Turpan

China's hottest and lowest basin, where the Flaming Mountains, the ruins of Jiaohe and the karez wells bear witness to Silk Road civilization.

Turpan lies in the Turpan Basin in eastern Xinjiang, a low-lying land; around Aydingkol Lake is the lowest point on land in China, with scorching summers and little rain. It was a key point on the ancient Silk Road: the ancient cities of Jiaohe and Gaochang are part of the Silk Road UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, the Flaming Mountains, Grape Valley and the karez wells are all representative sights, while the Kumtag Desert in Shanshan lies right next to the county seat. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant, and around August is grape harvest season. Take the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway to Turpan North Station, with easy connections to Ürümqi.

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