigrade. Hence the name the "Fiery Land". As an important post on the northern route of the age-old Silk Road. Turpan has now many spots of interest such as the ancient cities and Jiaohe, Bezeklik Thousand- Buddha Cave, Emin Minaret, Grape Valley and Karez Wells.

Gaochang

Gaochang, an important gateway on the ancient Silk Road, situated near the Flaming Mountain 40 kilometer southeast of Turpan. In the first century, military units of the Western Han Dynasty doing farm work there established a rampart called Gaochangbi. Later, it developed into a political, economic and cultural center along with historical changes. Monk Xuan Zang of Tang Dynasty had preached in the city .
Jiaohe city is located on a river islet in the Yarnez River valley 10 kilometer west of Turpan (a famous China travel destination ). It is 1650 meter long from east to west, 300 meter at the widest, and lined by cliffs 30 meter high. By 200 BC, it was the seat of the imperial court of the Front State of Cheshi, abandoned after 1200. The ancient city is preserved pretty well due to its high location and scanty rainfall. The surviving ruins such as official buildings, pottery kilns, courtyards, temples and pagodas are still distinguishable. The city has been recognized by the UNESCO as one of the world's natural heritage sites.

Karez Wells

Karez Wells - an underground irrigation system created by the local people to improve the arid land, consisting of wells, ditche, underground channels and dams. Water from melted snow is conducted from nearby mountains to the wells which are linked by underground channels. The water outlets of these channels are connected with the ditches, from which the water is used to irrigate the farms.

Emin Minaret

Emin Minaret - the minaret, 37 m high is about 2 km to the southeast of Turpan. A 72-step spiral stairway inside the minaret leads to its top where visitors may have a panoramic view of Turpan. Nearby is a mosque which can accommodate one thousand Moslems for a religious service.
tags: China vacations