3 Day Turpan Tour
1Day (B/L/D)
After breakfast,visit the ruins of ancient city Gaochang,ancient Astana Tombs.
Gaochang was an ancient Chinese city, located 30 km southeast of modern Turpan in Xinjiang. It played a key role as a transportation hub in western China. Gaochang was built in the 1st century BC and was an important site along the Silk Road. It was burnt down in wars in the 14th century. Old palace ruins and inside and outside cities can still be seen today.
ancient Astana Tombs The Astana Tombs are a series of underground tombs located 6km from the ancient city of Gaochang, and 42km from Turpan, in Xinjiang. The Astana tombs, where the nobles of Gaochang were buried, have turned up examples of silk cloth from China, as well as objects from as far afield as Persia and India. Much can be learned about the customs of the time from the objects found in these graves, and from the art work of the time, which has been excellently preserved on the tomb walls, due to the extremely dry conditions. The bodies themselves have also been well preserved, and may allow scientific studies to ascertain their origins.
Day 2 (B/L/D)
Today we will visit Beziklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes, the Flaming Mountains.
Beziklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes:The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are seventy caves dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert in China. The Bezeklik Thousand-Buddha Caves contain 67 caves, noted for their exquisite murals dating from the Northern and Southern dynasties (AD 317 – 589) to the Mongol Yuan 
dynasty (1279 – 1368).
Flaming Mountains:The Flaming Mountain lies 10 km east of Turpan City and is very famous because of the legendary Monkey King from the novel Journey to the West. According to this wonderful book, The Monkey King kicked over an elixir oven while fighting with gods in heaven. Charcoals from the oven fell onto the mountain and started a fire, hence, the name Flaming Mountain. In fact, the flaming mountains stretch 100km from east to west and is 10km wide, with the highest peak reaching 831metres. It is mainly composed of the arenaceous rock, conglomerate and mudstone of the Jurassic Period. When in summer the fiery sun beats down on the purple-colored mountains, an intense red glow is reflected from the mountainside, resembling a roaring flame.
After lunch, visit the ancient Jiaohe Ruins.
Jiaohe Ruins: ancient city can be seen in the Yaernaizi Valley in western suburbs of Turban City in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The valley was created by floods in remote antiquity and in its centre, there is a willow leaf-shaped platform which is 1650 metres long and 30 metres wide. Surrounded by steep rocks, the valley is about 30 meters deep.
Day 3 ( L )
After breakfast, take flight for Turpan and connect your flight for your next destination
