2 Days Turpan Tour

Tour Overview

This 2-day tour explores Turpan, one of the most historically significant cities along the ancient Silk Road and the lowest and hottest place in China. Located in a depression 154 meters below sea level, Turpan was a crucial oasis stop where merchants, monks, and travelers crossed the Taklamakan Desert. Visit the ruined cities of Jiaohe and Gaochang, the Buddhist grottoes of Bezeklik, the engineering marvel of the Karez irrigation system, and the legendary Flaming Mountains made famous by the Chinese classic “Journey to the West.” This compact tour packs in over 2,000 years of history along one of the world’s most important ancient trade routes.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Urumqi to Turpan – Jiaohe Ruins & Grape Valley

Morning departure from Urumqi, driving approximately 2.5 hours (180 km) east to Turpan via the G30 Lianhuo Expressway, crossing the Tianshan Mountain foothills and the Gobi Desert edge. Upon arrival, visit the Jiaohe Ruins (Yarkhoto), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient cities built entirely from rammed earth. Situated on a leaf-shaped plateau between two river valleys, Jiaohe was founded around 108 BC and served as the capital of the Cheshi Kingdom, later becoming an important Silk Road garrison under the Han and Tang dynasties. At its peak, the city covered 220,000 square meters with residential districts, Buddhist temples, a palace, and administrative buildings, all carved into the earth plateau. Walk through the central avenue, explore the Grand Buddhist Temple with its 10-meter-tall Buddha statue base, and visit the Yar Lake Valley lookout. Afterward, visit the Karez Well Museum to learn about Turpan’s ingenious underground irrigation system, a 2,000-year-old network of hand-dug tunnels that brings glacial meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains to the desert oasis, with over 5,000 kilometers of channels historically. In the late afternoon, relax in Grape Valley (Putao Gou), a lush green valley in the Flaming Mountains where Turpan’s famous seedless white grapes (wuhebai) are grown, producing some of China’s best raisins and wine. Enjoy fresh grapes and local Uyghur snacks. Overnight in Turpan.

Day 2: Flaming Mountains, Bezeklik Caves & Gaochang Ruins

Early morning visit the Flaming Mountains (Huoyan Shan), a 98-kilometer-long range of red sandstone hills that glow like fire in the sunlight, with summer surface temperatures reaching 80 degrees Celsius. Made famous by the 16th-century novel “Journey to the West,” where the Monkey King battles the Princess Iron Fan for a magical fan to extinguish the mountain’s flames, these barren peaks are among the hottest places on earth. Visit the Flaming Mountains Giant Thermometer, a 12-meter-tall golden thermometer that records the actual ground temperature. Next, drive to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, located in the Flaming Mountains’ Mutou Valley. Dating from the 5th to 14th centuries, these 77 caves contain some of the finest Buddhist murals along the Silk Road, depicting Buddha figures, bodhisattvas, and Uyghur royal patrons in vibrant colors. Although many murals were removed by German archaeologists in the early 20th century (now in Berlin’s Museum of Asian Art), several caves remain with impressive original artwork. Afterward, visit the Gaochang Ruins, the remains of the ancient capital of the Gaochang Kingdom, founded in the 1st century BC and once a major Silk Road city with a population of 30,000. Explore the outer city, inner city, palace complex, and the nearby Astana-Karakhoja Tombs, known as the “Pyramids of the East,” containing well-preserved mummies, silk paintings, and food offerings from the Tang Dynasty. Visit the Emin Minaret (Sugongta), built in 1777, the tallest ancient minaret in China at 44 meters, with intricate geometric brick patterns. After a full day of exploration, drive back to Urumqi (2.5 hours) or take the high-speed train (1 hour). End of tour.

Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• 1 night accommodation in Turpan
• Daily breakfast

Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal
• International and domestic flights
• Travel insurance and personal expenses