Turpan Desert Ecological Tourism Scenic Area

　　The Turpan Desert Ecological Tourism Scenic Area is located 9 kilometers south of Turpan City. It consists of five tourist zones: the Turpan Desert Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Tamarisk Sand Hill Scenic Park, the Karez Observation Garden and Karez Leisure Hall, the Desert Flora and Fauna Exhibition Hall, and the Xinjiang Residential Architecture Scenic Park.

　　 The botanical garden covers an area of over 500 acres and houses more than 500 species of desert plants. The garden features eight major sections, including the Desert Plant Introduction and Breeding Zone, the Desert Plant Taxonomic Specimen Garden, the Tamarisk Special Garden, the Ex Situ Conservation Area for Rare and Endangered Desert Plants, and the Wild Ornamental Desert Plant Garden. The Tamarisk Sand Hill is a scenic area that combines sand therapy health benefits with sightseeing, enriching and expanding the tourism offerings of the desert botanical garden. It promotes both the human spirit of combating desertification and the culture of desert plants. Ancient karez wells, known as the "life givers of the oasis," can be seen throughout the scenic area. Visitors can get up close to these original, unaltered ancient karez wells through vertical shafts.

　　 The Turpan Desert Ecological Botanical Garden within the scenic area is a research base of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is the lowest-altitude, largest in scale, and most comprehensive desert plant kingdom in China.

　　Opening Hours: 10:00–18:00

　　Ticket Price: 20 RMB

　　Contact Information: 0995-8678719, 9 kilometers south of Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

　　Best Time to Visit: Turpan has a unique warm temperate continental arid desert climate and is the hottest place in China, often referred to as the "Land of Fire." The annual average temperature is 14°C. For tourists, July, August, and September are the best months to visit Turpan, as this is when various fruits are ripe.

　　Complaints Hotline: 0995-8520171, Turpan City Tourism Complaints Hotline

　　Transportation Guide: Local Transport: Direct minibuses to the scenic area are available from the Turpan Bus Station.