ถู่ลู่ฟาน (吐鲁番)

Turpan sits in the Turpan Depression, 154 metres below sea level — the second-lowest point on earth after the Dead Sea. It's been a Silk Road crossroads for millennia, and the Uyghur culture here is distinct from anywhere else in China.

Jiaohe Ancient Ruins

One of the best-preserved ancient cities in China, carved into a plateau 30 metres above the riverbed. Founded 2,300 years ago, abandoned after a Mongol invasion in the 13th century. Unlike most Chinese ruins, the buildings are carved from the earth itself (raw earth carving), not built with bricks. Walk through the empty streets and imagine the Silk Road caravans that passed through here.

Flaming Mountains

Made famous by the novel Journey to the West, these red sandstone mountains really do look like they're burning — especially at sunset. The colour comes from iron-rich rock that oxidises in the extreme heat. The surface temperature can reach 70°C in summer.

Grape Valley

Turpan produces some of China's best grapes, thanks to the unique microclimate and the ancient Karez irrigation system. Visit a vineyard, walk through grape trellises (which also provide shade from the brutal sun), and taste fresh grapes, raisins, and local wine.

Karez Irrigation System

An ancient underground canal system that brings glacier meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains to the oasis — over 5,000 kilometres of tunnels in total. This 2,000-year-old engineering marvel made life in Turpan possible.

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