Tuyugou Mazha Village Travel Guide
The thousand-year earthen settlement at the foot of Flame Mountain
Tuyugou Mazha Village is hidden in the gorge of Shengjinkou in Flaming Mountains, with adobe houses stacked layer upon layer on the slopes, and is considered one of the oldest existing Uyghur villages in Xinjiang. There is a stream and poplar trees at the bottom of the gorge, and the Thousand Buddha Caves are on the mountainside. It takes about half a day to get there from Turpan city.
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Destination Details
Tuyugou is a rift valley on the eastern section of Flaming Mountain, where traces of both Buddhism and Islamic culture can be found: the Thousand Buddha Caves on the western cliff of the valley were carved during the Gaochang period, and the village's mazar is regarded as a sacred site. Today, walking into the village, mud-brick walls, mulberry trees, and drying sheds are still the main features, and the sense of daily life is much stronger than that of a tourist spot.
Things to Do
- Strolling through village alleys: Walk slowly along the alleys on the valley slope; mud-brick houses and grape drying sheds are the most picturesque
- Thousand Buddha Caves: The cave murals on the mountainside retain the style of the Gaochang period, open depending on preservation conditions
- Combination visits: Often visited on the same day with Flaming Mountain, Grape Valley, and the Gaochang Ancient City
The village is still a residential settlement, so greet people before taking photos and avoid entering courtyards. Summers around Flaming Mountain are extremely hot, so visiting in the early morning is most comfortable.
