North and South Xinjiang Road Trip (6) Leisurely Stroll in Turpan

North and South Xinjiang Road Trip (6) Leisurely Stroll in Turpan Turpan May 30, 2023 Weather: Sunny, 28-16°C. We arrived late last night, went to bed late, and got up late this morning, so we planned a simple and relaxing day. Before leaving Shanshan, we went to the Kumtag Desert. Kumtag Desert Scenic Area (4A) is located in the south of Shanshan County. It is the only desert in the world that is connected to a city, known as the "desert in the city". The desert and the oasis are closely connected, creating the miracle of "the sand does not advance, the green does not retreat, and the people do not migrate". It is a national key scenic spot named by the State Council. Since there are more desert landscapes to see later, we did not enter the scenic area, but took some photos to experience the feeling of the coexistence of the city and the desert (Photos 1-3). We arrived in Turpan around noon and visited the Grape Valley and Karez Well in the afternoon. Grape Valley Scenic Area (5A) is a canyon at the foot of the Flaming Mountains, about 8 km long from north to south. The Buyiruk River flows through the valley, and its main water source is snowmelt from the mountains. It is named after the grapes produced here and is a tourist attraction in Turpan (Photos 4-6). The season has not yet arrived, and the fresh fruits are still ripening. Karez Well (4A), one of the three ancient projects in China, is a form of water conservancy summarized by the Uyghur people in their long-term production work. It is the third largest ancient project in China, after the Great Wall and the Grand Canal (Photos 7-9). The last two attractions are well-known, so I won't go into detail. I will go to bed early tonight, and head to the next stop, Bayingolin, tomorrow.