China Exploration - China Adventure Tours and Travel Service
  • China Exploration - China Adventure Tours and Travel Service
  • 86-28-86270775
  • info@chinaexploration.com
  • Tour Code Search
  • HOME
  • China Tours
    • Top 10 China Tours
    • Classic China Tours
    • Yangtze Cruise Tour

        Yangtze Cruise Routes

        Yangtze Cruise Calendar

    • Join-in Group Tours
    • Short Stay Tours

        144 hours VISA free tours

        Less than 7 days tours

    • Family Tours
  • Adventure Tours
    • Overland Off-road Tours
    • Culture & Folklore Tours
    • Wildlife Exploration Tours
    • Trekking & Hiking Tours
    • Eco-Tour
    • M.I.C.E. & Event
    • School and Education Tours
  • DESTINATIONS
      BeijingChengduChongqingDaliDatongGuilinGuiyangHangzhouHongkongHuangshanKunmingLanzhouLhasaLijiangLuoyangPingyaoSanyaShanghaiShangrilaHohhotUrumqiWuhanXiamenXi’anXiningYinchuanZhangjiajie Explore All Destinations>>
  • Customized your trip
  • TRAVEL GUIDE
    • Travel to China
    • China Visa and Permit
    • Chinese Attractions
    • Chinese Culture
    • China Nature Reserve
    • China City Guide
    • China Maps
    • China Travel News
    • Hotel Booking
    • FAQS
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Glory
    • Olympic Torch Bearer
    • Feedback
    • Photo Album
    • Travel Story
    • Travel Video
    • Teams and Condition
    • Insurance Policy
    • Site Map
  • China Tours
  • Top 10 China Tours
  • Classic China Tours
  • Join-in Group Tours
  • Short Stay Tours
  • Family Tours
  • Adventure Tours
  • Overland Off-road Tours
  • Culture & Folklore Tours
  • Wildlife Exploration Tours
  • Trekking & Hiking Tours
  • Eco-Tour
  • M.I.C.E. & Event
  • School and Education Tours
  • Honeymoon Tour
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Beijing Tours
  • Chengdu Tours
  • Chongqing Tours
  • Dali Tours
  • Dalian Tours
  • Datong Tours
  • Guilin Tours
  • Guiyang Tours
  • Guangzhou Tours
  • Haerbin Tours
  • Hangzhou Tours
  • Hohhot Tours
  • HongKong Tours
  • Huangshan Tours
  • Kashgar Tours
  • Kunming Tours
  • Lanzhou Tours
  • Tibet Tours
  • Lijiang Tours
  • Luoyang Tours
  • TRAVEL GUIDE
  • Travel to China
  • China Visa and Permit
  • Chinese Attractions
  • Chinese Culture
  • China Nature Reserve
  • China City Guide
  • China Maps
  • China Travel News
  • Hotel Booking
  • FAQS
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Glory
  • Olympic Torch Bearer
  • Feedback
  • Photo Album
  • Travel Story
  • Terms And Condition
  • Insurance Policy
  • sitemap
Home > TRAVEL GUIDE > China Attractions > Xinjiang Attractions
Ancient China Greatest Water System Karez

 

kan-er-wellLocated in the Turpan of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Karez Water System or Karez System is an irrigation system adapted by local people to solve the problem of water supply. The word Karez means ‘well’ in the local Uyghur language. Due to its unique design and great importance, Karez is considered as one of the three greatest water projects of China, linking it with the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Grand Canal.
 
The Karez system collects water from melting snow from the Tian Shan Mountains and the nearby Flaming Mountains. The canals channel the water to the surface, taking advantage of the current provided by the gravity of the downward slope of the Turpan Depression. It runs from high to low ground owing to gravity alone.
 
The number of Karez Wells that are situated in Turpan Depression today is over 1,000 and the channels have a total length of over 5,000 kilometers. Karez systems are very delicate irrigation systems made up of vertical wells, underground canals, above-ground canals and small reservoirs. Generally, a Karez is 3 km (1.9 miles) with the longest being 20 to 30 km (12-19 miles) with several dozen vertical wells.
In Turpan it is very dry and hot in summer, and land here has a high evaporation rate. And in the windy season, much farmland and many water channels are buried by sand that is brought by wind. However, in Karez system, the underground canal is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high and covered with earth to resist the heat. The surface canals, connected to the underground ones, are not more than 1 meter (3.2 feet) wide with trees planted on both sides to prevent evaporation. Therefore, Karez Wells can supply water through underground channels and are independent of the
Karez well
 effect of seasons, wind and sand.

