Turpan Weather & Seasons - Best Time to Visit Turpan

☂ Temperature: 21°C ~ 44°C, hot

Turpan in summer is very hot. It is probably the hottest place in China. However, it is also the most popular season to travel there. Out of curiosity, some people want to find out how hot it can be! What's more important, it is the best time to enjoy the delicious grapes, which is another namecard of Turpan. If you travel Turpan in summer, try to arrange outdoor attractions in the early morning or late afternoon because you won't want to be exposed to the strong sunlight in the open area with no shade at a temperature of over 40°C. But at night, it is much cooler with a temperature of about 25°C.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Summer is the ripe season of all kinds of fruits. Have a taste of the succulent and renowned Turpan grapes.
2) Take a closer look at the ingenious Karez System and wash the torridity away with the cool water.
3) Escape the summer heat and learn more about the mysterious history of Turpan in Turpan Museum.

• What to Wear & Pack:
Regular breathable summer outfit such as T-shirt, blouse, skirt, and sneakers. Sunscreen cream, sunhat, and sunglasses are very important and necessary.

✔ Popular Turpan Tour: 5 Days Urumqi Discovery to Turpan and Heavenly Lake | 8 Days Xinjiang Classic Tour (Urumqi - Turpan - Kashgar)

☃ Temperature: -13°C ~ 17°C, very cold and dry

Turpan in winter is extremely cold, especially in December and January. There is little rainfall and it has a large temperature difference. So even in February when the temperature in the daytime climbs up a little, it is still cold at night. You may meet some snow days in winter. Besides, it’s the off-season of traveling Turpan, there will be much fewer tourists in the attractions.

• Seasonal Activities:
1) Visit regular historical and cultural sites such as Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez System, Bezeklik Caves, etc.
2) Appreciate the magnificent Flaming Mountain Grand Canyon.
3) Take a hike in the Kumtage Desert.

• What to Wear & Pack:
Winter coats, gloves, scarfs, leather jackets, down coats, woolen hats, sweaters, thermal clothes, etc. You can take some facial cream and hand cream to protect your skin from the dry weather.

✔ Popular Turpan Tour: 2 Days Turpan Essence Tour from Urumqi

Generally, a classic Turpan tour takes 2 ~ 3 days. If your time is limited, you can focus on the essence of Turpan City. We suggest you spend 1 day touring the highlights of Turpan City, such as Karez System - a magic project bringing out underground water to this barren land, Turpan Museum where lots of historical exhibits including mummies are collected and Jiaohe Ancient City - the world's largest and oldest city ruins, and another day exploring its attractive surroundings, including Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Cave with exquisite murals & profound Buddhist culture, Flaming Mountain Grand Canyon with breathtaking landform, and peaceful Mazar Village (in Tuyuk Valley) where people still live traditionally. If you have one more day, don't miss Kumtag Desert, a beautiful desert offering amazing desert landscape and many interesting activities (like jeep safari, desert hiking, desert surfing, etc.).

☛ 2 Days Turpan Essence Tour from Urumqi

Of course, it's far from enough if you just visit Turpan. Travelers always travel Turpan with Urumqi - the tourist center in northern Xinjiang together. It needs about 1~2 days to visit landmarks of Urumqi City, like Xinjiang Regional Museum, Red Hill Park and Erdaoqiao Grand Bazzar. Heavenly Lake, only 70 km away from Urumqi downtown is a must. If you are interested in Muslim culture and Silk Road culture, don't hesitate to go to Kashgar, one of Xinjiang's golden triangle tourist cities together with Turpan and Urumqi. In Kashgar, there is time-honored Kashgar Old City, yellow-tiled Id Kah Mosque, busy Grand Sunday Bazaar, etc.

☛ 5 Days Urumqi Discovery to Turpan and Heavenly Lake
☛ 6 Days Urumqi and Turpan Highlights Tour
☛ 8 Days Xinjiang Classic Tour (Urumqi - Turpan - Kashgar)

If your time allows, traveling along China's Silk Road is strongly recommended. You can trace the footprints of ancient travelers from Xian - China's old capital city of 13 dynasties, to Qinghai (Xining, Qinghai Lake), Gansu (Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang) and Xinjiang (Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar). An in-depth Silk Road tour can be 2 weeks long, but you can spend a shorter time admiring the essence at your own pace.

☛ 10 Days Classic Silk Road Tour (Xian - Dunhuang - Turpan - Kashgar)
☛ 11 Days In-depth Wild Silk Road Adventure Tour (Lanzhou - Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang - Urumqi - Kasgar)
☛ 12 Days Silk Road Tour from Beijing (Beijing - Xian - Dunhuang - Turpan - Urumqi)