Exotic Turpan(178 views)

Release date:2011-10-25 00:49:26

Set out in a desert with mild tones of brown and occasionally with green patches, Turpan reminds you of Arabia. It is also the main tourist place in Xinjiang. As most of the people are Muslims, here you can experience a culture and a life style quite different from the rest of China. It is one thing that makes your trip to Turpan very interesting.

Travelers often miss to visit some places in a hurry to see other major sites. There are few other places that must not be missed during your trip to Turpan. Flaming Mountain, the hottest place in China is one among them. This mountain is situated 10 kilometers away from Turpan City. When sun shines on top of the mountain, it shimmers in the heat and hence the name.

After the eye stinging shimmer and sun it is quite refreshing to see soothing green at Grape Valley, which is located near the Flaming Mountain. Quite contrary to the desert landscape, Grape Valley is surprisingly green. Thanks to the Karez irrigation system. Turpan that is also known as the hometown of grapes has a beautiful and romantic destination, Grape Valley. It is surprising to see grapes in different colours and sizes in one place itself. Here you can see grapevines in every household on both sides of the road. Though there is a new grape valley, old grape valley is more beautiful and much preferred by the visitors. On Qingnian Road, there is a street called Grape Street, which is 1.7 kilometers in length. It has pillars throughout and on them plenty of grapevines that provide shades to the travelers and also world’s best grapes. You can also watch beautiful Uygur girls dancing in their traditional dress. Grape Street in Grape Valley is of course a refuge from scorching city heat.

Yet another natural wonder in Turpan is the Ayding Lake, which is the lowest point in China and covers about 22 kilometers. Since it is round in shape like moon it is named as ‘Aydingkol’, which means ‘Moonlight Lake’ in Uygur language. Once freshwater lake is now a saltwater lake; an alluvial plane outside circle with salt marsh in the second ring and at the centre is the salt rime. Though no living beings exist here, lake has high mineral content, which is an important source for chemical industries.

Karez System, an ancient irrigation system, which can be dated back to 2000 years, is worth a visit. It is the backbone of Turpan culture and is consisted of vertical wells, underground and above ground canals and reservoirs. It is surprising that Karez system is well maintained even in such a hot climate. In Turpan, where scarcity of water is high, the idea to use melting snow water other than wasting it and simply using gravitational force to make it function is very intelligent of the Turpan ancestors.

The Desert Botanical Garden, the largest in China lies 10 kilometers away from Turpan City and is located in the same route. The garden is situated in a windy area and faces tremendous climatic changes. You can see plenty of rare desert plants and flowers here. On top of the watch tower you can get a panoramic view of Flaming Mountain, Grape Valley and Ayding Lake.

If you want to enjoy a place, first of all you need to understand the place, its culture and lifestyle. Once your mind is in harmony with the place, you can enjoy your trip in full extent. Turpan is such a place too. Not just the culture but also their food is very rich too. Since it is a Muslim majority population, you cannot expect to get pork served in many restaurants. It might be surprising in China as an average Chinese start their day with pork food items. Xinjiang cuisine is so delicious that you would not have any regrets. It is rich both in flavour and fragrance. Mutton you get here is much tastier than mutton you get anywhere else in China and hence it is highly recommended to try a mutton dish during your visit to Turpan.

Turpan also has best fruits in China. As it has a very fertile land and suitable climate, there grows many fruits like melons, cantaloupes, apricots and most importantly grapes. The grapes grown here are known for its sweetness. You can also buy plenty of good quality raisins for cheaper price. Other than these there are few other stuffs that you can take home as souvenirs such as caps, knives, and knit carpets etc. Knives made in Yengisar are famous for its exquisite workmanship and looks similar to Middle East knives. You can get them in different shapes, sizes and in different materials. You can also take home colorful caps that Uygur people wear. Designs vary according to regions. Knit carpet is an authentic handicraft of Uyghur people and makes an excellent souvenir. With beautiful geometric patterns this carpet can be used as a rug, blanket or even as a wall hanging.

Travelers those who have seen other parts of China get an entirely different picture of China while visiting Turpan.

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