Turpan Wine Route
Turpan is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, yet wine has been made here for 2,000 years.
Chapter 7 of Silk Road Wine Trail · China
The stops
- Tour · Price: low Turpan Grape Valley Historic grape-growing oasis in China's hottest, lowest depression. Table grapes have been cultivated here since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Walk through traditional grape-drying houses where green grapes become golden raisins.
- Tasting · Price: moderate Loulan Winery Named after the ancient Silk Road oasis city of Loulan, this winery produces wines from Turpan's extreme desert climate. The 2,300-year history of viticulture in Xinjiang meets modern winemaking.
- Tasting · Price: moderate Silk Road Winery Turpan Proudly bearing the Silk Road name, this winery embraces Turpan's role as the eastern terminus of the ancient trade route. Extreme heat and cold create unique wine styles.
- Tour · Price: low Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves Buddhist cave complex from 5th-14th centuries carved into cliffs above the Mutou River valley. Murals show wine consumption in Buddhist rituals before Islamic conversion.
- Tour · Price: low Jiaohe Ancient City Ruins UNESCO World Heritage site - largest and best-preserved earthen city in the world. This 2,000-year-old garrison town controlled the Silk Road wine grape trade through the Turpan Depression.
- Tasting · Price: high Citic Niya Turpan Vineyard Premium producer from China's largest wine company (Citic Guoan Wine). The Turpan vineyard produces some of Xinjiang's most internationally recognized wines from extreme desert terroir.
The story
The secret? Karez - ancient underground irrigation channels that bring mountain snowmelt to the desert. Vines are buried in winter to survive, creating a unique viticultural calendar.
Plan the trip
Insider tip The Grape Valley is touristy but the raisin-drying houses are fascinating - and the sweet wine is better than expected.
Getting there and around
- Car required
- Yes
- Parking
- Free at all sites. Parking in shade when possible.
- Nearest airport
- Turpan Jiaohe Airport (TLQ) - 30 min to city
- Drinking and driving
- Hire driver with AC car (~¥400-600/day). Drink water constantly - dehydration risk.
- Other airports
-
- Ürümqi Diwopu International (URC) - 2.5 hr by train/car
- Without a car
- Organized tours from Ürümqi available. Local taxi hire possible but hot.
Where to stay
- Base yourself in
- Turpan
- Why there
- Only city in the depression with hotels. All wineries within 30-50 km.
- Booking tip
- Book AC hotels only. Power outages happen - bring portable fan.
- Nightly range
- ¥200-800 ($30-120)
Recommended stays
- Budget
- Turpan hostels near Grand Bazaar - basic but cool AC
- Luxury
- Huozhou Grand Hotel - best in town, pool for evening relief
- Mid-range
- Silk Road Hotel Turpan - decent facilities, good location
- Vineyard stays
- None in Turpan - too hot for vineyard stays
What it costs
- Includes
- Accommodation, transport, tastings, meals, site entry
- Meals
- ¥50-150 per day
- Per person
- ¥1,500-3,000 ($220-440)
- Ways to spend less
-
- Combined tickets for UNESCO sites save money
- Street food (lamb skewers, naan) is cheap and excellent
- Buy water in bulk - you'll drink 3-4L daily minimum
- Organized tours from Ürümqi are efficient
- Tasting fees
- ¥50-200 per winery
Booking and timing
- Lead time
- 1-2 weeks for wineries, day-of for sites
- Closed days
- Wineries may close for harvest (Sep-Oct) - call ahead
- Peak season
- Avoid July-August (45°C+). May-June, Sep-Oct ideal.
- Best time of day
- Start at 7 AM, rest 1-4 PM, continue until sunset
- Group size
- Small groups (2-4) work best for winery visits
Where to eat
- Lunch
-
- Grape Valley restaurants - tourist but convenient
- Turpan night market (opens 8 PM when cool)
- Dinner
-
- Grand Bazaar area - lamb, naan, polo rice
- Uyghur restaurants in old town
- Winery restaurants
-
- Citic Niya has lunch facilities
If your time is short
- If you only have one day
- If it rains
- Rain is extremely rare - but Loulan/Silk Road winery cellars are cool
- Skip if time is short
Mistakes to avoid
-
- Never underestimate the heat - 45°C is life-threatening without preparation
- Don't skip the water - dehydration can happen in under an hour
- Don't visit midday (1-4 PM) - even locals rest during extreme heat
- Don't expect world-class wine - Turpan is about history and experience
- Don't miss Jiaohe ruins - most impressive Silk Road site in the region
Worth stopping for
-
- Grape Valley: Early morning for soft light through vine trellises
- Jiaohe ruins: Golden hour (7-8 AM or 6-8 PM) for dramatic shadows
- Raisin-drying houses: Interior light creates beautiful patterns
- Flame Mountains: Midday shows the red heat shimmer effect