Tuyoq Mazar Village

Tuyoq Mazar Village

Mazar Village is located in the southern valley of the Tuyoq Grand Canyon in Xinjiang. Nestled among poplar and mulberry trees, a narrow river runs from north to south through the village. Scattered Uyghur-style homes line both sides of the river, preserving the ancient traditions and folk customs of the Uyghur people.

Based on the stone tools discovered on the Gobi Desert about five to six kilometers southwest of Mazar Village, it can be inferred that by at least the Neolithic period, Mazar Village was already inhabited by local indigenous peoples. Further evidence from various artifacts, including an ancient cemetery of Tuyoq residents unearthed beneath the sand dunes in the area, confirms that around 2,600 to 2,700 years ago, the southern entrance of the Tuyoq Valley was bustling with life and exhibited a high level of civilization. It is considered one of the birthplaces of agricultural civilization in the Turpan region. Over time, it also integrated elements of the Tagar culture, which was prevalent in the Minusinsk Basin of the former Soviet Union.

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, Mazar Village was called Dinggukou. In the Western Han Dynasty, it was the site of the Cheshi Duyu Kingdom, which was later annexed by the Cheshi Kingdom. After the Cheshi Kingdom split into the Former Cheshi Kingdom and the Later Cheshi Kingdom, the current Mazar Village belonged to the Former Cheshi Kingdom. Prior to the era of the Former Cheshi Kingdom, Buddhism had already become the state religion of the Cheshi Kingdom. By the Western Jin Dynasty, Mazar Village began to emerge as a Buddhist holy site. The "Collection of Essential Buddhist Teachings," discovered by the Otani Expedition Team in the Thousand Buddha Caves of Mazar Village, was written in 296 AD (the sixth year of the Yuankang era of the Western Jin Dynasty) and is the earliest dated Buddhist manuscript found in the Western Regions.

The village preserves a large number of traditional Uyghur homes, all built from yellow clay using earth construction techniques. These structures are either partially dug into the ground (cave dwellings) or are two-story buildings with cave dwellings on the ground floor and flat-roofed rooms above, featuring square skylights. Some caves are hollowed out from hillsides, while others are constructed from yellow clay bricks. These homes are cost-effective, warm in winter and cool in summer, and have beautiful designs. Houses are connected by winding, narrow alleys of varying depths, allowing neighbors to visit each other even by walking across rooftops.

The doors and windows of these ancient homes are simple yet rich in cultural significance. Door frames are adorned with intricately carved wooden door knockers in various patterns—floral, geometric, and fruit-shaped. Window frames and lattices also feature a variety of designs, reflecting personal tastes. Even from the different styles of doors and windows, one can infer the former professions, hobbies, or social status of the homeowners.

Strolling along the village paths, you won’t see modern vehicles—only leisurely donkey carts making their way through the lanes. A small stream diverted from a karez system runs through the center of the village, lined with shady trees where children play. The village is quiet, with residents rising with the sun and resting at sunset. During festivals, they dress in their finest clothes, gather in the streets, and dance the ancient Uyghur "Meshrep" dance to exchange holiday greetings.

The people of Mazar Village communicate in the ancient Uyghur language, wear traditional ethnic clothing, and still rely on classic donkey carts for visiting relatives and friends. The faces of the elderly, youth, and children living here are always filled with calm, contentment, and happiness, giving off an impression of simplicity, leisure, and harmony with the world.

Travel Transportation

1. The distance from Shanshan to Tuyoq is about 70 kilometers, with shuttle buses available. Buses depart from the Shanshan County Passenger Transport Station at 12:00, 13:00, and 14:00.

2. The distance from Turpan to Tuyoq is 60 kilometers, with shuttle buses also available. Between 12:00 and 18:00, a bus departs every two hours from the passenger transport station. Hiring a private car from Turpan City costs approximately 150 yuan.

3. Shuttle buses only go as far as Tuyoq Township. To reach Mazar Village, there are still a few kilometers to travel, which can be covered by motorcycle or by hiking for about an hour.