1. Introduction

Turpan City (Uyghur: تۇرپان شەھىرى‎, Latin Uyghur script: Turpan Shehiri) is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the eastern part of Xinjiang.

Historically known as Turpan, the meaning of its name is disputed. Some interpretations suggest it is a mixed Turkic and Hephthalite place name, meaning "land of long settlement." The city borders Urumqi City to the northwest, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture to the north, Hami City to the east, and Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture to the south and west. It lies on the southern foothills of the eastern Tianshan Mountains, with the northern half comprising the Turpan Basin and the southern half consisting of the Kumtag Desert and the Nanhu Gobi. To the north lies the Bogda Mountains, and to the south, the Kuruktag Mountains. The surface of Ayding Lake, located at the center of the Turpan Basin, is 154 meters below sea level, making it the lowest point in mainland China. The city covers a total area of 69,759 square kilometers, with a population of 651,900. The municipal government is located at No. 495, Lvzhou East Road, Gaochang District.

2. Etymology

The origin of the name "Turpan City" has multiple interpretations. One widely accepted explanation is that it derives from the Turkic word "Turpan," meaning "a place of abundance and fertility" or "a land rich in fruits." Additionally, some suggest that "Turpan" is a transliteration of the Uyghur word "Tulufan," which translates to "metropolis." Other scholars propose that the name may be related to the Old Uyghur language, signifying "the lowest place." Overall, the name of Turpan City reflects its rich historical and cultural background.

3. History

The indigenous people living in the Turpan Basin were the Gushi people. They established the Gushi (later known as Cheshi) Kingdom, the Huhu Kingdom, the Little Jin Fu Kingdom, the Cheshi Houcheng Chiefdom, and the Cheshi Duwei Kingdom in the Turpan Basin.

In the third year of the Jianyuan era of Emperor Wu of Han (138 BCE), Zhang Qian was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions to unite the various states there. Consequently, the Western Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu engaged in a prolonged and repeated struggle over Gushi. In the second year of the Shenjue era of Emperor Xuan of Han (60 BCE), the Protectorate of the Western Regions was established, dividing the original territory of the Cheshi people into eight states based on geographical features. Among these, the Cheshi Qian Kingdom was located south of the Bogda Mountains, within present-day Turpan. In the first year of the Chuyuan era of Emperor Yuan of Han (48 BCE), the Han Dynasty established the Wuji Colonel in the Cheshi Qian Kingdom, stationed at Jiaohe City, to oversee agricultural garrison affairs in the Western Regions.

During the Jin Dynasty, the Wuji Colonel was still stationed in Gaochang. After the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Former Liang was established in Liangzhou (present-day Wuwei, Gansu). In the second year of the Xianhe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (327 CE), Zhang Jun, the King of Former Liang, captured Gaochang and established Gaochang Commandery, setting up Tiandi County under the jurisdiction of Shazhou (present-day Dunhuang, Gansu). In the first year of the Taiyuan era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (376 CE), Fu Jian of the Former Qin destroyed the Former Liang. Gaochang Commandery came under the control of the Former Qin and was subordinate to Liangzhou. After the establishment of the Later Liang, Gaochang and the Cheshi Qian Kingdom became part of the Later Liang. In the first year of the Long'an era of Emperor An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (397 CE), Duan Ye, the Grand Administrator of Jiankang (southwest of present-day Jiuquan, Gansu) of the Later Liang, occupied Gaochang. In the fourth year of the Long'an era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (400 CE), Li Gao established the Western Liang, setting up a commandery in Gaochang, and the Cheshi Qian Kingdom became a vassal of the Western Liang. In the eighth year of the Yixi era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (412 CE), Juqu Mengxun established the Northern Liang. In 420 CE, he conquered and destroyed the Western Liang, and Gaochang changed hands to the Northern Liang, with the Cheshi Qian Kingdom submitting to it. In the fifth year of the Taiyan era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (439 CE), the Northern Wei destroyed the Northern Liang, and Kan Shuang declared himself the Grand Administrator of Gaochang. The remnants of the Northern Liang fled west to Shanshan (present-day Ruoqiang County). In the third year of the Taiping Zhenjun era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (442 CE), the remnants of the Northern Liang, led by Juqu Wuhui, captured Gaochang and changed the era name to Chengping the following year, proclaiming himself King of Liang. They also attacked the Cheshi Qian Kingdom from the west. In the eleventh year of the Taiping Zhenjun era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (450 CE), Juqu Anzhou allied with the Rouran to destroy the Cheshi Qian Kingdom.

