We’re now visiting the Karez Museum at Karez Paradise Park :

Turpan is an area where annual rainfall is low & surface water evaporates quickly - & to survive in this harsh environment, ancient people used a Water System called the Karez Water System, which is an ancient Irrigation System referred to as the “Undergound Great Wall“, or “One of the Three Ancient Projects of China“, along with the Great Wall of China & Grand Canal of China.

The Karez Water System provides a stable water source all year round, & in the very hot & dry Summer in Turpan, & it’s an important invention by the Turpan people -  ”Kar” meaning “Well“, & “Ez” meaning “Underground” in Uygur. A Life Source of Turpan - without the Karez Water Sytem, there would be no Turpan Culture.

The history of Karez Water System can be traced back some 2000 years ago. Today, there’re thousands of Karez Water Systems still running under Xinjiang, most of them under Turpan & totalling more than 5000km in length.

The Karez Water System consists of underground (so as to reduce water evaporation) Canals accessed by Vertical Wells, above-ground Canals, & small Reservoirs, to irrigate the Turpan Desert.

Located in the 2nd deepest geographical depression in the World, with over 4000 sqaure km of land below sea level & with soil that forms a sturdy basin, the Karez Wells are most practical for agriculture irrigation here in Turpan.

The Underground Canals in the Karez Water System channels the watershed surface runoff & melting snow from the nearby Flaming Mountains & Tian Shan Mountain into the Karez Water System, resulting in many Oases appearing in the Desert, becoming the Birthplace of lots of Hami Melons, Fruits, Vegetables & Cotton, & the famous Turpan Grape Valley!!

And ample water was cruicial to this Oasis City of Turpan as it serviced many Caravans from Merchant Traders & Missionaries travelling through the Taklamakan Desert in the ancient Silk Road of China.

We’ve now come to look at the Karez Water System Historical Artifacts…………….

Here’s me standing by the Underground Karez canals beside the wooden Chinese Signboard - “Kar Er Jing” meaning “Karez Water System“………………..

Views of the vertical holes from the underground tunnels (passages)…………….

Ahah I love it in here so much walking through these underground Tunnels (passages), some which are really low & dark & feels a little scary but really interesting…………….

Here’s my Brother-in-law Ah Hia standing under the Tunnel from where I just walked through too…………….

We’re now up at the Surface area where there’re many Souvenirs Stalls - shopping time now while waiting for our other Tour mates………………

Wanted to get one of these below traditional cultural dresses for myself but unfortunately our whole tour group’s departing soon……………

Walking under more lovely Grape Trellises as we leave the Karez Paradise Park………………

As I walk out of the Karez Paradise Park, I’m filled with great proudness for the Uygur people here in Turpan in having created such a fascinating & intelligent Karez Water System - & in doing so they get to still enjoy its cool underground Tunnels away from its extremely hot deserts till today!