Turpan is an oasis city in central Xinjiang surrounded by mountains from all sides. This city is a famous trade center in Xinjiang, historically located along the Silk Road. The Turpan Basin has an extreme continental desert climate with hot and long summers and very cold winters. Despite that, Turpan is an agricultural economy growing vegetables, cotton, and especially grapes being China’s largest raisin producing area.
Famous sites in Turpan: Tuyuk-Mazar Village, Jiaohe Ruins, Gaochang Ancient City, Kumtag Desert..
Fun fact: The Aydingkol lake in southern Turpan is 154 m below the ground – making it the second lowest place in the world after the Dead Sea.
