Many people heard of Xinjiang Turpan as an important stop on Silk Road for its fantastic ruins and Buddhism history. However speaking of Turpan you can only think of Flaming Mountain, Hami melon or Grape Valley? Today I am going to introduce a place that is worth to visit when you take the Xinjiang tour.
Introduction of Tuyoq
Tuyoq is an ancient oasis-village in the Taklamakan, 70 km east of Turpan in Shanshan County in a lush valley cutting into the Flaming Mountains, with a well preserved Uighur orientation, and few tourists. It is famous for its seedless grapes and a number of ancient Buddhist meditation caves nearby containing frescoes.
Must See in Tuyoq
Tuyoq Grand Canyon folk culture tourism area is known as Ding Gu. The scenic spot has always been famous for its dangers, wonders and secluded scenery. It is mainly composed of four parts: Canyon scenery, thousand Buddha cave, Mazaar and ancient villages.
1) Tuyoq Grand Canyon
Tuyoq Grand Canyon is the most mysterious place in northwest of China, and it is the intersection of many famous religions, history and culture in the world. Among more than 40 caves, there are 10 preserving murals. They are considered to be the earliest caves in Turpan, first excavated in the Wei,Jin , and Southern & Northern Dynasties. The latest one were dug in the Tang Dynasty. Most of them are square in shape and have a center pillar. Murals are mostly damaged, but unique in style. They are valuable Buddhist cultural materials of Turpan and the Western Regions. Now it is listed as a major cultural site protected autonomous region.
2) Tuyoq Village
It is an ancient Uighur village located in the south exit valley of the Grand Canyon. It has a history of more than 1700 years and is the oldest Uighur village in Xinjiang, and it distributed around the mosque on the green tower, with about 200 families. This village completely retains the ancient Uighur tradition and folk customs, people often make it at sunrise and sunset. They use the old Uighur language to communicate with each other, and still wear the ethnic costumes.
In ancient villages, residents have inherited the traditional habit of building houses with yellow clay for more than two thousand years. Some buildings also leave behind the imprint of the fusion of Buddhist culture and Islamic culture, the houses and buildings are made of yellow clay, and some are built independently, and some are connected along the mountain, Its characteristics are economical, warm and cool in summer and warm in winter.
3) Tuyoq Mazaar
Tuyoq Mazzar is situated at Mazha Village in Tuyoq, Shanshan County of Turpan Prefecture at the foot of the Tuyoq Thousand-Buddha-Grottoes. With a history more than 1,000 years, it is listed among the 2nd batch of China Historic and Cultural Townships and Villages. The legend said that after the successful establishment of Islam in the 7th century, five of Mohammed’ s student missionaries came to China to preach. Walking eastwards, they arrived at Tuyoq after many difficulties, and a shepherd with a dog became the first Chinese Islamist. Inspired by their first success, they settled down here to continue their mission. After 5 student missionaries and the first Chinese Islamist died, they were buried in a valley of Tuyoq——the present mazzar. There are six tombs and a doglike stone in the cave, a wood fence in front of the entrance and a wood stick inside it. They are preserved as the holy remains of sages.
The mazzar is a traditional arched building with Islamic style. Around the tomb is a round raw-soil-made wall with 3 meters high and 0.5meters in diameter. According to the Muslim legend, one must worship in Tuyoq before setting out the pilgrim to Mecca. Therefore it is called the holy place - “China’s Mecca”. Tuyoq village is a traditional Uygur village. Not only language, religion, costume, but houses and orchards are well preserved, which draws great attention in recent years. Meanwhile, Tuyoq is a typical “grape valley”. The grapes fields and grape drying houses present the charm of a famous place to produce grapes.
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