Turpan in NW China's Xinjiang turns scorching heat into asset

    Turpan in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has turned its extreme heat into an asset. The city sees daily highs above 35 degrees Celsius on more than 100 days a year, and this July alone has already recorded 20 days topping 40 degrees Celsius. It recently recorded a high above 50 degrees Celsius, while ground temperatures often exceed 70 degrees Celsius. Annual average precipitation is just 14.7 millimeters, compared with annual evaporation of 2,477.5 millimeters.