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       Turpan has a significant past stemming from its relevance to the Silk Road. It is known for its uniqe landscape, abundance of historical places of interest, and the wealth of ethnic diversity. 

      The ancient city of Gaochang is located in proximity to the seat of the "Flamming Mountains" township, which is 46 kilometers southeast of the city of Turpan. The ancient city walls remain in tact for the most part. The walls divide the city into three areas-the inner city, the outer city, and the palace city. 

      What remains of the inner city are the outer walls, which run the length of 3 kilometers. What is remarkable is the state of preservation of the ancient walls.

      The palace city is rectangular in shape. The palace city once served at the court of the Huigu Gaochang Kingdom. 

      In the north central part of the inner city, stands a square pagoda, which was constructed of adobe. The structure was called, "Khan's Castle," which means "Imperial Palace." A two-story structure remains, which is presumed to be the palace ruins.

       In the southwestern portion of the outer city is a temple, which is 130 meters in length running east to west, 85 meters in width extending north to south, and which covers an area of 10,000 square meters. The temple consists of a preserved courtyard, arched entry gate, lecture hall, library of sutras, and a main dormitory for monks. A famous monk, Xuanzang, from the Tang Dynasty is believed to have lectured at the temple in the year, 628AD, on his way to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures. In close proximity to the temple are ruins of what were workshops and market sites. 

      What is truly remarkable is that construction of the City of Gaocheng commenced in the first century, BC. The ruins are remarkably well-preserved in consideration of the age of the city and that attempts were made to burn the city during the conflicts of the fourteenth century.

The Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves can be found 48 kilometers northeast of the Turpan urban area. They are located in the Mutou Valley. They were once named the Ningrong Grottos during the Tang Dynasty. There are 77 grottoes, forty of which still have intact murals. The grottos in Bizaklik have 1200 square meters of murals and the most diversified architectural styles. The oldest grottos were created in the period of Qushi Gaochang from the Tang Dynasty and continued to the thirteenth century in the Yuan Dynasty. During the prosperous era, the royal temple of King Xizhou Huigu was constructed on this site. Most of the existing grottos were expanded or reconstructed during this period.

       The existing murals depict the King and Queen of Juigu, and the lifestyles of the ancient Uygur people. There are inscriptions in Huigu, Chinese, and Brahmi languages, which provides a wealth of information regarding the history and the diverse culture and influences of China's ethnic people in ancient times.

      The Flaming Mountains are located in the mid portion of the Turpan Deparession. They run from east to west, and are an extension of the Tianshan Mountains. The folded formations, gullies and ravines were caused by movement of the Himalayas fifty million years ago, and from subsequent water and wind erosion. The red sandstone gives the mountains its reddish hues. During the summer, the scorching sun beats down on the red sandstone, which causes the sunlight to flash as if on fire, thus the name. The unusual formations and color provide an incredible sight. 

      The Karez is an ancient irrigation system, which is still in use. Although the land is sandy, and the weather is dry, the local people have devised a system, which employs the incline of the land, and which is sourced by underground water. The Karez is composed of four sections, the vertical well, the underground canal, the surface canal, and the pond. The system is comprised of 1000 Karez with a total length of 5,000 kilometers. The irrigation system has converted arid land into a fertile agricultural area, which is known for its succulent fruits.

      The Astana Ancient Tombs can be found 40 kilometers southeast of Turpan and six kilometers from Gaochang. The full name, Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs, is derived from the Uygur term, Astana, which means capital, and Karakhoja, which is the name of a mythical hero from the Uygur Kingdom. Karakhoja is said to have freed the Kingdom from evil by slaying a dragon. 

      The tombs were the burial place for the nobles, officials and dignitaries of the Kingdom. The period of the tombs extends from the beginning of the Western Jin to the middle of the Tang Dynasty. The tombs, however, do not contain the remains of King Gaochang. The majority of the corpses are remarkably preserved. Due to the climatic conditions of the area, many of the paintings, statues, and thousand of cultural relics are so well preserved that they have retained their original coloration. The unearthed dumplings are almost as fresh as if they had been made today. Three of the tombs are open to the public. Visitors can see the actual mummies, the colorful murals of the burial chambers, and the artifacts of the era.

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