In the previous 25 days, I have traveled from Guangdong to southern Xinjiang, and the upcoming journey is also the top priority of this departure, which is the splendid Populus euphratica in autumn. In this section of the travel notes, we will also see Horseshoe Bay, a secret place in Tusk, and Baili Gallery in Tangbula, and experience the charm of the desert through the Tarim Desert Highway.
Day 26 Kashgar to Aksu
Hurry to Aksu, accompanied by wind and sand all the way. An exotic restaurant for Uyghur compatriots, hand pilaf, baked buns, and mutton skewers are delicious and cheap.
Day 27 Wensu to Kuqa
Aksu is very close to Wensu Grand Canyon, and the scenic spot is relatively large. You can drive your own car into the scenic spot after buying a ticket. It is quite exciting to watch the dust raised behind the car. The canyon is dominated by brown-red mountains, with few shrubs, and the scenery is relatively primitive and slightly ordinary. It can be seen in 2 hours.
Arrive at Kuqa County at noon. First go to the Kuqa Temple, which is the second largest temple in Xinjiang after the Kashgar Id Kah Mosque. It's a pity that the closed door cannot be visited inside. From the appearance, the gate of the temple is towering, all made of bricks, solemn and straight.
Then go to Kuqa Palace, there is an ancient city wall near the entrance of the scenic spot
The Kuqa Palace was built in 1759 by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in recognition of the achievements of the local Uyghur leader E Dui in helping to quell the size and size of the Hezhuo rebellion. style palace building
There is an exhibition area of the Kucha Museum in the palace, displaying the ancient Kucha culture and seeing the bearded Buddha statues
Day 28 Kuqa
In the morning, go to the Kizilgaha Thousand Buddha Cave, which is located 13 kilometers northwest of Kuqa County. The poplar trees on both sides of the scenic road grow straight to the sky
Some leaves are golden yellow
The bronze statue of Kumarajiva in front of the cave is the landmark building here. After checking the information, it was found that this is a statue of Kumarajiva, a famous eminent monk in Tianzhu. Kumarajiva's most famous thought is to condense the essence of the most important principles of Mahayana Buddhism into eight words: "Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form". This Buddha statue was made for the International Symposium dedicated to the 1650th anniversary of Kumarajiva's birth in 1994. Meditating on profound and infinite Buddhist issues.
The Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves were dug in the third century AD (the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty), and the fifth to seventh centuries were the most prosperous period. There are 236 officially numbered grottoes, but only six caves are open. Tourists in groups of 10 will follow the guide. a visit. The grottoes are stacked on top of each other, row upon row, scattered like a beehive.
In caves of different sizes and shapes, see the well-preserved flying murals
The life scenes of the donors, the murals with unique style
Along the way to Gaha Beacon Tower, enter the scenic area, and you can see Beacon Tower from a distance in a flat yellow land. This majestic ancient military building, after more than 2,000 years of ups and downs, is still majestic. It is the oldest and best-preserved beacon site on the Silk Road. It was announced by the State Council as a national key cultural relic protection unit in 2001.
Going back to Kuqa County, passing through a viewing platform, some mountains look like flames soaring into the sky
Some of them are like ruins and go straight to the ground
"Looking up at the sky" is engraved on the stone wall. Is it a lion?
There is also the Pyramid Natural Tourist Area (Yardang Landform)
Duku Highway terminal sign.
Day 29 Kuqa to Nalati
Kuqa’s naan is very famous. The old man lay on the kang and baked the naan, which was bigger than his face. The fragrance could be smelled from far away.
Today, take the Duku Highway and set off to the mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains. The local people of the Grand Canyon call it Kezilia, which means "red cliff" in Uighur. The total length of the canyon is 5 kilometers, all of which are composed of giant reddish-brown mountain groups. The scenic spot is deep and mysterious, completely surpassing the Wensu Grand Canyon.
Continue to the beautiful scenery of Duku, the river passing by, accompanied by the yellowing Populus euphratica, immediately attracts the attention.
Go north along the Duku Highway for 120 kilometers into the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains. Before crossing Tielimaiti Daban, there are two alpine lakes, one large and one small, on both sides of the road, which are the big and small Longchi. Dalongchi is surrounded by mountains with snow-capped mountains and towering pines and cypresses at the foot. It is said that when Xuanzang went to India to learn Buddhist scriptures, he passed by Dalongchi. There is a vivid description of Dalongchi in his book "Da Tang Western Regions".
After exiting the sign of Kuqa Grand Canyon National Address Park, climb over Tielimaiti Daban, which is also the watershed between southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang. Looking around, there are towering and steep peaks, and the snow on the top of the mountain is shining brightly. white light.
Then all the way downhill, the altitude dropped from more than 3,000 to Bayinbulak, which was more than 2,000. Bayinbulak is a national nature reserve. The terrain in the basin is flat, and the melting water of ice and snow from the surrounding mountains gathers to form lakes and swamps, where grasses grow luxuriantly.
