Turpan is the lowest, hottest, and one of the oldest oasis cities in China — home to the Jiaohe ruins, the Karez wells, and the Flaming Mountains. Here’s what to see and how to handle the heat.
Turpan holds two of the Silk Road’s greatest ruined cities — Jiaohe and Gaochang — plus the Bezeklik caves. Here’s what they are, how to visit both, and why they matter.
Jiaohe Ruins near Turpan are the best-preserved ancient city ruins on the Silk Road. Learn how to get there, what to expect, and why it’s worth visiting even in summer heat.
If there is one place in Xinjiang that makes you feel like you have traveled back to the ancient Silk Road, it is Turpan (吐鲁番). This is one of the hottest,…