My Urumqi Turpan Trip
July 01, 2009
8:30am
Today is our last day on our study trip in Xinjiang. Tomorrow we will leave Urumqi and return to Beijing. Our trip today is the round trip from Urumqi to Turpan and back to Urumqi in one day. Again it is a hard day for us.
On the way, wee see the salt lake on our right side at Chaiwopu Basin about 20km north of Daban town. It is dubbed the Dead Sea of China. Indeed, with waters rich in salt and other healthy minerals, this lake is gaining popularity as a convenient and economic weekend getaway. A big salt factory is built to make salt.
On the 200km drive from Urumqi to Turpan, we also pass by Daban City, a small town made famous by the noted Xinjiang folk song writer - Wang Luobin. Wang Luobin is a famous Han Chinese songwriter who specialized in composing Mandarin folk songs. Wang is honored as the Father of northwest Chinese folk songs. With his abundant musical legacy of more than 700 beautiful pieces -he will never be forgotten. many tourists will stop at Daben City. Why Daban City? The song of "The famous song Girl of Daban City" composed by Wang Luobin is an interesting story attracting people to come here to see the beautiful girls in Daban City.
We don't stop at Daban City. But we do see the largest Wind Power Plant at Daban area, the largest wind power plant in Asia. Daban is situated in the valley on the east edge of the Tianshan Mountain, actually a huge crack in the mountain - a perfect place for wind power.
11:30 - 12:30
We arrive at Turpan at 12:30 and directly go to Jiaohe Ruins. The Jiaohe Ruins is the site of an ancient city found, 10 km west of the city of Turpan. It is loacted on an island between two rivers, hence the name of "Jiaohe" "the confluence of two rivers." It was first built about 2,000 years ago and for a long period of time, was controlled by the residents of Gaochang.
12:30 - 13:30
Then we visit Karez Well. It is a local Turfan water system, called karez well in Turfan. It is a qanat system that has been regarded as one of the three greatest water projects of ancient China together with the Du Jiang Yan Irrigation System and Grand Canal.
13:30 - 14:30
Buffet lunch is arranged at Huozhou Hotel, a 4 star hotel in Turpan. This is a very nice hotel, a good choice to stay if I come next time. But if you prefer more local features, you may choose Turpan Hotel.
14:30 - 17:30
This morning all our activities are in the west area of Turpan. This afternoon's tour is in the east of Turpan - Grape Valley and Flaming Mountain.
Grape Valley is situated in the Flaming Mountain 13 km east of Turpan, the Grape Valley is 8km long from north to south and 0.5km wide. This green paradise of 400 hektares is covered with layer upon layer of grapes.
The Flaming Mountains are barren, eroded, red sandstone hills in the east of the city of Turfan. The mountain climate is harsh and the temperature is extremely hot in the summer, the hottest site in China.
20:00 - 21:00
Back to the city center of Urumqi, we are arranged to enjoy the fantastic folk performance over the yummy buffet dinner at Mukamu Theatre.
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