Atlas
Turpan
Turpan's low basin is exceptionally hot and dry, producing prized melons and sustaining the Karez canal tradition.
Prefecture: Turpan
Province: XinjiangA furrowed red-brown mountain rises behind vineyards, poplars and low houses, a green stream runs through, and clusters of grapes hang in the foreground.
Archaeology2
- Gaochang Ancient City & Khan Fortress
Once the seat of the Gaochang Kingdom and Tang-era Xizhou, these sprawling ruins near Turpan are among the largest in the Western Regions, and Xuanzang preached here.
- Jiaohe Ancient City Raw-Earth Heritage
Among the world's largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen cities, Jiaohe also served as the first seat of the Anxi Protectorate.
Vista1
- Flaming Mountains & Grape Valley in Turpan
Red sandstone peaks made famous by Journey to the West tower over Turpan, while Grape Valley offers a cool green corridor of vines amid the scorching desert.
Sculpture1
- Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Cut into the cliffs of Mutou Gorge, these royal cave temples of the Gaochang Uyghur kingdom hold dazzling Buddhist art from the Silk Road.
In its history3
- Wei Zheng580–643 CE
Part of Turpan's history: Reign of Zhenguan. Tang statesman who made some two hundred remonstrances to Emperor Taizong and oversaw the official histories of the five preceding dynasties
- Li Shimin598–649 CE
Part of Turpan's history: Reign of Zhenguan; Part of Turpan's history: Xuanzang's Western Pilgrimage. Second Tang emperor who as Prince of Qin defeated the rival regimes, seized the throne in the Xuanwu Gate coup, and reigned under the title Zhenguan
- Xuanzangc. 602–664 CE (birth by another account 600)
Part of Turpan's history: Xuanzang's Western Pilgrimage. Tang monk who travelled overland to India for Buddhist scriptures, returned in 645 with 657 texts, and translated 75 works in 1,335 scrolls
Han1
- Han Wuji Colonel in Cheshi48 BCE
In 48 BCE, the Han established the Wuji Colonel in the Cheshi area to administer frontier agricultural colonies.
Tang4
- Reign of Zhenguan
Taizong reduced taxes and corvee, welcomed remonstrance, and disciplined officials, restoring the postwar economy and stabilizing Zhenguan governance.
- Xuanzang's Western Pilgrimage
Xuanzang crossed Central Asia to study in India, returned to Chang'an with Sanskrit texts, and led a major translation program.
- Xuanzang Teaches at Gaochang627 CE
During his westward journey in 627, Xuanzang was received and pressed to remain by Gaochang's king, taught for about a month, and then continued west.
- Anxi Protectorate Established at Jiaohe640 CE, Tang
In 640, the Tang established the Anxi Protectorate at Jiaohe, making the city a key node in Tang military administration of the Western Regions.
Modern Era2
- The Canal and the Silk Roads
On 22 June 2014 the 38th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, in Doha, inscribed the Grand Canal of China and the Silk Roads: Routes Network of the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor on the World Heritage List.
- Gaochang and Jiaohe Inscribed2014 CE
In 2014, the ancient cities of Gaochang and Jiaohe were inscribed as Chinese components of the Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor serial property.
Food3
- Nang (baked flatbread)Flatbreads
Leavened flatbread stamped with a pattern, sprinkled with sesame and baked on the wall of a clay pit oven, a bread of Xinjiang courtyards.
- Zheng jiao (steamed dumplings)Dumplings
A dumpling with a dough wrapper around a meat or vegetable filling, pleated and steamed, made at home and served among Cantonese dim sum.
- Turpan grapesFruits and Nuts
Turpan grows many grape varieties; Wuhebai can be eaten fresh or dried into raisins.