Karez Folk Culture Park is located in Xinchengximen Village, Gaochang District, Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, about 3 kilometers from downtown Turpan. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction themed on displaying Karez culture and Uyghur folklore. Covering an area of about 40 mu, the park consists of three parts: Karez Ruins Area, Folk Culture Area, and Grape Planting Area, serving as a comprehensive park integrating cultural display, folk experience, and science education.
The park features the deep integration of Karez water conservancy projects and Uyghur folk culture. Visitors can not only visit the structure of Karez such as vertical shafts and underground channels but also experience folk activities like traditional dwellings and handicraft making. The park retains a 200-meter-long Ming Dynasty Karez ruin, one of the relatively intact ancient Karez in Turpan.
History and Culture
Xinchengximen Village, where Karez Folk Culture Park is located, is one of the birthplaces of Turpan's Karez culture. According to historical records, the local Karez system was first built in the Ming Dynasty, with a history of more than 400 years. The Records of Western Regions in the Qing Dynasty once detailed the excavation technology and irrigation network of Karez here, serving as important physical materials for studying the water conservancy history of the Western Regions.
The establishment of Karez Folk Culture Park can be traced back to 2002 when it was expanded from the original Karez into a cultural park to protect local Karez ruins and inherit folk culture. In 2006, the Karez ruins in the park were listed in the national intangible cultural heritage list together with Turpan Karez.
The Folk Culture Area in the park restores the living scenes of a 19th-century Uyghur village, including buildings such as adobe houses and handicraft workshops. Among them, the century-old residence "Aji's Home" has a history of 120 years and is a living specimen for studying local residential architecture.
Main Attractions
Karez Ruins Exhibition Area
This core attraction displays the complete structure of Karez, including vertical shafts, underground channels, open canals, and Laoba (waterlogging dams). The vertical shaft is 30 meters deep, and visitors can go down to the 10-meter-deep underground channel corridor through stairs. The corridor is about 150 meters long, 1.2 meters wide, and 1.8 meters high, maintaining a constant temperature of 18°C and a humidity of about 55% all year round. The exhibition area also displays Karez excavation tools such as Kantuman and oil lamps as cultural relics.
Folk Culture Village
Covering an area of about 10 mu, the Folk Culture Village has 8 traditional Uyghur residences, including the century-old house "Aji's Home", handicraft workshops, and folk exhibition halls. The village displays cultural elements such as Uyghur marriage customs, costumes, and musical instruments, with folk artists performing Twelve Mukam songs and dances at 11:00 and 15:00 daily. In the handicraft workshops, visitors can watch traditional crafts such as pottery making and carpet weaving and even participate in the experience.
Grape Corridor and Karez Museum
The 300-meter-long Grape Corridor is planted with 15 kinds of grapes such as Seedless White and Kashgar, forming a natural green shade in summer. At the end of the corridor is the Karez Museum, which houses Karez models, historical documents, and archaeological findings. The most precious one is the replica of the Karez water conservancy map from the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. The museum demonstrates the water source formation principle and irrigation system of Karez through multimedia equipment.
Laoba Landscape and Farmland Experience Area
It restores the terminal Laoba (water storage pond) of Karez, covering an area of about 500 square meters, with drought-resistant plants such as reeds and tamarisks planted around. The downstream of Laoba is connected to a 20-mu farmland experience area, displaying the growth process of crops such as grapes and cotton irrigated by Karez. Visitors can participate in farming experiences such as grape pruning and irrigation.
Delicacies
Raisins and Fresh Grapes
The Seedless White grapes planted in the park's Grape Corridor have a sugar content of up to 65%, with a sweet taste when fresh. They can be picked from July to September at about 20 yuan per kilogram. The naturally sun-dried raisins are plump, sold at 35-50 yuan per kilogram. It is recommended to purchase the "Shushanghuang" raisins air-dried in drying houses.
Uyghur Roasted Buns
The roasted bun shop in the Folk Culture Village bakes mutton buns daily, with mutton and onion fillings, baked in a nan pit for 15 minutes. The outer skin is crispy, and each bun is sold for 6 yuan, which is better paired with brick tea. Only 200 buns are supplied daily, and it is recommended to buy before 12:00.
