By train: Turpan is on the main rail line between Lanzhou and Ürümqi. Frequent high-speed trains run from Ürümqi to Turpan North in 1 hour; the older Turpan station, 50 km out of town, is served by the longer-distance overnight trains from Xi'an, Lanzhou, Dunhuang and beyond. A shuttle bus or taxi connects either station to central Turpan.
By road: an expressway connects Turpan to Ürümqi (180 km, around 2 hours by car or bus) and continues east to Hami and beyond. Buses run from the Turpan bus station to most cities in Xinjiang.
By air: Turpan Jiaohe Airport opened in 2010, with several daily flights to Ürümqi, Xi'an, Beijing and Shanghai. Most visitors still fly into Ürümqi and continue by high-speed train.
Foreign visitors should expect identification checks at multiple points entering and leaving the city; carry your passport at all times. Travel within Xinjiang remains subject to the wider security restrictions in force across the region.