Grape Valley

A stream cutting through the Flaming Mountains has made a green corridor about eight kilometres long in otherwise bare desert, and it is planted almost entirely with vines, trained over trellises so the lanes run under continuous shade, which drops the temperature noticeably compared with the rock outside. Turpan's grapes, particularly the seedless green variety, are dried into raisins in chunche, drying houses of open brickwork built on the slopes so hot dry air passes through the walls while the fruit hangs out of the sun. Uyghur farms in the valley sell fruit, and music and dancing are staged for visitors.

What you actually see

• The vine trellises - lanes running under continuous grape canopy.
• The drying houses - pierced brick buildings for making raisins.
• The oasis contrast - green corridor cut into bare red mountains.
• The farm stalls - fresh grapes, raisins and dried fruit sold locally.

When to go

August to September for the harvest, when the vines are loaded and the drying houses in use; earlier in summer the vines are green but bare of fruit, and winter is bare entirely.

Honest expectations

The valley is ticketed and heavily geared to tour groups, with staged performances. Fruit prices are inflated. Summer heat outside the vine shade is severe.

Nearby

Bezeklik caves lie north; Turpan is southwest.