1. Overview of Turpan’s Overall Transportation
Turpan is a core tourist city on the ancient Silk Road in eastern Xinjiang, positioned at the transportation junction of northern and southern Xinjiang. It has a complete three-dimensional transport system including air, high-speed rail, ordinary railway, highway and urban traffic. Most scenic spots are scattered in the suburbs within 40 km of downtown Turpan; chartered cars with local drivers are the most recommended travel method for sightseeing due to scattered attractions and extreme high temperature in summer.
2. Arrival Transportation (How to Get to Turpan)
2.1 By Air: Turpan Jiaohe Airport (IATA Code: TLQ)
Location: Northwest suburban Turpan, merely 500 meters away from Turpan North High-speed Railway Station, with a 10-minute walk passage connecting the two transport hubs.
Air routes: Operate direct flights to Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Urumqi, Kashgar and other domestic cities. Most international tourists fly to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport first, then transfer by high-speed train to Turpan for higher efficiency.
City transfer: Taxi to downtown costs 35–80 CNY (30 mins); take Bus No.2 / K2 from Turpan North Station to urban area for only 2 CNY per person.
2.2 By Train (Most Popular Choice for Tourists)
(1) Turpan North Railway Station (Turpanbei Station, High‑speed Rail Station)
The primary entry for tourists, situated 10–15 km northwest of downtown.
Urumqi ↔ Turpan: High-speed trains run frequently with a travel time of only 1–1.5 hours, ticket price 30–90 CNY. It is the mainstream day-trip transport from Urumqi.
Downtown transfer: Taxi fare 20–30 CNY (10–15 mins); public buses are available at the station square.
(2) Old Turpan Railway Station (Ordinary Train Station)
Located in Daheyan Town, around 50 km from urban Turpan, mainly serving regular slow trains to Kashgar, Hotan, Korla and inland long-distance trains. Taxi to the city center takes 50–60 mins at 90–100 CNY; shared taxis cost 20–30 CNY per passenger.
2.3 By Highway & Long-distance Bus
National highways G312, G314 and Urumqi–Turpan Expressway run through Turpan. Self-driving from Urumqi takes roughly 2 hours (230 km).
Long-distance coaches depart from Urumqi South Bus Station to Turpan bus terminal with stable daily schedules.
3. Intra-city & Scenic Spot Transportation in Turpan
3.1 Public City Buses
Fare: 1–2 CNY per trip; operating hours 06:30–22:00. Alipay & WeChat payment are supported besides cash.
Shortcoming: Bus routes do not cover remote scenic sites like Flaming Mountain, Jiaohe Ruins and Kumtag Desert, only suitable for downtown trips (Turpan Museum, Grand Bazaar).
3.2 Taxis & Ride-hailing
Taxis are easy to hail on streets; Didi (Chinese ride-hailing app) works well in downtown areas. It is suitable for short-distance transfers between hotels, railway stations and urban markets. Prepare Chinese names of destinations to show drivers for smooth communication.
3.3 Chartered Car with Local Driver (Top Pick for Sightseeing)
Price reference: 5-seat sedan 350–400 CNY/day (includes driver service & fuel); van for groups costs 400–500 CNY/day. Drivers are familiar with all scenic spots and can act as basic tour guides.
Advantage: Flexible schedules to avoid midday extreme heat; reasonably arrange visits to Grape Valley, Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda, Flaming Mountain and ancient city ruins in proper time windows.
3.4 Tourist Shared Minibus
Fixed scenic loop routes departing from downtown tourist center, 80–150 CNY per person for a full-day route. Cheaper than private charters but with fixed schedules without free activity time.
3.5 Self-driving Rental
Rental car fee about 450 CNY/day plus fuel costs. Suitable for experienced drivers; pay attention to straight desert highways and high-temperature vehicle protection. Parking fee at most scenic spots is 10 CNY per dayTrip.com.
4. Essential Travel Notices for Turpan Visitors
🔸 Traffic Safety Rules
Never take unlicensed black cars at railway stations or scenic spot gates; sign written agreements when hiring chartered vehicles to confirm covered scenic spots, service hours and fees.
Desert and mountain roads have strong sunlight reflection; drive cautiously with sunshades and avoid driving at noon in summer.
Kumtag Desert in Shanshan County is nearly 90 km from Turpan downtown; reserve enough travel time for cross-district toursTrip.com.
🔸 Extreme Heat & Physical Protection (Core Reminder)
Turpan is known as the “Fire Land”. Surface temperature exceeds 50℃ from July to August, and ultraviolet intensity is extremely high.
Go out before 8:00 or after 16:00 to visit open-air relics (Jiaohe Ruins, Gaochang Ruins, Flaming Mountain).
Must equip SPF50+ sunscreen, UV-proof clothing, wide-brim hats, face masks and polarized sunglasses; replenish water frequently to prevent heatstroke.
🔸 Payment & Communication Tips
Cash is still partially needed in remote scenic areas; mobile payment works well in downtown, hotels and formal restaurants. Download offline maps in advance as mobile signals weaken in wilderness ruins.
🔸 Sightseeing Etiquette
Do not damage the ancient earthen relics of Jiaohe and Gaochang cities; follow designated touring paths. Obtain permission before photographing local Uyghur residents.
🔸 Best Travel Season
May–June and September–early October have mild temperatures; June to September is the grape ripening season with abundant local fruits, being the peak tourist period.
🔸 Emergency Contact
Turpan Tourist Complaint Hotline: +86-995-12301
Turpan Emergency Call: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance)
|
上一篇：
发表、查看更多关于该信息的评论 
将本信息发给好友 
打印本页
