Turpan

The Silk Road

One of the world's oldest and most historically important trade routes, the Silk Road played a significant role in the development of China. Helping to build a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, it linked traders, pilgrims, monks, soldiers and adventurers from China to the Mediterranean Sea for thousands of years. Visitors can now follow in the footsteps of these explorers and discover the achievements of ancient civilisations, whilst taking in the beauty of this rugged and remote region of China.

Turpan

Meaning “the lowest place” in the local Uighur language, Turpan is a fertile oasis in the province of Xinjiang, which shares a border with 8 countries. Highlights of Turpan include the Flaming Mountains and the Gaochang Ruins. The Flaming Mountains are so called because at certain times of the day, the powerful mixture of sun and shadows, turns them a fiery red, making them almost glow. South-east of Turpan lie the impressive ruins of Gaochang, a city which hwas once surrounded by 10 metre high walls. Once the capital of the Uigur people, the city was abandoned during the Ming Dynasty era.