Look at the huge sign of Bayinbulak Swan Reserve
Day 30 Nalati to Turks
Nalati had been here a few years ago, so he didn't stop much and rushed to Turks.
Tekes is famous for its Bagua City. The Bagua layout is unique. It is said that it is the only county in the country without traffic lights. After field investigation, there are still traffic lights at every intersection, except for the most central roundabout.
The leaves on the roadside are soaked in autumn colors, and the forest is soaked
Drive to the Kalajun Grassland, the grassland mountains are undulating, covered with thousands of ravines eroded by the snow and water of the Tianshan Mountains. Snowflakes began to fall in the sky, and the gray background affected the scenery, but the Cantonese people couldn't restrain their excitement when they saw the snow, and lay down directly in the snow.
Does the view from the hotel feel like a small town in Eastern Europe?
Dinner is completed in a stylish Halal restaurant
Day 31 Turks
The town of Turks is very quiet, so I decided to stay for one more day. I drove along the Turks River in the morning. The mountains were covered with carpet-like grass stretching like waves of the sea.
Going further in, the Tekes River is as green as a jade belt, winding along the side of the mountain road, unexpectedly it is an unknown secret place. The wooden houses of the farmhouses with golden lawns, everything seems to be in the painting.
Suddenly the river makes a big turn here, forming a U-shaped channel surrounded by rocks shaped like horseshoes, which is completely comparable to the "Horseshoe Bend" of the Colorado River.
There is a large piece of gentle slope near the county seat, leaving traces of machinery, and the arc is as quiet and simple as a woodcut. Against the background of blue sky and white clouds, the mountains glow with golden brilliance.
Day 32 Turks to Yining
Arrive at Zhaosu early in the morning, where there is the largest military horse farm in the country. In the vast grassland, you can see horses walking leisurely. I went to Yining on the Zhaoyi Highway. When I got to the intersection, I was informed that the highway was closed yesterday due to heavy snowfall. I lamented that time waits for no one.
As the old saying goes, if you come, you will be safe, go to the grassland stone man first, only because the scenery is too ordinary, one hour is enough.
Then I went to Shengyou Temple. I didn't expect this Tibetan Buddhist temple to have the style of Central Plains architecture. The ancient trees in the temple are towering, quiet and solemn. Looking along the central axis, the buildings are patchwork and the layout is symmetrical. There are prayer wheels, but no prayer flags hanging.
The main building of Shengyou Temple has a square layout, four-cornered cornices, and excellent wood carvings. It is really a rare ancient building complex in the frontier, which is amazing.
During the harvest season, the golden wheat waves and the rectangular wheat straw are never tired of seeing.
Return the original road from Tekes to Yining, turn around in the urban area of Yining, Kazanqi Folk Tourist Area, the whole block is based on blue, and the shooting effect is better when the sun is shining obliquely, but you have to go to Hanren Street for dinner , the night market is very lively
Day 33 Yining
Today's itinerary is Huiyuan Ancient City and Sailimu Lake. The ancient city of Huiyuan is located in Huocheng County, Yili, Xinjiang. In order to strengthen the governance of the Yili area, Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty set up General Yili here and built Huiyuan City. In the center of Huiyuan ancient city stands the majestic and tall Bell and Drum Tower, the towering old trees in the General's Mansion, and the simple and elegant courtyard-style buildings. At the door are two stone lions with the rough carving skills of Xinjiang.
Lin Zexu once led the people to open water conservancy here, as evidenced by pen and ink.
The Guozigou Bridge was very windy, and the drone could not take off, but the scenery is beautiful, like the mountains in Switzerland. When taking pictures, it is backlit, but the eyes see it more beautifully.
When we arrived at Sailimu Lake, the weather turned cloudy. Taking advantage of a ray of sunshine, we quickly pressed the shutter. The lake water was blue, clear and transparent. Soon dark clouds covered the sky, and the scenery was greatly reduced.
The view from outside the hotel
Day 34 Yining to Nilek
Drive to Nilek, accompanied by snow-capped mountains all the way. The scenery outside the car window completely melts the fatigue of driving. This is the scenery around the checkpoint. The herdsmen are driving their flocks as if they are doing business.
It took more than three hours to arrive at the Nilek Black Bee Manor Ecological Hotel. The environment of the hotel is very good. Facing the continuous snow-capped mountains, a few white geese are leisurely pacing on the golden lawn, and the patchwork trees surround the edge of the pool, reflecting the white The yurts and the steeple of the main building can take beautiful photos at any time.
In the afternoon, go to Tangbula Scenic Area, which is worthy of the reputation of "Baili Gallery". The perfect fusion of grasslands, snow peaks, rivers, pines and cypresses is a fairy picture.
