The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (Bozikeli Qian Fo Dong) are complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries. There are 77 rock-cut caves at the site. Some ceilings are painted with a large Buddha surrounded by other figures; including Indians; Persians and Europeans. The quality of the murals vary with some being artistically naive while others are masterpieces of religious art.

The Turpan Oasis was a strategically significant centre on Xinjiang's Northern Silk Route; site of the ancient cities of Yarkhoto (Jiaohe) and Karakhoja (Gaochang). Chinese armies first entered Turpan in the 2nd century BC; during the reign of Han Emperor Wu Di (141-87) when the oasis was a centre of Indo-European Tocharian culture.

Turpan retained a distinctly Buddhist character until the time of the Chagatai Khanate in the 13th century; when Islam gradually became the dominant religion.