The Karez Well System is an ancient underground irrigation network in Turpan, Xinjiang, built to collect and transport mountain water through the desert. It not only offers local residents a steady supply of drinking water, but also serves as an important lifeline for agricultural irrigation, showcasing the incredible ingenuity of local communities.
Before visiting it during your Xinjiang trip, learn about how it works, what you can see and do, transportation options and the best time to visit in this guide.
Facts about Karez Wells
- Location: Turpan Basin, Xinjiang
- Ticket Price: CNY 40/USD 6 for each scenic area
- Opening Hours: Vary by scenic area
- Length: It spans an amazing 3,200 – 3,400 kilometers (about 2,000 – 2,100 mile)
- Tour Time: 1 – 2 hours for each scenic area.
- Highlights: Walking the underground canal, Karez Museum exhibits, Miyimu-Aji Karez Well
- Ideal For: History lovers, engineering fans, and anyone curious about how desert farming actually works.
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What is Karez System
The karez well system in Xinjiang isn’t just for watering crops in dry places like the Turpan Basin. It also tackles the intense heat, where evaporation makes open irrigation channels a no-go. A clever new approach was needed to get mountain water to the flatlands.
It is a special underground way to water fields in Xinjiang, mainly seen in arid areas. It uses four key parts: deep wells, hidden tunnels, ground channels, and small ponds to hold water. Locals dug long tunnels underground to bring mountain water to their fields, helping with farming and keeping people and animals hydrated.
Back in the Iron Age, they used basic tools, buckets, and animals to dig and keep the karez well system in good shape, showing off their smarts and hard work. It wasn’t just vital for trade on the old Silk Road; it’s still important for watering crops today.
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How Karez System Works
The karez well system in Xinjiang travel isn’t just about getting water to farmlands. It’s an underground network, mainly with vertical wells, tunnels, surface channels, and retention dams.
Karez water system lets people draw water with buckets from wells spaced 20 to 70 meters apart, or enter tunnels for maintenance. These wells link to tunnels that guide mountain groundwater to lower farmlands. Tunnel areas are marked by earthen mounds, like giant ant hills on the horizon.
The system design tackles rapid evaporation in Turpan’s hot, dry climate, letting water flow miles to crops. Water starts high in the mountains, flows deep underground, making tunnels long. Above ground, channels make it easy to get water for irrigation, near farms or homes. Water retention dams store water for fields, often near trees that offer extra water.
Ancient Chinese engineers built karez wells with two methods to keep tunnels straight and avoid bends that could cause problems. Without a compass, they still got tunnel directions right, bringing water to crops effectively.
What to See and Do in the Karez Well System
The Karez Well System in Xinjiang, a must-see during a travel in Turpan, draws visitors with its ingenious water management and colorful Uyghur culture. Here’s a peek into its three main scenic areas.
Karez Well Folk Custom Park – Most Popular
- Address: 33-161, Ximen Village, Xincheng Road, Gaochang District, Turpan City, about 3 km from downtown area.
- Ticket Price: CNY 40/USD 6
- Opening Hours: April – October: 09:00 – 20:00 (last entry: 19:00); November – March: 09:30 – 19:30 (last entry: 18:30)
- Recommended Visiting Length: 1.5 – 2 hours
As the first outdoor immersive themed park in Turpan, Karez Well Folk Custom Park offers tourists the chance to witness the underground Miyimu-Aji Karez Well. As you step down into the canal and walk along the 100-meter-long path, you will feel a refreshing blast of 18°C air, making it a popular summer destination.
Besides, the Karez Museum allows you to delve into the comprehensive exhibits on the karez system and gain insights through images, models, relics, and interactive displays.
What makes the park memorable is the NPC interactive experience. Dress in the traditional Uyghur costume and follow the NPC to enjoy the welcome song and dance, join a lively Nazirkum dance, and take part in a traditional blessing ritual with cool karez water gently dabbed on your forehead.
Jiaoheyi Karez Source Scenic Area
- Address: 8, North Kanerjing Road, Gaochang District, Turpan, opposite to Jiaohe Ruins
- Ticket Price: CNY 40/USD 6
- Opening Hours: April- November: 08:30 – 20:00 (last entry: 19:00); December – March: 09:30 – 19:30 (last entry: 18:30)
- Recommended Visiting Length:1 – 1.5 hours
If you want an in-depth tour, Jiaoheyi Karez Source Scenic Area is your ideal option. Here, you can take an elevator to a depth of 60 meters, the deepest Karez well you can reach in Turpan. Walk along the primitive underground channel, see the meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains flowing at your feet and witness its detailed design and function. Before going down the shaft, learn how the well was dug 2,000 years ago in the exhibition hall.
