Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival Returns

Women dressed in colorful outfits perform at the 27th Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

The 27th Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival kicked off in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Monday.

Turpan is the main grape production area in China, with a yield of 52.84 percent in all Xinjiang, accounting for one-fifth of the country. There are more than 550 kinds of grapes in Turpan, making it the "Vineyard of the World".

The festival, first held in 1990, was to commemorate the 2100th anniversary of the opening up of the Silk Road. Now it has become an important event in Xinjiang, central and western regions of China and central Asia, which integrates the culture and folk customs of these regions and has great influence.

A man feeds a woman using a very long spoon at the 27th Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

A woman picks grapes with a young child in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

Women pick grapes in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

A variety of raisins are displayed at the 27th Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. 

[Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

A cluster of plump grapes is on display at the 27th Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. 

[Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

A wide variety of grapes are displayed on a table at the 27th Silk Road Turpan Grape Festival in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

A man tastes grapes in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. 

[Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

A man picks grapes in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

Large clusters of grapes hang on the vine in Turpan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 3, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]