> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.alwihdainfo.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How Turpan's Vineyards Are Saving Water Through Smart Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation - URL: https://www.alwihdainfo.com/how-turpans-vineyards-are-saving-water-through-smart-micro-sprinkler-irrigation/ - Published: 2026-08-30T01:41:32.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-30T01:41:31.000Z - Description: Faced with extreme heat and severe water scarcity, Turpan in China's Xinjiang region has successfully modernized its vineyards with micro-sprinkler irrigation, saving water while maintaining crop yields. - Author: Alwihda Info - Tags: English News **Par Shang Rongzheng, People's Daily** Under the blazing midday sun, temperatures in Turpan, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, had already soared past 40 degrees Celsius. Yet amid the sprawling vineyards of Shalek village in Ya'er township, Gaochang district, the gentle sound of flowing water could still be heard. "Come on, let me show you my vineyard!" said Rahman Wupur, a local villager, leading the way. Along the irrigation channels, small streams of water continuously sprayed from tiny pipes, while clusters of grapes glistened in the sunlight. The irrigation channels were more than 40 centimeters deep, but the pooling water measured no more than 10 centimeters, leaving much of the channel seemingly dry. "If we use flood irrigation, the grapevines can effectively use only about half of the water. Most of the rest simply evaporates, resulting in significant waste," said Wang Xiaoyan, a deputy official with the Turpan Water Resources Bureau. According to Wang, water is also lost to evaporation as it travels several kilometers through open channels to reach the vineyards, with nearly 30 percent vanishing along the way. Known as the "Flaming Land," Turpan experiences some of China's most extreme summer heat, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius and ground surface temperatures topping 70 degrees Celsius. The region receives an average annual precipitation of just 14.7 millimeters, while its average annual evaporation reaches 2,477.5 millimeters. Water resources are inherently scarce, and agriculture accounts for more than 80 percent of the region's water use, with a large share devoted to grape cultivation. Since 2023, Turpan has been rolling out a high-efficiency, water-saving irrigation project in its vineyards. The initiative is phasing out water-intensive flood irrigation and replacing it with micro-sprinkler systems that deliver water according to actual crop demand. The first major change is how water is transported. Following the micro-sprinkler pipes from Rahman Wupur's vineyard to the edge of the field, one can see them emerge from underground, originating from a water storage basin several kilometers away. Aret Rahmutul, an official with the Gaochang District Water Resources Bureau, told People's Daily that water from the basin is pumped to a higher pressure before being delivered through underground pipelines directly to individual vineyards. This system eliminates the evaporation losses caused by transporting water over long distances on the surface, echoing the underground channels of the traditional karez irrigation system, which transports usable water from aquifers or wells through underground aqueducts, Aret added. Since the project began, Turpan has laid a total of 16,200 kilometers of pipelines and 146,900 kilometers of micro-sprinkler tape, covering about 550,000 mu (36,667 hectares) of vineyards. The second change lies in how water is applied. Micro-sprinkler irrigation follows a slow-and-steady approach. Each session lasts two to three hours, allowing water to spray gently and gradually seep into the soil. Although only a small amount accumulates in the channels, it is enough to fully meet the grapevines' needs. "After each irrigation session, the water left in the soil continues to seep downward and is fully absorbed by the grape roots, greatly reducing waste," Aret said. Monitoring shows that since the introduction of the project, each mu of vineyard has saved more than 200 cubic meters of water annually while maintaining an adequate supply for the vines. Water and electricity costs have also fallen by more than 50 yuan per mu. The transition from excessive watering to a slow-and-steady approach requires grape roots to adapt gradually. To achieve this, local authorities implemented a year-by-year water-reduction strategy. When Rahman first learned that flood irrigation would be replaced by micro-sprinklers, he was firmly opposed. "This is how our families have grown grapes for generations. The water from micro-sprinklers is so little. What if the vines don't get enough water and the harvest suffers?" he said. A potential drop in output was his primary concern. However, seeing is believing. The village organized growers to visit a demonstration vineyard utilizing the new system. Staff members used shovels to dig into the soil around the grape roots, checking how far the water had seeped. "We dug down one meter, and the soil was still moist," Rahman said, noting that the demonstration greatly reassured him. During the harvest, officials measured the output and confirmed that micro-sprinkler irrigation had not reduced yields, finally putting Rahman's mind at ease. Today, the high-efficiency water-saving project covers more than 80 percent of Turpan's vineyards, ensuring that every drop of water in the "Flaming Land" is put to optimal use.