[2] The Turpan Basin is a fault-bounded trough located in the eastern part of the Tian Shan.

[3] The Turpan Basin formed in a shear zone during the Late Permian due to motion between the East European and the Angaran craton.

In the latter deformation, a thrust fault belt running from east to west, the Flaming Mountains, was formed in the center of the basin.

The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which are located in the Flaming Mountains' Mutou Valley, about 30 km (19 mi) east of the city of Turpan, have been hewn into the rock from the Tang dynasty–era up to the time of the Yuan dynasty (13th century).

[4] The Turpan Basin has a harsh, continental desert climate (Koppen BWk) in which the precipitation is far less than the potential evaporation.

[citation needed] Because of its climate, the area is sometimes counted as one of the Furnaces of China, although the locations included under this heading vary.

On the shores of Aydingkol Lake, reeds, tamarisks, saxauls, as well as other shrubs and weeds can be found.

Recently, development of groundwater through tubewells has led to a general fall in water tables, and many karez systems have failed.

The cultivated fruit include: mulberry, peach, apricot, apple, pomegranate, pear, fig, walnut, as well as grapes, watermelons and true melons.