Chinese Political Geography

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Further reading

Turpan

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Turpan (Turfan), Sinkiang Uighur Autonomous Region/China Huozhou/Huolu, Gaochang, Xi Zhou, He Zhou, Huo Zhou An oasis town on the northern silk route, the name means ‘Lowland’ in Uighur. The Uighurs pronounce the name as Turpan, the Chinese as Tulufan, the phonetic rendering of Turpan in Mandarin. The previous name meant ‘Land of Fire’ from the Chinese huŏ ‘fire’ and zhōu; lú means ‘stove’ or ‘furnace’: both names are a reference to the very high temperatures in summer. During the Han dynasty (206 bc–ad 220) it was known as Gaochang from gāo ‘high’ and chāng ‘prosperous’ since it was sited on high ground and many wealthy people lived here. During the Tang dynasty (618–907) it was called Xi Zhou ‘Western District’ from xī ‘west’ and zhōu.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Turpan." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Turpan." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Turpan.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Turpan." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Turpan.html

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Turpan

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Turpan or Turfan , town and oasis (1994 est. pop. 64,300), in the Turpan depression (c.5,000 sq mi/12,950 sq km), E Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. It is an agricultural center producing cotton and cotton textiles, silk, wheat, grapes, dried fruit, and wine. Oil is in the area. Turpan is the chief town of the Turpan depression, the lowest point (505 ft/154 m below sea level) in China.

The depression was the center (AD 200–400) of a flourishing civilization in which Indian and Persian elements were combined. This civilization was later absorbed by the Uigurs, who had their capital at nearby Gaochang (9th–13th cent.). Also nearby are the ruins of the ancient city of Jiaohe and the Bezeklik cave temples. Archaeological finds made in the early 20th cent. include much Nestorian literature and the bulk of the extant Manichaean literature.

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"Turpan." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Turpan." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Turpan.html

"Turpan." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Turpan.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Huaneng to build 2 power units in Turpan.(China Huaneng Group)(Brief article) News Wire article from: China Knowledge Newswires; 1/19/2010
	In western China, a white grape's raisin d'etre; The superiority of Turpan... Newspaper article from: The Christian Science Monitor; 9/25/2003
	Railway services disrupted by Xinjiang quake, resumes in two hours. News Wire article from: Philippines News Agency; 6/8/2011