Turpan: The 'lowest, sweetest, hottest and driest'
In addition, the land also abounds in watermelons, pears, apricots,
peaches, pomegranates, mulberries, figs, sand dates, etc. The fruit bumper
harvests bring about a thriving processing industry.
Turpan raisins have also long enjoyed their fame as the "green pearls of
China" for their color, mellow taste and flavor. Dried Hami melons, dried
apricots and preserved are also very appetizing. All such products are favorites
among tourists.
'The hottest'
Dubbed the "Fire State", Turpan is the hottest place in China. Statistics
show that the highest temperatures once reached 49.6 degrees Celsius and that
the earth's surface topped 89.2 degrees. In fact, it can get so hot in the area
that locals "hard boil" eggs in the hot sand and bake pancakes on the burning
stones.
For more than 100 days per year, the highest temperatures in a single day can
exceed 35 degrees and over 40 days can reach more than 40 degrees. There is even
a folktale about a county magistrate who had to do his office work while
immersed in a tub of cold water to keep cool.
But how can human beings possibly survive under such a harsh climate? The
answer lies in the region's low humidity. Although it is very hot, the weather
is not stuffy and high temperatures are sharply reduced in the shade. Meanwhile,
temperature disparity is huge -- usually by up to 20 degrees. While the weather
is scorching at high noon, the mornings and evenings are quite cool. Therefore,
it is common to find locals moving beds out of their homes in the evenings to
sleep in the open air.
The Turpan spring usually comes 40 days earlier than in other places in
Xinjiang. The seasons most suitable for tourists are usually four months longer
than those in other places in Xinjiang.
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