The Karez Folk Park

　　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 in the Turpan area, with an annual runoff of 294 million cubic meters, making it the lifeblood of the oasis.

　　Based on the geographical conditions of the Turpan Basin and the characteristics of water evaporation, 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, with some stretching up to 20 kilometers and others as short as 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 acres of land per day. It has been in use for over 470 years.

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

　　The paths inside the Karez Park are one-way only—you cannot backtrack—so take your photos right away, or you might miss the chance forever.