What’s more, on the ground, you can take memorable photos with the earthy yellow honeycomb walls of the world’s largest grape drying room and the blue sky as the background, and observe the geometric glazed tiles commonly found at the wellheads of Karez Wells in the Flower Brick Hall.
Karez Park
- Address: Karez Road, Yaer Village, Yaer Town, Gaochang District, Turpan City
- Ticket Price: CNY 40/USD 6
- Opening Hours: 09:00 – 20:00(last entry: 19:30)
- Recommended Visiting Length: 1 hours
Karez Park is the first scenic area in Xinjiang themed on Karez Wells, featuring the most well-known and best-preserved Karez Wells in Turpan built in 1720 – Miyimu-Aji Karez Well. Tourists can also step into the exhibition halls to understand its principles, walk down to the well and stroll through the vineyard corridors.
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How to Get to Karez Well System
For international travelers, taking a taxi is the most recommended and convenient way. Refer to the table below for detailed costs and travel time from major sites in Turpan to the three scenic areas.
From Downtown Turpan |
From Turpan North Railway Station |
|
To Karez Well Folk Custom Park |
10 – 15 min, CNY 10 – 20/USD 1 – 3 |
20 – 25 min, CNY 25 – 30/USD 4 – 5 |
To Jiaoheyi Karez Source Scenic Area |
15 – 20 min, CNY 15 – 25/USD 2 – 4 |
15 – 20 min, CNY 25 – 30/USD 4 – 5 |
To Karez Park |
10 – 15 min, CNY 10 – 20/USD 1 – 3 |
20 – 30 min, CNY 25 – 30/USD 4 – 5 |
Best Time to Visit
Turpan experiences the most pleasant weather from mid-May to late June. The daytime temperature ranges from 25 – 38℃, about 10 ℃ lower than in summer. Besides, the number of tourists is half that of July. You can also enjoy the fresh mulberries and Hami melon during this period. Plus the cool temperature in Karez Wells, this period offers you a more comfortable trip.
Another golden period is September – October, when the air is cool and crisp, and the sky is clear and blue, making it the best time for photography. Late August to September is also grape season in Turpan, when you will taste the most fresh local grapes.
Tourist Destinations Around Karez System
- Jiaohe Ancient City: Just 10 kilometers northwest of Turpan City is Jiaohe Ancient City. It was the ancient capital of the Cheshirian Kingdom, with a glorious history and a great culture.
- Turpan Museum: Within Turpan City proper is the Turpan Museum, which boasts a wide collection of historical artifacts and paintings. It graphically illustrates the historical transformations and cultural development of the Turpan region.
- Grandpa’s Antique Shop: Side by side with the karez well system is Grandpa’s Antique Shop, a quaint little shop that is full of antiques and artwork. From ceramics to calligraphy and paintings, jade items to bronze wares, the shop has a diverse collection of treasures.
- Grape Valley: Some 10 kilometers northeast of Turpan City lies Grape Valley, a renowned grape cultivation area in Xinjiang travel. Visitors can wander through the vineyards, learn about grape cultivation and processing, and savor fresh grapes and their derivatives.
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Explore the Karez System with China Xian Tour
The Karez Well System is one of the most rewarding sites you can find in Turpan. It’s a crystal of human intelligence and a carrier of local culture and history. To make the most of your Tupan Journey along with a visit to the Karez System, we highly recommend you to travel with China Xian Tour.
With the help of our local travel experts, you’ll get a perfect journey, which is made completely based on your own preference, and we’ll also provide you with private transfers and professional guides. From start to finish, we’ll take care of all the preparation for you so that you can fully enjoy the unforgettable local cultures.
FAQs about the Karez Well System
Is the water in the Karez system clean?
Traditionally, Karez water was known for being cool and fresh. However, it is no longer served as drinking water for local residents, it’s mainly used for irrigation.
What is being done to preserve this ancient system?
Restoration projects, museums, and educational programs have all been taken to ensure that the knowledge and spirit of the Karez continue to be passed on.
