Karez: The Wisdom of Underground Canals
How to understand the qanat: the four structural sections of vertical shafts, underground channels, open channels, and embankments; the underground exhibition section of the museum; and the engineering background comparable to the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.
What It Is
The Karez is an irrigation system that channels snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains into oases through underground tunnels. It is considered one of Ancient China's three major engineering feats alongside the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. There are over 2,000 Karez still existing in Turpan.
Four-Part Structure
Vertical shafts (construction and access passages), underground tunnels (main water channels to prevent evaporation), open channels (water segments above ground), and reservoirs (water storage). Understanding these four parts allows you to fully comprehend the system on site.
Visiting Recommendations
At the Karez Museum, you can descend into the underground channels and walk along a section to experience the coolness underground (year-round temperature of around ten degrees Celsius); the Miyimu Ajik Karez serves as a living water source point.
Background Story
Turpan receives very little annual rainfall while its evaporation rate is extremely high. The underground water transmission of the Karez is a perfect response to the hot and dry climate—it is also the key to understanding all the vineyards in this oasis.