Most of the Karezes in the Turpan area were built during the Qing Dynasty era or before 1949. But in modern times, concrete canals and ditches were built and pipes were installed, and hundreds of wells were dug. Now only about 300 Karez are still active, and they supply about 16 percent of the water for irrigation in the Turpan area. And there is also a museum called the Turpan Karez Museum or the Turpan Water Museum. The museum has pictures and models instructing on the history of the Karez system, and there are underground tunnels people can walk around in and see a Karez.

More Attractions

  • Urumqi Attractions
    Urumqi Attractions
    Attractions in Urumqi are mostly cultural sites and Bazzar.Urumqi, located in north of Tian......
  • Turpan Attractions
    Turpan Attractions
    Turpan Attractions are well known in the world including the red mountain,grape valley, Kan......
  • Heaven Lake of Tianshan
    Heaven Lake of Tianshan
    Tianchi Lake in Tianshan, means lake of the heaven, is an attraction about 1.5 to 2 hours d......
  • Red Hill Park
    Red Hill Park
    The Red Hill Park, or Hongshan, stands 1391 meters above sea level as a public attractions ......

Recommended Tours

Mt. Wudangshan Off-beaten Track Tour in Hubei

It is overland tour to Mt. Wudangshan in Hubei province from Xian. Hubei province is located in mid China connecting many provinces in China by convenient transportation of railway, cruise, and flights......

1 Day Chengdu Harmoney Tours of Mt Qingchengshan and Dujiangyan Dam

One day classic tours of Chengdu to Mt. Qingchengshan and Dujiangyan Dam will show tourist the profound of ancient Chinese wisdom and culture in harmony relation with the world. ......

1 Day Chengdu Giant Panda and Leshan Buddha Day Trip

The most classic one day Chengdu tours will bring tourist to Chengdu Giant panda garden and Leshan giant buddha with private travel guide and car in Chengdu, extremely convenient and easy!......

1 Day Best Chengdu Tours of Sanxingdui and Giant Panda Garden

One days best Chengdu tours bring tourist to Sanxingdui museum and giant panda garden with private guide and car, making your tour in Chengdu easy. ......

1 Day Chengdu Panda Volunteer Tour in Dujiangyan/Wolong/Bifengxia

This panda volunteer work provide tourist with one days unique experience of Panda volunteer project works and bring them an intimate touch with Giant pandas, also the best way to learn deep about pand......

2 Days Mt. Emeishan and Leshan Bullet Train Adventure

It is tour from the only one operator in Chengdu tours market offering Emeishan and Leshan tours by bullet train. Our highlights including Leshan Giant Buddha and Mt Emeishan. ......

Popular China Packages
  • Top 10 China Tours
  • Yangtze Cruise Tours
  • China Short Trips
  • Tibet Tours
  • Sichuan Tours
  • Yunnan Tour
  • Guilin Tour
  • Xiamen Tours
Adventure Tours
  • Overland Off-road Tours
  • Culture & Folklore Tours
  • Wildlife Exploration Tours
  • Trekking & Hiking Tours
  • Eco-Tour
  • M.I.C.E. & Event
  • School and Education Tours
  • Honeymoon Tour
China Travel Guide
  • Travel to China
  • China Visa and Permit
  • China Attractions
  • Chinese culture
  • China Nature Reserves
  • City Guide
  • China Maps
  • China Travel News
  • FAQS
Follow Us
Keep me updated
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest news direct to your inbox.

Address: 35th, Yangguang Business Center, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, Zip610065, China
About us | Contact us | Teams and Condition | Customer Center | Site Map
TEL: 028-86270775 E-mail: info@chinaexploration.com
Working hours:9:00AM-6:00PM(GMT+8)),Copyright(2003-2025) 蜀ICP05000963号 China Exploration Tour

  • Email: info@chinaexploration.com
  • Telephone: 86-28-86270775