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Xinjiang Grape Festival
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When:
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Aug - Sep 2008 (annual)
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Where:
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Turpan
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The annual Xinjiang Grape Festival in Turpan is not just an ode to the region's most important agricultural product, but a chance to celebrate the local way of life. Expect plenty of cultural treats in this remote corner of China.
Turpan is a Silk Road settlement, populated by Muslim Uygur people. This oasis town in Eastern Xinjiang is picturesquely covered in vine trellises, shading the friendly locals from some of the fiercest heat in China. Almost every household has a hand in the grape business and the markets are full of sweet dried raisins. It's a relaxing place where donkey carts still outnumber cars, but it livens up in August each year for the festival.
At this time, visitors can witness traditional Uygur events, from weddings to the comical mashlap dances to grape-eating competitions. It is interesting to see how the Uygur people have managed to retain their identity in China. Uygur food is more Central Asian than Chinese, reflecting the harsh surroundings, and the language is actually a dialect of Turkish.
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