The Karez Well Guide

The Karez Well is the most important travel site when you come to visit Xinjiang. The underground canals of Karez are over 2,000 years old. This irrigation system spread to Middle Asia and Persia after first appearing in the Han Dynasty. It is one of three great construction projects of ancient China (the other two are the Great Wall and the Great Canal). Karez systems are the life source of Turpan. In a sense, without the karez, there would be no Turpan culture. According to records, the history of the karez in Xinjiang dates back to 103B.C. Karezes have been found in

Iran, the Sahara, etc., but the ones in Turpan are the most complete. Currently there are still over 400 systems. Until today, the shortest karez found is only 30 meters (98 feet) long. The vertical wells are for ventilation, digging and maintenance of the karez. The bottoms of all the vertical wells are connected so that water can pass through. The underground canal is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high and covered with earth to resist the heat. The surface canals, connected to the underground ones, are not more than 1 meter (3.2 feet) wide with trees planted on both sides to prevent evaporation. To create the system, people dug wells at regular intervals and

then linked them with underground tunnels from which subterranean water could flow. The water primarily comes from melted ice and snow and runs at even levels throughout the entire year, playing a vital role for agricultural and irrigational needs. Karez systems also functions as the natural air conditioner for the locals because they can sit in one while chatting or doing some chores. Here's some guide information in your travel of The Karez Well: Address: Yaer Village, Yaer County, Turpan, Xinjiang Province. Contact number: 0086-995-8687666    Admission Fee: CNY30   Opening Hours: 08:00 -17:00

• Xinjiang Museum
• Heavenly Lake
• Tianshan Mountain
• The Khazak Yurts
• The Erdaoqiao Bazaar of Urumqi
• The Southern Pasture
• Abakh Khoja Tomb of Kashgar
• Id Kah Mosque of Kashgar
• Karakuri Lake
• Thousand Buddha Cave
• Flaming Hill
• The Ancient City of Gaochang
• The Karez Well
• The Emin Minaret
• The Grape Valley
• The Astana Tombs
• Tianshui Maijishan
• Kashgar Old Town