In the first year of the Heping era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (460 CE), the Rouran killed the King of Gaochang, and the people of Gaochang installed Kan Bozhou as the King of Gaochang. In the fifth year of the Taihe era of Emperor Wen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (481 CE), the people of Gaochang installed Zhang Mengming as the King of Gaochang. In 496 CE, the people of Gaochang killed Zhang Mengming and installed Ma Ru as king. In 501 CE, the people of Gaochang killed Ma Ru and installed Qu Jia as king. Starting with Kan Bozhou, Turpan entered the period of the Gaochang Kingdom. In the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (640 CE), the Tang Dynasty sent Hou Junji, the Minister of Personnel, as the Grand Commander of the Jiaohe Dao Expeditionary Army to lead troops against Gaochang. After pacifying Gaochang, the Xichang Prefecture was established, later renamed Xizhou, and the Anxi Grand Protectorate was set up in Jiaohe City. In the second year of the Longshuo era of the Tang Dynasty (662 CE), Tibetan forces entered the Western Regions, initiating a prolonged struggle with the Tang Dynasty over the region. In the first year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (742 CE), Xizhou was renamed Jiaohe Commandery. In the first year of the Qianyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (758 CE), the original establishment of Xizhou was restored. The Tibetans and the Uighurs engaged in prolonged and repeated struggles over Xizhou, with the Uighurs eventually gaining control. In the seventh year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (866 CE), the Beiting Uighur leader Pugu Jun captured Xizhou and established the Gaochang Uighur Kingdom centered on Gaochang, with its capital at Gaochang City. This is historically referred to as the "Xizhou Uighurs" or the "Gaochang Uighurs."

Written on the twelfth day of the tenth month of the tenth year of the Tongqing era of Li Shengtian (October 31, 925 CE), the Dunhuang-discovered, Brahmi-script Khotanese document "Records of an Embassy to Hexi" contains the name "tturpaṃni kamtha" (Turpan City). This is the earliest documented record of the name Turpan. Some researchers interpret Turpan as a mixed Turkic and Hephthalite place name, meaning "land of long residence"[1]:35–36.

The Gaochang Uighurs were destroyed by the Western Liao. The Mongol Empire conquered the Western Liao and held the Chagatai Khanate, which later split into the Eastern Chagatai Khanate (Turpan Khanate) and the Western Chagatai Khanate (Yarkand Khanate).

In the nineteenth year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1754), the Qing court established the Turpan Jasagh Banner in Guazhou with the subjects of Emin Khoja. In the twentieth year of the Qianlong era (1755), the Qing court pacified the Dzungars and took control of the Turpan region. In the twenty-first year of the Qianlong era (1756), Emin Khoja led his people back to Lukchun (present-day Lukchun, Shanshan County). In the twenty-third year of the Qianlong era (1758), Emin Khoja was enfeoffed as a commandery prince.

In the twenty-fourth year of the Qianlong era (1759), the Qing established the Pichan (present-day Shanshan County town) Grand Minister Superintendent and Assistant Administrator, subordinate to the Gansu Provincial Administration Commission. Six cities in Turpan were established: Pichan (present-day Shanshan County town), Turpan City (southeast of present-day Turpan City), Lukchun, Segengmu (present-day Shengjin), Kara-Khoja, and Toksun. The Grand Minister Superintendent was stationed in Pichan. After the establishment of the Grand Minister Superintendent, Turpan implemented a dual system of military administration and the Jasagh system, with the Jasagh held by the commandery prince. In the thirty-sixth year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1771), the Pichan Patrol Office was established. In the forty-fourth year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1779), the Pichan Grand Minister Superintendent was changed to the Turpan Deputy Lieutenant General and Assistant Administrator, relocated to Guang'an City (present-day Old Town of Turpan City), moving the administrative center to Turpan City. In the tenth year of the Guangxu era (1884), Xinjiang was established as a province, and the Turpan Directly Administered Subprefecture was established, covering the areas of present-day Turpan, Shanshan, and Toksun. In the twenty-eighth year of the Guangxu era (1902), the Pichan Patrol Office was reorganized into Shanshan County, subordinate to the Turpan Subprefecture.

