The Ancient Underground Canals of Turpan
Plan My Trip →The Karez wells of Turpan are one of the great engineering achievements of the ancient world — a vast network of underground canals that brought water from the Tianshan Mountains to make the desert oasis bloom. They are a must-see attraction in Xinjiang.
Karez (坎儿井) is an ancient irrigation system that channels groundwater from the foothills of the Tianshan to the oasis of Turpan through a network of underground channels. Unlike open canals, the underground tunnels minimize evaporation — essential in the scorching desert climate.
A karez system begins with vertical wells tapping into the groundwater table, connected by a gently sloping underground tunnel. Gravity carries the water to the oasis, where it emerges into open channels and storage ponds. Some systems stretch for kilometers.
Turpan, China's hottest and driest place, receives almost no rain and sits below sea level. Yet its karez system, fed by snowmelt from the Tianshan, has watered the oasis for centuries — enabling grapes, cotton, and melons to flourish in the desert.
The oldest karez systems date back over 2,000 years, possibly introduced along the Silk Road from Persia. Listed alongside the Great Wall as a major ancient Chinese engineering achievement, the karez remain vital to Turpan's agriculture today.
The Karez Folk Park and the Karez Museum near Turpan offer the best way to explore the system — you can walk inside the underground channels and see how the water flows. Combine your visit with the Jiaohe Ruins and the Flaming Mountains for a full day of Turpan's history.
Many karez are still in use, and the system is recognized as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status. Visiting is a chance to appreciate an ingenious, sustainable technology that has sustained life in one of the world's harshest environments.