Turpan History

In ancient times, Turpan was called Gushi and was situated on the ancient course of the Silk Road, a hub of economic and cultural accumulations to West Asia and West Europe. In Han Dynasty, Turpan became the capital of Cheshiqian Kingdom, one of the thirty-six kingdoms in Xi Yu (literally the Western Regions, referring to most parts of Xinjiang and part of Central Asia) and subjected to the Han Court. In Northern Wei, one kingdom built its royal city in western Turpan perished around the year of 450. Ten years later, another kingdom call Gaochang was established.

In the early Tang Dynasty, Gaochang collapsed and Xizhou prefecture was set up with the same basic jurisdiction as present-day Turpan. In the same year, the Tang Court set up the Anxi Protectorate to pacify the Western Regions. Around 709, the Tubo and Uighur (an ancient name of today's Uygur) tribes competed with each other for ownership of Xizhou and eventually the Uighurs won. They established the Gaochang Uighur Kingdom centered in Gaochang City. During the late Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), this area was made up of Liucheng, Huozhou and Turpan. This was the first time the name Turpan appeared.

During the Ming Dynasty, Liucheng and Huozhou were incorporated into Turpan. After the decline of Ming Dynasty, Turpan became the territory of Qing Dynasty. In the twelfth year of Emperor Guangxu, the Turpan Department was established and directly under the governor of Dihua Prefecture. In the second year of the Republic of China (1013), Turpan County was established. After liberation, it was first under the jurisdiction of Dihua prefecture, and now directly under the Autonomous Region.

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