Mention of the name "Turpan" and the famous " Silk Road " is the first thing that comes to mind. Located in the middle part of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, centuries ago it was known as Gushi. Since the Ming Dynasty's renaming of the area with the meaning "land of fertility and opulence", Turpan is both a mysterious and yet an extremely beautiful place with its long history and importance along the Silk Road. At that time, it was a strategic stop on the overland trade route linking China with India, Persia (Iran) and Rome.

Located in the Turpan Basin, it has long been known as "Fire State" or "Land of Fire" for its extreme summer heat. This is due to it being in the second deepest inland depression in the world, with more than 4,000 sq. kilometers of land situated below sea level. It has recorded some of the hottest summer days in China, with temperatures as high as 130 degrees F. or nearly 55 degrees C. Apart from that, the locals are quite fond of sand therapy which has a history of hundreds of years in Turpan. People lie or sit under sheds, burying their bodies in hot sand about 50C (122F) to 60C (140F). It is said to be a good way to treat rheumatism and skin ailments. There is a Sand Therapy Center in the northwest of the city which is popular among visitors.

It was also one of the two centers of Uyghur Culture. Here, through the appreciation of Nazirkuma (mask dance of Turpan), Macilaifu (traditional singing and dancing of Uighur people), Mukamu (folk music of Uighur people), colorful and fresh flowery dresses and the simple but elegant architecture, travellers can fully experience the classic Uighur folk customs.

Turpan has in excess of seventy ancient cultural sites including the primitive city sites, ancient grave clusters, grotto temples, beacon post houses, cliff paintings and much more. As to the unearthed cultural relics, which are yet to be counted and recorded, number in the tens of thousands. At this stage it is not possible to give the precise number. Many relics have found their way overseas and preserved in the museums located in Germany, Japan, Russia, Britain, Indian, North Korea and the United States to name a few. Among all the cultural relics, it is those ones representing the culture of the Silk Road that are most treasured. Consequently the skill and time required in analyzing the significant historic value of the most precious remains and the well known ones may be some time away. It is the lifetime task of paleographers.

As a result of its unique weather characteristics, Turpan is abundant with fruits like grapes and watermelons and in China is widely known as "the City of Grapes". Among the grape varieties, the seedless white grape is especially well known and many farms have drying towers for turning them into raisins. The local raisins are renowned world wide for their beautiful dark green luster, high sugar count and rich in vitamin C content.

Apart from being the fruit bowl of China for grapes and melons, the geographical layout of the land provides so many and varied scenic spots. The Turpan population have some unique folk customs too that have evolved over the centuries which present today's visitor with an opportunity to experience how the locals lived so many years ago. Here you can see the ancient city of Gaochang built in the 1st century B.C. and originally called Gaochangbi, which used to be a garrison town. Also Jiaohe, another ruin of an ancient Silk Road town, located about 13 miles west of Turpan.

The fresco of the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, stand high on the cliffs of west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountain, 45 km east of Turpan. Of the 83 original caves, 57 caves currently remain. The murals cover an area over 1, 200 square meters in more than 40 caves.

To tempt the visitor with more treasures of a bygone era, the Ancient Tombs at Astana will leave you with more questions than the historians can answer. Add to that the Sugong Tower, a piece of unique Islam architecture from the Qing Dynasty and the Flaming Mountain, so full of color of fairy stories and legends. Many of these legends are mentioned in the famous novel ‘Pilgrimage to the West'.

Flaming Mountain, which is mentioned in a classical Chinese novel The Journey to the West is the hottest place in China; Emin Minaret is the largest ancient Islamic tower in Xinjiang; and Jiaohe Ancient City and Gaochang Ancient City are witnesses to the long history of Turpan. Aydingkol Lake, at the bottom of Turpan Basin, is the lowest point in the country, and Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs, Bizalkik Thousand Buddha Caves, Tuyu Valley are also popular attractions. Karez System is one of the four great irrigation system of China and it is a crystallization of ancient people's wisdom and the life source in Turpan.

As a city inhabited by minority groups, you can find Uygur snacks in the streets and lanes. Kebabs, Zhua Fan (Rice Eaten with Hands), Nang, Roast Lamb will make your mouth water. There are also many traditional drinks in Turpan, including milk tea, black tea, grape wine and mare's milk. The traditional handcrafts are exquisite and are worth collecting. Carpets, clothes, caps and knives are favorites, with distinctive folk characteristics.