Attractions in Tulufan (Turpan) are pretty spread out, so why not spend a day circling the city to soak up the energy of this "land of fire"?

Morning: Must-see sights, check!

Start early in the morning while it's still cool and head straight to the Flaming Mountains. From a distance, the red sandstone ridges look like waves of fire burning across the desert.

You will then spot Wanfo Palace (the Palace of Ten Thousand Buddhas), a filming location for the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Not far away are the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, home to 83 grottoes with Uygur murals. Despite damage, the remaining frescoes still reveal centuries-old Buddhist art.

Continue on to Mazha Village in Tuyugou Town, where a 10-yuan ($1.5) shuttle takes visitors into the old settlement. The village preserves traditional Uygur homes built from raw earth, with the landmark mosque at its center. This time of year, you can also taste fresh local white mulberries.

Afternoon: Cooling off and local flavors

Around noon, stop in Huoyanshan Town for lunch. The cold noodles and grilled skewers are very popular. A bowl of noodles with two skewers costs only 11 yuan ($1.6). Add a yogurt shaved-ice dessert for the perfect match to Tulufan's summer heat.

The first afternoon stop is Aiding (Ayding) Lake, at 154.31 meters below sea level. It's the lowest point in inland China and one of the world's lowest land depressions. It's also one of the hottest places in the region, so sunrise or sunset is preferable.

Next, head to Grape Valley, where narrow lanes are lined with family-run vineyards. Nearly every home has a brightly painted gate, and lounge chairs placed outside invite visitors to rest. From July through September, the grapes are at their sweetest and locals invite guests to eat freely.

Right next door is the Karez Folk Garden. The karez irrigation system, along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, is considered one of ancient China's three great engineering projects. A small museum inside explains how the underground water channels work, and the cool snowmelt water flowing from the Tianshan Mountains makes it a great place to escape the afternoon heat.

Evening: A night walk through the ancient city

As temperatures drop, head to Jiaohe Ancient City for a leisurely evening. It's best to book the night tour ticket in advance, enter around 8 p.m. and have your car drive up to the ticket check. The ticket includes both entry to the ancient city and the nighttime concert inside the ruins.

At this hour, the sky still glows with daylight, but the heat has faded. Strolling through the 1,000-year-old ruins at sunset is one of the most unforgettable experiences in Tulufan.

Jiaohe Ancient City was first recorded in the Book of Han, a foundational Chinese historical text documenting the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 25). The city later served as the seat of the Grand Anxi Frontier Command during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Today, it is recognized as the world's largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen city.

At 10 p.m., the Night of Jiaohe concert begins in front of an abandoned Buddhist temple. With only a few candles and no amplification, music is carried by the same desert wind that has blown through these ruins for centuries. Under the stars, the music and desert silence leave a lasting impression.

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