Turpan
Oasis of the Grapevines
China's hottest town sits in a desert depression kept green by the ancient karez irrigation tunnels. Grape trellises shade whole lanes, the Jiaohe ruins preserve a Silk Road city in mud brick, and the Flaming Mountains burn red at dusk.
Don't miss
- Jiaohe, a 2,000-year-old mud-brick city
- Grape Valley trellises
- The Flaming Mountains
Best time to visit: April–June and September–October
Visas: Australian passport holders currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days — an arrangement scheduled to end on 31 December 2026, so confirm the rules for your travel dates.