Turpan
( 2005-09-13 )

Hami melon is another special local product in the Turpan Basin, boasting such fine-quality varieties as Crisp Red-Core, Black Eyebrow, Honey Sweet, Paotai Red, Bag of Sugar, and Golden Dragon. Many Hami melons are sold to other places in China as well as exported abroad. They are reputed as the most precious fruit.

In addition, the land also abounds in watermelons, pears, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, mulberries, figs, sand dates, and so on. The fruit bumper harvests bring about a thriving processing industry.

Turpan raisins have also long enjoyed their fame as the "green pearls of China" for their color, mellow taste, and flavor. Dried Hami melons, and dried or preserved apricots are also very appetizing. All such products are favorites among tourists.

  'The hottest'

Dubbed the "Fire State," Turpan is the hottest place in China. Statistics show that the highest temperatures once reached 49.6 degrees Celsius and that the earth's surface topped 89.2 degrees Celsius. In fact, it can get so hot in the area that locals "hard boil" eggs in the hot sand and bake pancakes on the burning stones.

For more than 100 days per year, the single-day high can exceed 35 degrees, and for over 40 days can reach more than 40 degrees. There is even a folktale about a county magistrate who had to do his office work while immersed in a tub of cold water to keep cool.

But how can human beings possibly survive under such a harsh climate? The answer lies in the region's low humidity. Although it is very hot, the weather is not stuffy and high temperatures are sharply reduced in the shade. Meanwhile, the temperature disparity is huge -- usually by up to 20 degrees. While the weather is scorching at high noon, the mornings and evenings are quite cool. Therefore, it is common to find locals moving beds out of their homes in the evenings to sleep in the open air.

The Turpan spring usually comes 40 days earlier than in other places in Xinjiang. The seasons most suitable for tourists are usually four months longer than those in other places in Xinjiang.