As a tourist center of Xinjiang, the transportation in Turpan is convenient. Visitors can get there by air, by train or by long-distance buses. As Turpan is not far from Urumqi, Urumqi Airport is good option. It takes only two hours' driving from the airport to Turpan city center. In addition, it is very convenient to get to Turpan by train and by bus from Urumqi. It is the hub of southern and northern Xinjiang with several main rail and road intersections. Traveling in Turpan, you can get to the scenic spots easily. Except for Emin Minaret, all the other tourist attractions are not longer than 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city center. And they are well-connected.

Getting there

By Air

At present Turpan does not have its own airport, but visitors can use the Urumqi International Airport (URC). It is about 230 kilometers (142.9 miles) from the airport to Turpan city center and it takes only 2 hours' driving by expressway. There are 99 domestic services and 14 international services for 60 destination cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Tashkent, Novosibirsk, Moscow and Islamabad. Turpan Airport is under construction.

After arriving the Urumqi Airport, you can take bus No.51 (CNY1 per person) outside the airport to Nianzigou. Urumqi Bus Station is located there. There, you can find the long-distance bus to Turpan Bus Station from 09:00 to 20:30 every day. It will take about 2 hours with a fare of CNY20. When leaving Turpan to Urumqi Airport, you'd better start 4 hours ahead of time considering the traffic factor.

Urumqi Airport Inquiring: 0991-3801453 / 3802695

By Train

Turpan Railway Station is located in Daheyan County, about 50 kilometers from the city center. Although it is a bit far from the city center, the traffic condition is good as the city buses and taxis are all available for you. It takes about CNY80 by taxi and CNY5 by bus. The buses leave for Turpan city center every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 20:00 every day. The transport lines in Turpan extend in all directions. In the railway station, there are frequent trains coming and going each day between Turpan and other cities in Xinjiang Province, such as Urumqi, Hotan, Kashgar and Korla. Apart from that, there are trains to and from many big cities of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Jinan, Chongqing and Zhengzhou.
Inquiries phone number: 0995-8642233

Additionally, there is a smaller railway station - Qiquanhu Railway Station near Turpan city. The trains with good facilities from and to Chengdu, Xian, Urumqi and Korla will stop at the station every day.

By Long-distance Bus

There are two bus stations in Turpan City: Turpan Bus Station and Daheyan Bus Station. They offer the convenient traffic within Xinjiang. Everyday, there are over 140 buses taking 7,000 passengers to the big cities such as Urumqi, Shanshan, Kashgar, Hotan, Tuokexun and Aqsu.

Turpan Bus Station is located on Old City Road. Bus No.1 will take you there.
Destination: neighboring cities in southern Xinjiang, including Urumqi, Hami, Korla and Tuyu Valley. The regular bus to Urumqi leaves the bus station every 25 minutes from 07:30 to 20:00 every day. And it will take two and half hours to get to Urumqi.

Lying outside the Turpan Railway Station, Daheyan Bus Station offers people the most convenient way to get to Turpan city center from the railway station. The bus leaves for Turpan city every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 20:00 each day. Most of the buses in Daheyan Bus Station are long-distance buses with sleepers.
Destination: Turpan, Tuokexun, Heshuo, Khotan, Aqsu and neighboring cities in Xinjiang.
Address: Center Road, Daheyan County


Getting around

By City-bus

Like other middle cities in Xinjiang, Turpan is not a city with high population density. So it is not very crowded when taking a city-bus and it is easy for you to find a seat. There are eight city bus routes in Turpan which can take you to different directions of the city. The bus fare for the first 6 stops is CNY0.5 per person, and CNY0.5 should be added for greater distances.

By Taxi

Taking a taxi is the best way to save your limited time and the most convenient way to get to your destination. Especially in Turpan, taking a taxi is the best way for you to escape from the high temperature. Generally speaking, the price of taxi in Turpan is CNY5 for the first 3 kilometers (1.86 miles).
Taxi Complaint Number: 0995-8561977 / 8561666

By Donkey Taxi

If you want to make a short trip in or around the city, you should try a special vehicle to taste the real life of the Uygur. That is the so-called 'donkey taxi'. It is a kind of flatbed drawn by donkey which is reined by locals. And generally, the vehicle which is decorated by colorful blanket can hold 10 passengers. It can take you to bazaar or some attractions near the city. After bargaining for a suitable fee, you can sit on the vehicle leisurely to wander around the mysterious old city.

By Chartered Vehicle

The traffic condition in Turpan is good and driving a private car here is enjoyable. Considering the hot weather, good air-conditioning in the car is necessary. You can rent a car for CNY150-200 per day to make your trip easier as it will save a lot of time. Generally, you will need a full day to visit the main attractions around the city. To remind you, when you drive in China, a driver's license is necessary. If your driver's license is not acceptable here, you should hire a driver for about CNY50 a day. Further, bicycle rental is also available in Turpan. You can rent a bicycle outside the Turpan Hotel.