The Best of Turpan

2 min read

Though summer is blisteringly hot with temperatures going up to 118F(48C), it’s also the peak travel time and when the town moves into full swing to cater to tourists.

Though spring may be cooler, there are often sandstorms that are much harder to deal with than the heat. Fall is probably the ideal time to be here though the winter can come on fast, bringing with it the biting cold of the desert. Every August 25 there’s the annual Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival at the Turpan Travel and Culture Square.

Chinese isn’t widely spoken here limiting the usefulness of your Chinese phrasebook.

Learning a few phrases of Uyghur isn’t only convenient but also does wonders to break the ice.

Walking through the Gaochang Ruins in the morning as the sun comes out from the clouds.

Hiking on the Flaming Mountains followed by swimming in the cool, fast stream at the Grape Valley.

Eating kebabs in the night market while Uyghur music and dance videos blare from the vendors.

Though grapevines and fruit trees are ever-present, the fruit isn’t free. Don’t pick fruit from the trellises they’re the life-blood of the farmers who grow them, if that isn’t enough to stop you, the large fines that are given for illegally picking fruit will.

ransportation

Airport The nearest airport is in Urumqi. From downtown Urumqi there are frequent buses to Turpan which is 112 miles (180 km)awa) away; buses will make the trip in about hours. Alternatively, at the airport you can hire a taxi for about RMB 100 for the 2-hour ride to Turpan.

Bus This is the most convenient way to reach Turpan. There’s regular service from Urumqi as well as daily service from Hami, Korla, and other points in the Xinjiang.

Taxi -Flag-fall is RMB 5 in the city and RMB 10 in the outskirts. Going from the city to the Grape Valley will cost from RMB 15 to 20. From Turpan’s train station into town will be about RMB 20.

Train The nearest train station is located in Daheyan, some 35 miles (56 km) north of Turpan and has trains servicing destinations in Xinjiang and Gansu. Minibuses leave Turpan for Daheyan every 30 minutes from 7am to 6pm. A taxi will cost about RMB 70. Train tickets for Daheyan can be bought in Turpan.