The Uygur people in Xinjiang are very good with gardening & work mainly in agriculture (though they’re also talented in handicrafts too!)!!

And Xinjiang is famous for its wide varieties of Fruits - Turpan being one of the hottest & driest places on Earth where Turpan Grape Valley Scenic Spot (or “Pu Tao Gou” in Chinese) runs 8km from North to South at a width of 0.5km - covered with layers upon layers of Grapes in a 400 hectares Green Paradise!!

Water piped from Tian Shan Mountain flows freely in the Grape Valley & various types of Grapes (being the most famous Fruits here!!), Peaches, Apricots, Pomegranates, Apples, Pears, Water Melons & Hami Melons can be seen within the Valley!!

WHOA see what we’ve got here!!!

The Grapes here are crystal & watery - some are as Green as Emrald, some are Red as Agate, some are small as Pearls, while others are like Olives!! 

Haha wish I’m tall enough to reach out my hands to pluck them!! OOPS!! I mean only to touch them heheh!!

But of course we’re not supposed to pluck the Grapes here as we’re under scrutiny eyes by our Chinese Tour Guide as we walk under these most beautiful Grape Trellis overhung with fresh lovely Grapes…………….

Hey there’re also some Uygur Souvenirs Shops here at Turpan Grape Valley Scenic Spot if you can catch glimpses of them in below pic!

Too bad we can’t stop to shop as our Tour Guide leads us walking on…………….

We’re stopping now to look at the Sculpture of Effendi Nasreddin (or “Ah Fan Ti” his Uygur Name) :

A populist philosopher - Effendi Nasreddin (or “Ah Fan Ti“) is a Legendary Hero - a Satirical Sufi figure who lived during the Middle Ages around the 13th Century.

Much of Effendi’s actions can be described as illogical yet logical, rational yet irrational, normal yet bizarre, foolish yet sharp, & simple yet profound.

And Effendi gets his messages across in unconventional yet very effective ways, & is remembered by his funny stories & anecdotes!

For centuries - for his kindness, resourcefulness, justice, wittiness & wisedom, Effendi (”Ah Fan Ti” is much loved & admired by the Chinese people young & old here in China, especially by the Uygur people in Xinjiang!

In the famous Book titled “Effendi & The Pregnant Pot - Uygur Folktales from China” - Folktales from the Uygur people were illustrated with paintings by Chinese Artist Li Shan.

Here’s my Brother-in-law Ah Hia :

Now, our local Uygur Host whose house we’re visiting here, soon welcomes us to his humble home lavishing us with much sweet yummy Raisins, fresh juicy Watermelons & Grapes, which are all locally cropped & harvested here in Turpan Grape Valley Scenic Spot!! How cool is that huh!!

Wearing bright colored gown with colorful embroideries & loose sleeves tucked into baggy pants (with more side embroideries) & tied with a sash at the waist - & pants tuck into leather Boots, plus the traditional Black with White embroideries tetragon Uygur Sulkcap (or Doppa) - our moustache Uygur Host is really warm, friendly, & playful too & so funny making us laugh sossosoo much hahah!!

And while seated & chatting with us, our Uygur Host suddenly decides to get up & leaves us for a while……………& guess what he does!?!?

Well, he just went off to his nearby garden & plucked a huge bunch of an even more special & better quality huge fat freshiest crunchiest delicious sweet Seedless Grapes for us - as served below :

In fact, the most famous & best quality Grapes among dozens found here at Turpan Grape Valley Scenic Spot is the green pearl “Wuhebai” White Seedless Grapes with a sugar content as much as 22%!!

Well, It’s been a super HOT day here in Tulufan (Turpan) that my cheeks have become so rosy red - & it’s really most comfortable & cooling to rest under these lovely Grapes Trellises & at the same time enjoying the refreshing sweetest juiciest Fruits here in Turpan Grape Valley………………..

Dressed in a vibrantly multi-colored traditional Atlas Silk dress-pants suit (”Atlas” meaning “Silk” in Uygur) - & to the lovely Uygur songs & music, our most beautiful Uygur lady Host entertains us with her lively charming cultural dances characterised by unique hand & wrists movements, with tilted head, thrust chest & erect waist…………….

By now, I’ve tasted & eaten enough of the many Raisins & Dried Preserved Fruits I feel full & happy - & yet I’ve got the following gift - how wonderful heheh!

While my other Tour mates are still tasting & selecting their Dried Fruits to buy - I take the opportunity to snap more pics of the beautiful Grape Trellises laden with bunches & bunches of Grapes - starting with yet another Grape Trellis courtyard hung with colorful Uygur Wool Carpets, & covered Seatings & Tables just like the one we sat on earlier……………

Now though I’ve visited Grape Vineyards in Australia & America, I’ve never dreamed that I’d be standing under such gorgeous Grape Trellises looking up to so many bunches of lovely Grapes everywhere!!

Haha I remember I bought Mom such bunches of Grapes still intact with its long running leaves for her Kitchen back home in Singapore - so beautiful…………….but that’s only FAKE Grapes heheh did I have you fooled?!?!

But HEY these ones that I’m looking at right now are REAL edible ones!!! How lucky am I!! And to be here at Turpan Grape Valley is like a dream come true for me!!! Such is a most amazing feeling in Paradise!!

What a most enjoyable afternoon touring the Turpan Grape Valley Scenic Spot & visiting a most wonderful local Uygur family where we’re showered with such warm hospitality & given a real wonderful cultural experience here in Xinjiang!!

Now, Xinjiang is one of the Birthplaces of Carpets in the world where people here started weaving Carpet some 2000 years ago.

Being located in the centre of the Silk Road of China, local & foreign merchants travelling past here transported Xinjiang Carpets to the West, while bringing ancient Persian Carpets back to Xinjiang………..such cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Road soon results in the Carpet Weave techniques & decoration patterns of China & the West influencing each other!!

Also called the “Orient Carpet“, the Xinjiang Carpet is today a traditional National Artwork characterised by distinctive Folk color & local flavour featuring multi-layer frame, geometrical lively precise patterms - made of tough yet flexible thick lusty wools of famous Hetian Sheeps. 

We watch the above Wool Carpets Weaving after which we shop around in the Cultural Arts & Crafts Factory where there’re basically lots of Gem & Jade souvenirs…………….

Here’s another local Ladies Toilet we use - but NO WORRIES cos it’s a very clean one for the first time ahha!!

But as usual (sometimes!!) there’s the Basket inside each cubicle where you’re supposed to throw ”whatever papers!!” into after use which is real disgusting to me when I first encountered it upon arrival here in China!! Another cultural shock for me!!

“…..Grapes in Tulufan (Turpan) grow up; Anarhan’s heart is ecstatic…..” - “Anarhan” being the name of an Uygur girl!! - Yeah that’s a really beautiful local famous Folk Song relating to the famous Grapes found here in Turpan, Xinjiang which I’ve included in my following Slideshow - ENJOY!