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1997
Route in China (CHINA - Turfan)
Bec2004-09-19 17:07:45
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Turfan
Getting here from Dunhuang was not easy. I took a 150 km minibus ride to Liuyuan where I caught a night train that dropped me off at Daheyan at 3:30 AM where I had to find another minibus in pitch black darkness to get to Turfan, 35 kms away.
The Turfan (or Turpan) depression lies below sea level and receives practically no rain. It is a very hot and inhospitable place but men have built up an oasis here by bringing ground water through underground irrigation channels connecting long lines of wells leading to the surrounding hills. Some of the "karez" were built 2 000 years ago and have been maintained ever since. A similar system of wells called "qanat" has been in use in Persia for an equally long time.
With water comes an abundance of fruit, particularly melons, apricots and grapes. Grapes grow so well here that they provide shade for the city center streets. The local population is overwhelmingly Uighur and Muslim. Consequently they use all those grapes to make raisins instead of wine. Several ancient sites in the region attract enough visitors to make the tourist industry a major source of income. Prices are very reasonable however. My dormitory bed here at the Oasis hotel cost only 2.70 US$. Other travellers staying here and I formed a group of six to hire a minibus for a day's sightseeing.
Gaochang
Ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang
The Han Dynasty built military outposts in the depression in 90 BC after decades of fighting for control of the oasis with the Hsiung-nu who remained a serious threat for two centuries. A large garrison was maintained by the Han in the fortified town of Gaochang (known as Kiu-che by the Han and as Kara Khoja by the Tang) 45 kms east of Turfan. Another was installed in Jiaohe (originally called Yark Hoto) 18 kms west of Turfan.
Turfan
Restored prayer hall symbolically joining
...
See photographs from:
China Gallery
