Turpan, Xīnjiāng Uyghur Autonomous Region
Turpan, or Tŭlŭfān to the Chinese, to the east of Ürümqi is a small oasis city which has had an important place in the history of Xīnjiāng as nearby Gāochāng was once the Uyghur capital. Today, it is a pleasant spot in a region of grain fields and vineyards with several pedestrian streets and pavements covered by grapevine trellises. These trellises provide pedestrians with some comfort during the searing heat of summer when Turpan is the hottest place in China - the highest recorded temperature was 49.6ºC (121.3ºF).
Whilst Turpan itself is a nice place to chill out for awhile the main reason for visiting is to see the sights in the countryside, which include ancient ruined cities and the Huŏyàn Shān (Flaming Mountains).
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