• English
• 中文
• Site Map
• Blog

Tuyoq Village, Turpan, Xinjiang

The ancient Uygur village of Tuyoq is a little patch of oasis located in the Tuyoq Great Canyon within the crimson and seemingly barren Flaming Mountain Range, 47 Kilometers west of Turpan. Characterized by maze-like alleyways, rustic mud brick homes and grape drying houses, shady grape vines, and a cool running stream, this is a wonderful place to explore traditional Uygur life and culture.

The village’s history dates back to as early as 2 century B.C., during the period of Jushi rule. In 48 B.C, with the founding of Gaochang Kingdom, the Tuyoq Great Canyon which is located just 13 Kilometers southwest of the Gaochang’s capital, became an important military passage. Today, many of the homes inside the village are at least 200 hundred years old.

This secluded little village has witnessed the transition from the Buddhist faith to Islamic in the region over the centuries. Within the village there are 46 Buddhist caves with murals that dated back to 3 century A.D. Although many of them are badly destroyed or stolen, a few of the caves are currently open to visitors where the past glory of the Buddhist days can still be traced. In 14 century A.D, Islam religion gained influenced over the region of Turpan. It is said that 5 of Mohammad’s disciples are buried within a grave in Tuyoq, making it a pilgrimage site for devout Muslims.

Today, many of the young people have left the village in search for work in the cities, and those remain are mostly elders, women, and children. Villagers in Tuyoq are very traditional, and they do not like to have their photos taken. Therefore, it is important to ask for permission when taking a photograph. Often some will ask for money in exchange, and it is up to you to evaluate whether you want to do support this gesture or not. Tuyoq village is still not a part of the standard tourist program, which has helped it to preserve much of its originality. Tourism represents a very small source of income for the locals there. Most of their income depends on cultivation of grapes, and other types of agriculture. Therefore, we strongly recommend that as travelers, you support the local businesses by buying something small from the village vendors.

We also help by setting up home-stays within the village as a part of our 2-day trekking trip in the Tuyoq Great Canyon.

Tuyoq is a destination included in the following itineraries:

The Grand Circular Xinjiang Adventure