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913), the Turpan Directly Administered Subprefecture was reorganized into Turpan County, covering the areas of present-day Gaochang District of Turpan City and Toksun County. Together with Shanshan County, it was subordinate to the Dihua Circuit (present-day Urumqi) of Xinjiang Province. In the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), Turpan County and Shanshan County were placed under the Yanqi Circuit. In the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928), the county magistrate's office was renamed the county government, the county magistrate was renamed the county head, townships were established below the county level, and township heads were changed to agricultural officials. In the nineteenth year of the Republic of China (1930), the Toksun Administrative Bureau was established. In the twenty-fifth year of the Republic of China (1936), Toksun County was established. In the twenty-seventh year of the Republic of China (1938), Turpan, Shanshan, and Toksun counties were placed under the Dihua Special District. In the thirty-eighth year of the Republic of China (1949), Turpan County had 3 towns, 9 townships, 68 bao, and 795 jia; Shanshan County had 2 towns, 5 townships, 24 bao, and 196 jia; Toksun County had 1 town, 3 townships, 20 bao, and 120 jia. From 1950 to 1957, Turpan, Shanshan, and Toksun counties were subordinate to the Dihua Special District (later renamed Urumqi Special District) of Xinjiang Province. In 1958, the three counties became directly administered counties of the autonomous region. In 1970, Turpan County and Toksun County were placed under Urumqi City, while Shanshan County was placed under the Hami Prefecture.

In July 1975, the Turpan Prefecture was established, comprising Turpan, Shanshan, and Toksun counties. In December 1984, Turpan County was reorganized into the county-level Turpan City. On April 12, 2015, Turpan Prefecture was abolished, and the prefecture-level Turpan City was established, with the county-level Turpan City becoming the Gaochang District under the city's jurisdiction.

4. Geography

Turpan City is located in the central part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It borders Hami to the east; Hejing County, Heshuo County, Yuli County, and Ruoqiang County of the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture to the west and south; and is separated by the Tianshan Mountains from Urumqi City and Qitai County, Jimsar County, and Mulei County of the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture to the north. The region is approximately 240 kilometers wide from north to south and about 300 kilometers long from east to west, with a total land area of 69,759 square kilometers (of which 2,085 square kilometers are below sea level), accounting for 4.2% of Xinjiang's total land area. The regional administrative center is located in Gaochang District, 183 kilometers from Urumqi City.

Turpan City is an east-west oriented, olive-shaped intermountain basin in the eastern Tianshan Mountains, surrounded by mountains on all sides. The basin stretches 245 kilometers from the Alashan Gully mouth in the west to the western mouth of the Qijiaojing Gorge in the east. Its northern boundary is the foothills of the Bogda Mountains, and it reaches the Kuruktagh Mountains to the south, with a north-south width of about 75 kilometers. The Turpan Basin has experienced the geological periods of the Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Quaternary. During the Himalayan orogeny approximately 30 million years ago, the Bogda Mountains on the northern edge of the basin rose sharply, while the Kuruktagh Mountains on the southern edge rose to a lesser extent. The area between the two mountains faulted and subsided, eventually forming an asymmetrical basin that is higher in the north and lower in the south, wider in the west and narrower in the east. The Flaming Mountains and the remaining ranges of the Bortala Ula Mountains traverse the central part of the region, dividing it into northern and southern halves. The surface of Ayding Lake at the bottom of the basin is 155 meters below sea level, making it the lowest basin in China and the second lowest depression in the world, second only to the Dead Sea. Centered on Ayding Lake, the terrain is distributed in a ring-like pattern consisting of three concentric belts. The outermost ring is composed of high mountain snow ranges: the Bogda Mountains lie to the north; the Kuruktagh Mountains to the south; the Karawuqin Mountains to the west; and the Kuruktagh Mountains to the southeast. The middle ring of the basin is a Gobi gravel belt formed by long-term weathering and erosion of the mountains, transported by flowing water. The third ring of the basin is the oasis plain belt. Turpan City is rich in light and heat resources. The basin is dry with little rainfall, enjoys abundant sunshine, and has a frost-free period of up to 270 days. Annual sunshine hours total 3,200 hours. The region is known for producing cash crops such as grapes, Hami melons, long-staple cotton, and off-season vegetables.

