Turpan Festivals

Grapes are hung up to dry

If you are lucky enough to run into the Uygur festivals during your trip, you will be pleasantly surprised by the special activities as well as the table delicacies.

Grape Festival
Turpan is renowned for the quality of the fruit grown here and the sweetness of the grapes. Just as the name implies, the grape is the subject of the festival which is held in August each year and lasts for a month. During the happy event, you can feel the happiness of harvest in every corner of the city. The grapes of hundreds of varieties are ripe and hang on the vines, waiting for you to enjoy. Amongst them, the white grape without seeds is the favourite one and it is praised as the 'green pearl of China'. In addition to enjoy the sweet grapes you can take part in traditional Uygur performances, such as the wedding ceremony of Uygur and the dancing performances in Tang Dynasty (618-907). Grape Valley is the best option for you to celebrate the festival.

Grape Festival in the Grape Valley, Turpan

Eid al Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking)
This fast is one of the five pillars of Islam and Eid al Fitr is the first day after 30 days' fast. It is celebrated on the 1st of October according to the Moslem calendar, and lasts for three days. It is an important event among the Moslems. On the first morning of the festival, people gather together in the mosque to pray. And then, they wear national costumes to call on their relatives and friends. During the festival, people will butcher fat stocks and cook some traditional snacks to satisfy their stomach.

Eid al Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice)
It is on 10th December according to the Moslem calendar and it is the last day for pilgrimage. In the early morning, all men go to mosque to pray. It is the most important divine service with a largest scale all year round. During the festival, each family should slaughter a sheep, a cow or a camel. And families and friends would gather together to sing and dance happily. Of course, they will also enjoy a sumptuous meal together. After the meal, they often visit the grave to honor the memory of ancestors.