Encircled by the Turpan Flaming Mountains, lies the Turpan’s Grape Valley, a mere 5-kilometer straight-line drive (11-kilometer drive) northeast of the city. About 7 kilometers long with an opening of over 1 kilometer wide, it gets narrower when you proceed inward. It is a hub for Xinjiang travel, featuring parks, sites, resorts, villas, hotels, shops, restaurants, and gardens for an experience of lifetime leisure.
As one of the most important areas for growing grapes in the northwest, Xinjiang grows close to one-fifth of the country’s grapes, so Turpan has been nicknamed “Land of Grapes.” Even though the valley lies in the scorching Flaming Mountains’ hinterland, it is cool and hospitable. Its sandy land is ideal for grapes, particularly the early-ripe white varieties posted every May. These grapes are extremely sweet due to Xinjiang’s extreme daily temperature differences.
Fast Facts about the Grape Valley
- Location:About 15 kilometers from Turpan by road.
- Season:July to September is fruit harvest season. Winter season closed.
- Tickets:60 RMB
- Opening Time:09:30-19:30
Why Visit Grape Valley
Experience the Rich Local Culture
Turpan’s Grape Valley is not farming—it’s a living, breathing destination where work and life are one. Participate in the Uyghur folk dance or just soak up the infectious ethnic atmosphere as you walk around.
Buy Fresh, Local Goodies
Load up on plump grapes, rich wines, and jam freshly prepared. Take a bit of Xinjiang home with you—fresh fruit and smooth wines are ideal souvenirs.
Hike through Verdant Vineyards
Spanning more than 400 hectares of orchards, with half devoted to grape cultivation, scenery is almost too lovely to absorb. Take a walk down vines in ordered rows and photograph this legendary landscape.
Observed Craft in the Making
Visit local workshops and carpet stores and witness craftsmen at work yourself. Obtain handmade carpets or exotic handicrafts—impeccable souvenirs of your Turpan tour.
Bathe in the Valley Fruits
From succulent grapes to juice fresh off the presses and fine wines aged to perfection, turfs in Turpan’s Grape Valley offer the opportunity to indulge in every flavor this valley has to offer.
What to See and Do
Discover Avanti’s Legacy
Travel to Avanti’s ancient home and discover how this mythical Islamic figure fought for justice among the locals. Witness the lifestyle of ancient Turpan people, admire daily items from the Tang to Qing dynasties, and learn about the evolution of local agriculture and handicrafts.
Enjoy Davaz Folklore Garden
Located between the vertical cliffs of Flame Mountain in the east and the stunning waterfalls of Tianshan Mountain in the west, Davaz Folklore Garden is retro-style and multicolor scenery in the Grape Valley of Turpan. From May 1st each year on, thrill-seekers can experience high-altitude tightrope walking and other exciting performances.
Wang Lobin Music and Art Museum
Situated in Turpan’s Grape Gully Central Amusement Park, Wang Lobin Music and Art Museum is an ethnic-styled Xinjiang building. It showcases the lifelong works of renowned Chinese composer Wang Luobin, who was an expert in composing songs on ethnic themes. In this location, travelers are able to sense the unique cultural flavor and follow Wang Lobin’s creative process.
Participate in Grape Festival Festivities
Turpan Grape Festival is an optimal opportunity to feast on delicious grapes and relish wonderful activities including grape tasting, Darwazi performances, as well as Muqam people’s dancing. These events allow for thorough appreciations of this grape-plenished town’s traditional Uygur culture and make your tours in Grape Valley more profound.
Revel and Shop Grape Delicacies
With its grapes ranging from multi-hued to appetizing, Grape Gully is open for visits to sample crisp grapes and shop raisins as well as wine produced by locally grown grapes. Surprisingly enough, the raisins in Turpan are also globally famous because of their taste and sweetness.
Watching Grape Drying
In the shade houses of the grapevine, travelers can see grapes dehydrated and dried to raisins. Walls of such houses have tiny holes through which air moves and accelerates the process. Learn here about the special process of raisin production, enhancing your experience of the Uygur culture in Grape Valley of Turpan.
Weather of Grape Valley & Best Time to Visit
Weather of Grape Valley
Grapevine thrives in the Grape Valley in Turpan, which is well known for its unusual continental warm-temperate arid desert climate. It is among China’s hottest locations and was dubbing “Fire Island.” June to August sees the temperature as hot as it possibly can get, with the temperature going up to 53.2 ℃ and averaging around 38 ℃ in the Grape Valley. The vineyards are lush, though. The Karez irrigation system near Grape Valley taps the mountain snow melt, watering the vines and regulating the microclimate of the valley so that they stay healthy and well-watered even during the hot summer.
At the arrival of autumn, from November until winter, grape valley in Turpan experiences sudden drop in temperature, and mean values fall from -5°C to -10°C. Large temperature fluctuation not only lends sweetness and flavor to the grapes but also bestows a heavenly experience on travelers.
Best Time to Visit Grape Valley
The period from July through September is golden to visit Turpan’s Grape Valley.
In July, the grapes ripen gradually, carrying a seductive sweetness into the air that foretells the harvest. In August, the grapes are fully bloomed, offering the freshest and juiciest taste.
In addition, during this time, Turpan hosts a majestic Grape Festival. At the festival, tourists are able to sample many varieties of grapes. They can also engage in vibrant cultural activities, such as watching the breathtaking Dawaz aerial tightrope performances. During September, even after the grape harvesting season ends, the weather is still great, and it becomes feasible for tourists to stroll in the Grape Valley at ease and take in the serene countryside view.
How to Get to Grape Valley
- Bus Travel: For travelers traveling by public transportation, riding on the local bus line 5 is a convenient option. It takes you directly to the reception center of the Grape V
- Self-driving Adventure:If you prefer the freedom of self-driving, it is just an 18-minute drive from Turpan city to the Grape Valley, 8.8 kilometers away.
Nearby Attractions
- Karez Well System:It is the most significant water project in Turpan, and a place that people taking China Silk Road travel should not miss. This ancient engineering wonder comprises wells, tunnels, outlets, canals, and reservoir ponds, using the natural ground slope to transfer water upwards for agriculture, and to quench human and animal thirst.
- Tuyugou Grand Canyon: Not only does it offer stunning views over the Flaming Mountains, but it also features precious Buddhist cultural relics, so it is an excellent place to explore the culture and natural landscape of the ancient Silk Road.
