This is "the lowest place" in China. Due to its high temperatures, Turpan is considered the "Hometown of Grapes". In addition, Sand Therapy, a good way to treat rheumatism and skin ailments, and "donkey taxi" are also special attractions of Turpan.
Turpan Overview
Turpan, also refered as Tulu Fan or Turfan, lies on the north branch of the Silk Road on the way to Urumqi. Turpan has a rich, ancient past. Many civilizations, cultures and religions settled here. Turpan is an old city with a long history. Traces have been found of humans living there dating far as back as 6,000 years. Turpan means 'the lowest place' in the Uygur language and 'the fertile land' in Turki. Lying in the TurpanBasin, the elevation of most of the places in the area is around 500 m (1,640 ft) below sea level. Turpan is the city with the lowest elevation in China.
Occupying an area of 15,738 sq km (6,076.5 sq miles), TurpanCityPrefecture is located to the southeast of Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The city belongs to the Turpan Region together with ShanshanCounty and TuokexunCounty. Turpan has a population of 250,000, made up of 21 different nationalities. Among these, the Uygurs account for over 70% of the total number.
The city, which is also known as Huo Zhou ("a place as hot as fire"), is the hottest place in China. The annual average temperature is 14C (57.2F).However,it is reckoned that there are 152 summer days on average, and 28 really boiling days, with the temperature above 40C (104F). Although the high temperature can be oppressive, people can also get some benefits from it. The abundant sunshine gives the melons and grapes ideal conditions in which to grow. The fruit here is widely known for its high sugar content, especially the grapes. Turpan is praised as the 'Hometown of Grapes' and the GrapeValley is a good place to enjoy the grapes of hundreds of varieties. 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 SandTherapyCenter in the northwest of the city that is popular among visitors.
Turpan is a marvelous city blending Western and Eastern religions and culture together perfectly. The geographical position of Turpan is rather important. Lying at the junction of the east and the west of China, it has been a key point on the Silk Road since ancient times, with a great number of historical relics as well as unique landscapes.
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 JiaoheAncientCity and GaochangAncientCity are witnesses to the long history of Turpan. AydingkolLake, at the bottom of the TurpanBasin, is the lowest point in the country, and Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs, BizalkikThousandBuddhaCaves and TuyuValley are also popular attractions. The Karez System is one of the four great irrigation systems of China and it is a crystallization of ancient people's wisdom and the life source in Turpan.
Turpan is an important city along the ancient Silk Road and transportation here is very convenient. It is considered the hub between Xinjiang and the eastern part of China. As well as the usual vehicles, there is a special “donkey taxi” here. It is a kind of flatbed drawn by a donkey. Visitors can sit and ride on the vehicle to get a broad overview from a leisurely look around the city.
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