Turpan City has a typical continental warm-temperate desert climate, characterized by abundant sunshine, rich heat but extreme dryness, scarce rainfall, and frequent strong winds, earning it the nicknames "Land of Fire" and "Wind Storehouse." The annual sunshine hours here range from about 3,000 to 3,200 hours, approximately 1,000 hours more than in eastern China at the same latitude. The annual solar radiation is 139.5–150.4 kilocalories per square centimeter, 15–20 kcal/cm² more than in North China and Northeast China at the same latitude, second only to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The annual average temperature is 13.9°C, with over 100 days per year exceeding 35°C. The extreme high temperature in summer is 49.6°C, with surface temperatures often above 70°C and a recorded high of 82.3°C. Local sayings include "eggs can be cooked in the sand" and "flatbread can be baked on stones." The extreme low temperature in winter is -28.7°C. Both daily and annual temperature ranges are large. The annual effective accumulated temperature above 10°C is over 5,300°C, and the long-term frost-free period is about 210 days. Due to the hot and dry climate, the area experiences drought and little rainfall, with an average annual precipitation of only 16.4 mm, while evaporation exceeds 3,000 mm.

Turpan City Meteorological Data (1981–2010)

Climate Data

Monthly Statistics

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| | Record high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) | 19.5 (67.1) | 31.7 (89.1) | 40.5 (104.9) | 43.6 (110.5) | 47.6 (117.7) | 48.1 (118.6) | 47.8 (118.0) | 43.4 (110.1) | 34.3 (93.7) | 23.0 (73.4) | 9.6 (49.3) | 48.1 (118.6) | | Average high °C (°F) | -1.8 (28.8) | 6.9 (44.4) | 17.0 (62.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 33.6 (92.5) | 38.4 (101.1) | 39.8 (103.6) | 38.4 (101.1) | 32.3 (90.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 9.9 (49.8) | -0.7 (30.7) | 21.9 (71.4) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -6.6 (20.1) | 0.9 (33.6) | 10.6 (51.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 26.3 (79.3) | 31.1 (88.0) | 32.5 (90.5) | 30.5 (86.9) | 23.9 (75.0) | 14.0 (57.2) | 3.6 (38.5) | -5.0 (23.0) | 15.1 (59.2) | | Average low °C (°F) | -10.6 (12.9)| -4.3 (24.3) | 4.5 (40.1) | 13.1 (55.6) | 19.3 (66.7) | 23.9 (75.0) | 25.6 (78.1) | 23.7 (74.7) | 17.4 (63.3) | 8.3 (46.9) | -0.8 (30.6) | -8.5 (16.7) | 9.3 (48.7) | | Record low °C (°F) | -28.9 (-20.0)| -24.5 (-12.1)| -10.4 (13.3) | -1.8 (28.8) | 4.7 (40.5) | 11.5 (52.7) | 15.5 (59.9) | 11.6 (52.9) | 1.3 (34.3) | -5.7 (21.7) | -17.8 (0.0) | -26.1 (-15.0)| -28.9 (-20.0)| | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.5 (0.02) | 1.0 (0.04) | 0.6 (0.02) | 1.3 (0.05) | 2.8 (0.11) | 2.3 (0.09) | 1.8 (0.07) | 1.8 (0.07) | 1.2 (0.05) | 0.9 (0.04) | 0.6 (0.02) | 15.3 (0.6) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 13.1 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 56 | 41 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 39 | 49 | 53 | 58 | 39 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 159.7 | 188.6 | 239.5 | 256.8 | 299.6 | 301.2 | 311.7 | 305.9 | 278.8 | 250.6 | 184.7 | 135.1 | 2,912.2 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine | 55 | 64 | 65 | 64 | 67 | 66 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 63 | 48 | 66 |

China Meteorological Administration (precipitation days and sunshine data from 1971–2000) mherrera.org (all extreme temperatures)

5. Regional Planning

Turpan City administers 1 district and 2 counties.

