Turpan was called Gushi in ancient times. It was the place where the State of South Cheshi and the South Cheshi Court were set up during the Han Dynasty. During the Earlier Liang Dynasty, Gaochang Prefecture and Tiandi County were established here, which were under the Jurisdiction of the Shazhou (Dunhuang) Administrative Division. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, the State of Gaochang was founded here by the ancient Rourna nationality. During the Tang Dynasty, Xichang Prefecture was set here, which was later renamed “Xizhou Prefecture.” During the Song Dynasty, it was called “Gaochang Huigu” and later “Uygur” with a regent as the governor. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Hezhou Administrative Department was established under the jurisdiction of the Bieshibali (Five Cities in Turkic) Executive Chancery. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Department of the Director General (Wanhu Daluhuachi) was established to administer Liucheng, Huozhou and Turpan. During the Ming Dynasty,, Liucheng and Huozhou were incorporated into Turpan. During the Qing Dynasty, it was under the Bizhan Executive Minister of Shanshan, which was under the jurisdiction of the Gansu Administrative Department. In 1779, the forty-fourth year of the Qing Emperor Qianlong, it was under the jurisdiction of the Leading Minister of Turpapn. In 1884, the tenth year of the Qing Emperor Guangxu, it was under the jurisdiction of an assistant general of the governor of Anxi Prefecture of Gansu Province. 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, then directly under the Autonomous Region; it now belongs to the city of Urumqi and Turpan Prefecture.

The peculiar topography of the Turpan Depression exerts a tremendous influence on the climate here. The climate of the central part of the depression differs greatly from that of the rounding mountainous areas. The Turpan Depression climate generally referred to is represented by that of the central area of the depression where the highest absolute temperature reaches 47℃ or more. The depression has more than one hundred days a year when the highest temperature reaches above 35℃ and thirty-five to fifty sweltering days when the highest temperature reaches above 40℃. The temperature of the ground surface in summer even reaches 70℃. But it is not as hot in the surrounding area as in the depression center. The unique topography and climatic conditions bring about the peculiarity of “strong winds, blowing, in most cases, from the northwest, occur mostly in spring and summer and particularly in the months of April to July. Baiyanghe in Toksun County and Shisanjianfang in Shanshan County are the main wind gaps of the depression. Under the strong winds, the quicksand in the central part and on the fringes of the depression drifts violently.

Turpan is most famous for its splendid grapes. Every household has a ventilated barn on the roof, and some of the world's finest grapes are produced here. 70% of the 500,000 population here are Uigur and the residents here are generally a very friendly bunch, the food is good, the living is cheap and the wine is not bad either!

There are many tourist attractions, such as the ruins of the ancient cities of Gaochang and Yarkhoto, Sugong Pagoda, the Grape Gully, and the underground irrigation system.