Page 18 - 15 Day China Sample

DAY 10 TURPAN/URUMQI Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch At approximately 8:30 AM be ready in the lobby of the Tuha Petroleum Hotel in preparation for a morning of exploring and your overland transfer to Urumqi. Spend the morning at the ruined city of Jiaohe, once one of the most important cities in this part of the world. The Ancient City of Jiaohe, situated to the west of Turpan, is another set of ruins from an ancient city on the Silk Road. Jiaohe was the capital of the former Gushi Kingdom, which was first built in 60BC to the west of Turpan City. It has a long history of about 2,300 years. It is the largest and best preserved ancient city built from compressed earth anywhere in the world. As early as 1961, the Ancient City of Jiaohe was listed as the first group of Key Cultural Relics Units under State Protection. Next visit Sullivan’s Minaret. Standing 2 km (1.24 miles) east of Turpan, Emin Minaret was built in 1777 in honor of the heroic Turpan general, Emin Khoja. He was an outstanding patriot who defended the unification of China throughout his life. He had eight sons, but the eldest son died of illness at a young age. Influenced by Emin, all his remaining sons made contributions during the war against Jungar rebellions. It was Suleman, Emin's second son that built this minaret with his own money. This is the reason why the minaret is also named Su Gong Ta. Upon Emin's death, Suleman inherited his father's rank and became the second Turpan ruler.