Tuyoq is an ancient oasis village in Turpan, Xinjiang, China. Despite the hostile environment of the Taklimakan Desert, an agriculture-based rich culture managed to emerge and develop in this dry, yet fertile oasis village. This ancient village contains almost 1000-year-old mud-brick buildings in the Uyghur architectural style.

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The village is famous for its manaizi grapes which are reputed for being sweet and seedless. In order to water their vast vineyards, the ancient Tuyoq people developed an underground irrigation method called karez, or qanat. The water still flows from the ancient canals under the famous Grape Valley to enable the barren desert land to be cultivated.

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According to belief, Tuyoq village includes the tomb of the first Uyghur to convert to Islam. Officially called the Hojamu Tomb, this mud-brick cemetery also turned the village into a pilgrimage site for the Uyghur people for centuries.
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Located in the autonomous Uyghur region of Xinjiang, Turpan city borders contain the second or third lowest depression in the world with a -154 m depth. It is also one of the hottest and driest areas in the world.

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The Turpan Depression on the outskirts of China’s Bogda Shan Mountains by NASA/USGS (Landsat 7)
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