Doing a 2 days tour to Turpan from Urumqi to have a fast look at the city’s past and present. This tour will take you to highlight attractions in Turpan. The Karea Well will tell you how ancient people survived in desert and the Flaming Hill will make you feel the temperature of the hottest place in China’s summer. Follow your guide and driver to have a fantastic Turpan trip.
Your hotel in Urumqi downtown area
About 10:00 (also flexible if you advise)
Day 1 Urumqi – Turpan by Car: Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda, Jiaohe Ruins
Day 2 Turpan – Urumqi by Car: Grape Valley, Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave
In the morning pick up from hotel lobby in Urumqi and drive for about 3 hours we will arrive at Turpan. Arriving in Turpan we will firstly pay a visit to the Karez Well— an amazing irrigation system which made Turpan a rich oasis which is honored as the “Underground Great Wall”. So it is regarded as the pride of Turpan. The next stop will be Jiaohe Ruins which was once the biggest and oldest city built of rammed earth, dating back to 2nd century BC. Concludes today’s tour with Sugong Pagoda, the largest existed ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang which is also known as the Turpan Pagoda among local residents. Transfer to hotel in Turpan. Accommodation: Turpan
The first stop of today 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. The record highest temperature of summer could reach 47.8 ℃ (118 ℉). Then we will pay a visit to Grape Valley to see how grapes are grown and processed there. If you visit in August or September, you will have chance to try some freshest grapes. At last drive to visit Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, 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. After the Turpan tour, we will drive back to Urumqi hotel. Service ends.