The Grape Festival is not just an ode to Turpan`s most important agricultural product, but a chance to celebrate the local way of life. Expect plenty of cultural treats in this remote corner of Xinjiang China.Turpan Xijiang is a Silk Road settlement, populated by Muslim Uigur people, forgotten by China and loved by the travellers who make it there. This oasis town in Eastern Xinjiang is picturesquely covered in vine trellises, shading the friendly locals from some of the fiercest heat in China. Almost every household has a hand in the grape business and the markets are full of sweet dried raisins. Its a relaxing place where donkey carts still outnumber cars, but it livens up in April each year.
China Tour Select can help you to retrace Marco Polos footsteps, and desert landscapes once traversed by Silk Road caravans still run riot with the imagination. The history of the region recalls names like Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun and even Alexander the Great. Nearby are several ruined cities and Buddhist caves.
The real interest, though, is the Uigur people themselves and how they have managed to retain their identity under Communist China. Uigur food is more Central Asian than Chinese, reflecting the harsh surroundings, and the language is actually a dialect of Turkish. Like the Tibetans, but without the high profile, the Uigurs are not so happy being welcomed back to the motherland.
China Tour Select can help you to retrace Marco Polos footsteps, and desert landscapes once traversed by Silk Road caravans still run riot with the imagination. The history of the region recalls names like Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun and even Alexander the Great. Nearby are several ruined cities and Buddhist caves.
The real interest, though, is the Uigur people themselves and how they have managed to retain their identity under Communist China. Uigur food is more Central Asian than Chinese, reflecting the harsh surroundings, and the language is actually a dialect of Turkish. Like the Tibetans, but without the high profile, the Uigurs are not so happy being welcomed back to the motherland.
Turpan Xijiang Travel Tips:
Time: April 20-26 every year
Venue: Turpan, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region
Recommended Tour: China Silk Road Including Turpan