District: Gaochang District
Counties: Shanshan County, Toksun County

Administrative Divisions Map of Turpan City

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 650400 | Turpan City | Tǔlǔfān Shì | 69,759.31 | 693,988 | Gaochang District | 838000 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 1 | | | تۇرپان شەھىرى | Turpan Shehiri | -69,319.85 | | | | | | | | | 650402 | Gaochang District | Gāochāng Qū | 13,650.55 | 317,443 | Laocheng Subdistrict| 838000 | 3 | 5 | 4 | | | | قاراھوجا رايونى | Karahoja Rayoni | -13,533.48 | | | | | | | | | 650421 | Shanshan County | Shànshàn Xiàn | 39,547.72 | 242,310 | Shanshan Town | 838200 | | 7 | 3 | 1 | | | پىچان ناھىيىسى | Pichan Nahiyisi | -39,547.72 | | | | | | | | | 650422 | Toksun County | Tuōkèxùn Xiàn | 16,561.04 | 134,235 | Toksun Town | 838100 | | 7 | 1 | | | | توقسۇن ناھىيىسى | Toqsun Nahiyisi | -16,238.65 | | | | | | | |

6. Economy

Turpan City is a prefecture-level city in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, located in the eastern part of the Tianshan Mountains. It covers a total area of 6,971 square kilometers, with a permanent population of approximately 693,400 and an urbanization rate of 50.95%. The city's economy is based on agriculture, while industry and services are also continuously developing. In 2023, Turpan City achieved a regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 58.811 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.0%. This included a primary industry added value of 8.013 billion yuan, a secondary industry added value of 31.78 billion yuan, and a tertiary industry added value of 19.018 billion yuan.

The economic structure of Turpan City is being optimized, with the ratio of the three industries being 13.6:54.0:32.3. In agriculture, crop cultivation and animal husbandry are dominant. In 2023, the total agricultural output value increased by 6.1%, grain production grew by 17.0%, and cotton production rose by 7.1%. In industry, sectors such as coal mining, chemical raw material manufacturing, and power production performed prominently. Industrial added value increased by 14.1%, and the added value of industries above a designated size grew by 16.9%. In the service sector, industries such as wholesale and retail, transportation, accommodation, and catering showed significant growth, with service industry added value increasing by 5.2%.

Fixed asset investment in Turpan City grew significantly, with a 21.0% increase in 2023, of which industrial investment rose by 28.6%. The total retail sales of consumer goods reached 7.220 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.3%. Additionally, the city's total foreign trade import and export volume also increased, with the total value of goods import and export growing by 89.5%.

The economy of Turpan City has shown positive development trends across multiple sectors, while the urbanization process is steadily advancing, laying a solid foundation for future development.

7. Transportation

7.1 Railway

The main railway stations in Turpan are:

Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway: Turpan Station is located in Daheyan Town, Gaochang District, Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Built in 1960, it is a station on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway and the Southern Xinjiang Railway. Influenced by the political situation at the time, it was built far from the city center for military reasons. Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway: Turpan North Station opened on December 26, 2014, and is under the jurisdiction of China Railway Urumqi Group. The station area covers 150,000 square meters, with a station building area of 10,000 square meters. The station yard has a layout of 3 platforms and 8 tracks.

7.2 Highway

G30 Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway passes through the area. G3012 Turpan–Hotan Expressway has its kilometer zero starting point here. National Highway 312 passes through the area.

7.3 Aviation

Turpan Jiaohe Airport This airport is located between Daheyan Town and Qiquanhu Town in Gaochang District, Turpan City. It is the third 4E-class airport in Xinjiang. Because it is near Ayding Lake, the lowest land point in China, it is the airport with the lowest altitude in China and also the largest regional airport in the area. Turpan Airport is functionally positioned as the second airport for the capital city Urumqi and operates under merged management with Urumqi Diwopu International Airport. The terminal building of Turpan Jiaohe Airport covers an area of 5,300 square meters, with a designed annual passenger throughput of 400,000 and a cargo throughput of 1,300 tons.

7.4 Rail Transit

Turpan Rail Transit

8. Education

The education system in Turpan City covers all stages from preschool to higher education, with significant progress made in recent years in educational reform and infrastructure development. Turpan City has a total of 149 schools of various types, including kindergartens, primary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, and secondary vocational schools. Among them, Turpan Vocational and Technical College is the city’s only higher vocational institution, featuring multiple secondary colleges and programs that offer vocational and adult education.

