Grapes and beauty of Turpan [Xinhua]

Turpan Grape Festival

Turpan has the best grapes in China. During the festival, not only can you taste all the breeds of grapes, but you can also enjoy spectacular Xinjiang song and dance. There are many competitions during the festival, to find the best type of grape, the most delicious food, or the girl who has the best braids. Girls in Xinjiang have their hair braided starting at 3 years old. As they grow up, they add more braids (with a maximum of 41 braids). After they are married, they change to two thick braids. At the competition, the girls' hair is braided by their mother or another relative. The winner is the one who has the most, longest braids in uniform distribution.

Time: Aug 26 – Sep 5

Place: Turpan, Xinjiang

Places to Visit: Turpan Grape Festival, the Jiaohe Ruins, the Grape Valley, the Flaming Mountains, Khanat, the Bezeklik Thousand-Buddha Cave.

Tips: 1. Don't pick the grapes on the pergolas along Turpan Pedestrian Street.

2. It is still extremely hot in the late August, so most of the activities are held in the evenings. Tourists need to be careful to avoid sunstroke while going out during the daytime.

3. Turpan has a 2-hour time difference with Beijing.

4. Merchants sell goods using half a kilogram as the standard unit.