Hand-Pulled Rice
The Hand-Pulled Rice in the park's restaurant is made of local mutton, carrots, and raisins, cooked for 40 minutes per pot, oily and tasty. The average consumption is 30 yuan per person, and rice can be added for free. It is served from 12:00 to 14:00 daily, and advance booking is required during holidays.
Nan and Earthen Pot Yogurt
Sesame nan and green onion nan are made on-site in the folk workshops, sold at 4 yuan each, with a shelf life of 5 days. The earthen pot yogurt is fermented by traditional methods, with moderate acidity, served with honey at 10 yuan per bowl. The park's store supplies only 100 bowls daily.
Tickets
The ticket price is 30 yuan per person. There are no mandatory consumption items in the park, but folk experience activities such as pottery making require additional fees of about 30 yuan per person. Subject to the actual price of the scenic area.
As of May 29, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.
Opening Hours
The park is open year-round, with opening hours of 09:00-19:00 (summer: April 1-October 31) and 10:00-18:00 (winter: November 1-March 31 of the following year). During the grape picking season (July 15-September 15), it is open until 20:00. Folk performances are at 11:00 and 15:00 daily, each lasting 30 minutes. Subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tour Route
After entering from the park gate, visitors first visit the Karez Museum to understand the historical background, then enter the underground corridor through the vertical shaft to visit the Karez underground channel structure; after exiting the underground, go to the Laoba Landscape Area to watch the Karez water flow to the farmland; then stroll through the Grape Corridor to experience picking (if in season); after that, go to the Folk Culture Village to visit century-old residences and watch Twelve Mukam performances; finally, participate in pottery making or buy special food in the handicraft workshops. The whole tour is recommended to take 2-3 hours, and it can be extended to half a day if participating in farming experiences.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Bus No. 1 or 101 in Turpan urban area to Xinchengximen Village Station, then walk 400 meters to the park, about 15 minutes' drive, fare 1-2 yuan.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from downtown Turpan to the park costs about 10 yuan, 10 minutes' drive; from Turpan North Station, it costs about 25 yuan, 20 minutes' drive.
- Self-driving: There is a free parking lot at the park entrance, accommodating 30 small cars. Drive 3 kilometers west along National Highway 312 from the urban area to arrive.
- Tourist Route: The "Karez-Grape Valley" one-day tour route opened by Turpan Tourist Service Center includes park tickets, costing about 120 yuan per person, which can be booked online.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Karez Ruins Exhibition Area: A 150-meter underground channel corridor to experience ancient water conservancy projects firsthand, with a vertical shaft depth of 30 meters, the core experience project of the park.
- Folk Culture Village: 8 traditional residences displaying Uyghur folklore, with two daily Twelve Mukam performances, and the century-old house "Aji's Home" has a history of over 120 years.
- Grape Corridor: A 300-meter corridor planted with 15 kinds of grapes, available for picking from July to September, paired with the Karez Museum to learn water conservancy knowledge.
Tour Tips
- When visiting in summer, carry SPF30+ sunscreen and a sun hat. The underground corridor is slippery, so anti-slip shoes are recommended.
- Advance reservation is required for pottery making experience, limited to 10 people per session, lasting about 1 hour, 30 yuan per person, and works can be taken away.
- It is recommended to go before 10 am during the grape picking season when the grapes taste best. The picking fee includes 200 grams of grapes to take away.
- Sit in the front row to watch the Twelve Mukam performance. After the performance, you can take photos with the artists, but please ask politely.
- Combine with surrounding attractions. You can connect with Grape Valley (5 km from the park) and Jiaohe Ancient City (8 km from the park) for a one-day tour.
Notes
- The underground corridor has steep steps. The elderly and children need to be accompanied by family members, and running and playing are prohibited.
- Smoking is prohibited in the park, especially in underground closed areas, with a fine of 50 yuan for violations.
- When purchasing special products like raisins, it is recommended to buy from designated stores in the park to avoid short weight at roadside stalls, and you can request an invoice.
- When photographing folk performances or local residents, obtain consent first to avoid disputes.
- There are many mosquitoes in the park in summer; carry mosquito repellent. In winter, the parking lot ground is prone to icing, so vehicles should pay attention to anti-skid measures.
- In case of strong wind and sand weather, the underground corridor may be temporarily closed. It is recommended to check the weather forecast before traveling.