Turpan -> Ürümqi

Today, we visited Tuyoq Village, The Flaming Mountains, Sugong Minaret, Jiaohe Ruins, and Karez Well Irrigation System, prior to droving 3 hours to Ürümqi. And after long day of sightseeing, we arrived in Ürümqi and were invited to dinner with the tour coordinator at 10:30pm. We didn’t arrive at our hotel rooms until after midnight.  This trip was relentous from early in the morning to late in the night with very little rest time.

Tuyoq Village

The Flaming Mountains

Sugong Minaret

Jiaohe Ruins

Grapes produced from the Karez Well Irrigation System

Dive to Ürümqi

The following are quotes from our tour brochure:

“Turpan is China’s Death Valley. At 154m below sea level, it’s the third-lowest depression in the world (Dead Sea in Israel/Jordan is first and Assál in Djibuiti is second) and the hottest spot in China. Despite the heat, the ground water and fertile soil of the Turpan depression has made this a veritable oasis in the desert, evidenced by the nearby centuries-old remains of ancient cities, imperial garrisons and Buddhist caves."

 “Tuyoq Village - Set in a green valley fringed by the Flaming Mountains, this mud-brick village offers a fascinating glimpse of traditional Uighur life and architecture. It has been a pilgrimage site for Muslims for centuries, as on the hillside above is the Hojamu Tomb, a mazar (a tomb of a saint or holy), said to hold the first Uighur to convert to Islam. The mazar is not open to non-Muslims. The rest of the village is great for strolling.”

“Flaming Mountains - Near the Bezeklik Caves in Turpan are the Flaming Mountains, which appear at midday like multicoloured tongues of fire. The Flaming Mountains were immortalised in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, in which Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) used his magic fan to extinguish the blaze. “

 “Emin Minaret - Built to honour Turpan general Emin Hoja, this splendid 44m-high mud-brick structure is the tallest minaret in China. Also known as Sūgōng Tǎ after Emin’s son Suleiman, who oversaw its construction (1777–78), its bowling-pin shape is decorated with an interesting mix of geometrical and floral patterns: the former reflect traditional Islamic design, the latter Chinese. “

“Jiāohé Ruins - Also called Yarkhoto, Jiāohé was established by the Chinese as a garrison town during the Han dynasty. It’s one of the world’s largest (6500 residents once lived here), oldest (1600 years old) and best-preserved ancient cities, inspiring with its scale, setting and palpable historical atmosphere. “ xxx “Karez Irrigation - This museum is dedicated to the uniquely Central Asian–style irrigation system that includes hundreds of kilometres of above and underground canals, wells and reservoirs, much of it still working.”