For dinner, I went to Bee Town, which is six kilometers away from the hotel. There are many restaurants to choose from. The plate of braised lamb was cooked by the chef after I was seated. I waited for about an hour. All the waiting was worth it. The delicious aftertaste I still have to swallow my saliva thinking about it.
Day 35 Nilek to Nalati
From Nileke to Qiaoerma, you can take a section of the Duku Highway to Gongnaisi, but the heavy snow has arrived, and the Duku Highway has been closed, so we can only transfer from Xinyuan. It must be too late, the hotel is closed today, and we are the last guests of this year. The hotel took another photo to commemorate, and I was really reluctant to leave the Baili Gallery, so I walked again.
Reluctantly leaving Nilek, the road to Xinyuan is also picturesque. The yellow and green birch trees guard the road like guards, and the golden leaves shine brightly under the blue sky.
Resting by a river, surrounded by snow-capped mountains in the distance, and nearby shepherds grazing sheep, Xinjiang is really a good place
Picking up a stone on the river beach as a souvenir
On the way back to Nalati
I have already greeted the owner of the inn where I stayed last time, and a pot of chicken soup is waiting for us. Looking at the little flowers on the window sill, chatting with the proprietress, drinking delicious chicken soup, lamenting the beauty of life!
Day 36 Nalati to Korla
On the way from Nalati to Korla, the rolling snow-capped mountains
The most impressive thing is the harvest of red peppers. As long as there is flat land on both sides of the road, they are used to dry peppers. The red color is overwhelming, the trees in the distance are golden, and the blue sky divides the picture into three major color blocks. The chili stack is half a person high, and the sorting workers are embedded in it
Passing by the ruins of Qigexing Buddhist Temple
The beauty of Korla is unexpected, the city is full of high-rise buildings, the Kongque River passes through the city, and there are swans in twos and threes on the river.
There are also a variety of delicacies, of course the grilled lamb chops are the favorite
Day 37 Korla to Luntai
Today is about to start the most important part of this journey: the journey of Populus euphratica. I was in a hurry to arrive at this time. Everything is just right.
Before arriving at Luntai, the beautiful scenery of Populus euphratica has already started the prologue. A dazzling golden spot on the right side of the road attracted us, there are only twenty or thirty trees, small in size, golden, which is the best viewing period for the leaves
through cotton fields
Passing through a golden Populus euphratica forest, taking pictures along the way
We entered Luntai Populus euphratica Forest Park at 5:00 pm, and the Populus euphratica glowed golden in the setting sun.
Taiwan Populus euphratica Forest Park is the first desert Populus euphratica forest park in China, and it is also the largest wild Populus euphratica forest in my country. The Populus euphratica forest on both sides of the Tarim River in the park is reflected in the water with blue sky and white clouds. The image is clear and vivid, which is amazing.
There is also a 20 to 30-meter-high watchtower in the park. When you climb to the top of the tower, you can see the Populus euphratica forest, stretching along the track of the small train to the vast sky, so spectacular!
Under the setting sun, Populus euphratica is vigorous and golden, just like an oil painting.
Stay at Luntai Populus euphratica Hotel, just beside the gate of Populus euphratica Park in Tarim, convenient for watching the sunrise and sunset.
Day 38 Luntai to Qiemo
Take the Tarim Desert Highway (that is, the Taklamakan Desert Highway)
This is currently the longest road built in the mobile desert in the world, and the road condition is excellent. The desert is being governed, and some branches are submerged by the flowing sand, and the struggle between man and nature can still be felt
Desert Populus euphratica accompanied all the way, to the tower in the southeast direction to Qiemo
Day 39 Qiemo to Ruoqiang
Along the National Highway 315, from Qiemo to Ruoqiang, you still walk through the desert all the way. Is there still Populus euphratica forest, and Populus euphratica stretches its vigorous and powerful body with a rich golden color.
Ruoqiang is the largest county in China, equivalent to the size of two Zhejiang provinces. The Loulan Museum is a must visit. The entire building of the museum has strong ancient Loulan architectural features. One side of the building imitates the construction of the Milan Pagoda, and the other side is a modern architectural style.
On the wall of the modern building, there is a head portrait of a fairy-like beauty restored from the Loulan female corpse.
Under the stupa-like building, there are three Buddha statues
Collections
Winged Angel Mural
We will leave Xinjiang from Mangya and enter Qinghai, and this trip to southern Xinjiang will also come to an end temporarily. Compared with northern Xinjiang, southern Xinjiang has a strong ethnic atmosphere, and all aspects of life such as architecture, food, and clothing can experience a strong Islamic atmosphere. And I was deeply impressed by the vast desert landscape in southern Xinjiang. Looking back now, I am still very excited to be able to drive my car on the vast desert.
goodbye
In the next section, we will start our trip in Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan, and we will see more beautiful scenery soon, such as Mangya Aiken Spring, Emerald Lake, Xinlongcuoka Lake, Litang Genie Eye, Yunnan Baishui Terrace, etc. See you next time!
