The Karez Folk Park

The Karez Folk Park

The Karez Folk Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The karez is an ancient underground water irrigation system created by the people of Xinjiang. Its prototype appeared as early as the Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago and later spread to Central Asia and Persia. There are more than 1,100 karez systems in the Turpan region, with an annual runoff of 294 million cubic meters, making them the lifeblood of the oasis.

Based on the geographical conditions and water evaporation characteristics of the Turpan Basin, the karez uses the natural slope of the land to channel groundwater for irrigating farmland. It consists of four parts: open channels, underground canals, vertical shafts, and collecting pools. The length of each karez varies — the longest can reach 20 kilometers, while the shortest is only about 100 meters. The oldest karez is the Turpan Karez, located in Zhuangzi Village, Qiatekale Township, Turpan City. It is 3.5 kilometers long and can irrigate 20 mu of land per day. It has been in use for over 470 years.

The most famous karez is the Miymu Aji Karez, which is 5 kilometers long, reaches a maximum depth of 80 meters, and can irrigate 70 mu of land per day. With a history of 200 years, it was excavated by a Uyghur man named Miymu Aji, hence its name. It is recommended to visit the Karez Folk Park in the western suburbs to see this ancient underground engineering marvel. Photography Tip:

The paths inside the Karez Park are one-way, so you cannot backtrack. If you want to take photos, do it right away — missing the chance will be a regrettable loss.