Turpan City places emphasis on the development of preschool education, currently operating 228 kindergartens to ensure that children of appropriate age can enroll. The consolidation rate of compulsory education exceeds 95%, and balanced development of educational resources between urban and rural areas has been achieved. Additionally, Turpan City actively promotes special education, with special education schools established to provide educational services for students with special needs.

The Turpan municipal government attaches great importance to improving the quality of education. Through measures such as increasing investment, enhancing school conditions, and strengthening the teaching workforce, efforts are being made to achieve educational equity and high-quality development. At the same time, Turpan City has established educational cooperation with Hunan Province, sharing educational resources through initiatives like "linked schools and linked classes."

9. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 691,700, of which 342,100 were urban permanent residents. The urbanization rate was 49.46%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 693,988. Compared with the 622,903 people from the Sixth National Population Census, this represents an increase of 71,085 people over ten years, a growth of 11.41%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.09%. Among them, the male population was 368,442, accounting for 53.09% of the total population; the female population was 325,546, accounting for 46.91% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 113.18. The population aged 0–14 was 154,886, accounting for 22.32% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 466,868, accounting for 67.27% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 72,234, accounting for 10.41% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 47,993, accounting for 6.92% of the total population. The urban population was 333,295, accounting for 48.03% of the total population; the rural population was 360,693, accounting for 51.97% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 155,863, accounting for 25.02% of the total population, while various ethnic minority groups numbered 467,040, accounting for 74.98% of the total population.

Ethnic Composition of Turpan City (November 2010)

| Ethnic Group | Uyghur | Han | Hui | Tujia | Kazakh | Manchu | Mongolian | Yi | Dongxiang | Tibetan | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------------|------------|---------|---------|-----------|------------|------------|---------------|--------|---------------|------------|-------------------------| | Population | 429,527 | 155,863 | 35,078 | 430 | 399 | 276 | 273 | 233 | 126 | 124 | 574 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 68.96 | 25.02 | 5.63 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.09 | | Percentage of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | 91.97 | --- | 7.51 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.12 |

10. Religion

Turpan City, located in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, is a multi-ethnic area primarily inhabited by ethnic groups such as the Uygur, Han, and Hui. Due to historical, cultural, and geographical factors, the religious culture in Turpan City exhibits diverse characteristics, with Islam being the predominant religion, alongside the presence of Buddhism, Christianity, and others.

10.1 Islam

Main adherent ethnic groups: Uygur, Hui, etc.

Historical background: Since its introduction to Xinjiang in the 10th century, Islam gradually became the dominant religion in the Turpan region. Turpan was a crucial node on the ancient Silk Road, and Islam took root here through trade and cultural exchanges.

Religious sites: There are numerous mosques in Turpan City, serving as important venues for Muslims to conduct religious activities. Notable mosques include the Turpan Old City Mosque.

Religious activities: Muslims strictly adhere to the Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, and Hajj) and celebrate important festivals such as Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

10.2 Buddhism

Historical background: Turpan was one of the significant centers of ancient Buddhist culture. Before the introduction of Islam, Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Turpan region. Sites such as the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and the Ruins of Jiaohe bear witness to the flourishing of Buddhism in this area.

Current status: Today, Buddhism has a relatively minor influence in Turpan, primarily focused on the preservation and study of historical and cultural relics.

10.3 Christianity

Current status: Christianity has a small following in Turpan, mainly among the Han and other minority ethnic groups. There are a few Christian churches in Turpan City that provide religious services to believers.

10.4 Other Religions

Turpan City also has a small number of adherents to other religions, such as Taoism, but their scale and influence are limited.

10.5 Religious Policies

Turpan City strictly adheres to China's religious policies, safeguarding citizens' freedom of religious belief while managing religious affairs in accordance with the law to maintain religious harmony and social stability.

11. Culture

Turpan City's religious culture possesses profound historical heritage and diverse characteristics. The fusion of Islamic and Buddhist cultures has made Turpan an important region for the study of religious history and culture. The religious architecture, historical sites, and festival activities in Turpan are not only manifestations of religious beliefs but also vital components of the local cultural heritage.

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Turpan

Gaochang District

Gaochang District

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