Southern Xinjiang is worth seeing

9.25 Beijing—Korla Tarim Petroleum Apartment

9.28 Korla—Kuqa 378KM Kuqa Hotel

9.29 Kuche-Kashgar 711KM Tarim Petroleum Hotel

10.3 Kashi - Taxkorgan County 288KM Europa Garden Hotel

10.4 Taxkorgan County—Kashgar 288KM Tarim Petroleum Hotel

10.5 Kashgar-Aksu 470KM Vienna International Hotel Airport Store

10.6 Aksu—Kuqa 248KM Kuqa Hotel

10.8 Kuqa - Luntai - Korla 144+215KM Tarim Petroleum Apartment

10.9 Korla-Beijing

It's a bit early to go to southern Xinjiang on November, and Populus euphratica is not yet yellow. During the half month we went, the weather was sunny and windy for no more than five days. We encountered flying sand and rocks a few times, and more often, there was an earthy smell in the air. We reviewed the dusty weather in Beijing that year. Southern Xinjiang is drier than Beijing, and the nose is very uncomfortable and bleeds. There are quite a lot of trees planted in the city, but unfortunately the leaves look a bit dusty.

Beijing, Korla, and Kashgar have the same latitude, all at about 40 degrees north latitude. Along the soil and the highway, it is about 1,100 kilometers westward from Korla to Kashgar. There is a desert on the left across the national highway and railway line, and the remnants of the Tianshan Mountains on the right. There is almost no grass on the mountain, and it becomes grayer and yellower in the sand and dust, with occasional red mountains breaking the monotony. In fact, monotonous colors can't conceal the variety of mountain shapes, there are ugly, strange, hideous, and ridiculous, but there is no beauty. This is the so-called reality of the lack of beautiful scenery in southern Xinjiang.

But southern Xinjiang is worth seeing. The strangeness of the mountains, the vastness of the water, the desolation of the desert, the vigorousness of Populus euphratica, the holiness of the snow-capped mountains, the gentleness of the plateau meadows, and the beauty and tranquility of the small villages in the valleys all make you surprise and comfort after a long journey. When you are running for hundreds of kilometers on a boring high-speed road without even seeing a gas station, suddenly a monster-like mountain prostrates on the side of the road, as if trying to lure you over; when you turn on the county road that goes up and down When going around, the village covered by green trees behind the Bald Mountain will surprise you with the singing of the stream; when you pass through a fog-like sandstorm on the national road, you will be suddenly shaken by the snow-capped mountains in the distance Eye. All of this is unpredictable, unexpected, and will surprise and excite you. The Kashgar people proudly say that they have almost all the characteristic landforms on the earth, such as plateaus, snow mountains, glaciers, Danxia, ​​Yadan, grasslands, rivers, lakes, and craters. This is the charm of southern Xinjiang, and this is the reason why you must go to southern Xinjiang once in your life.

There is a saying that the northern Xinjiang sees the scenery, and the southern Xinjiang sees the humanities. In fact, there are many Han people in southern Xinjiang now. Except for the half-exhibited Uighur residences preserved in the old city of Kashgar, it is not easy to see the original living conditions of the local ethnic minorities. The Gaotai folk houses in Kashgar have had their residents removed and are being renovated to turn them into scenic spots. The lifestyles of ethnic minorities have been largely modernized. Don't expect to see burly men walking through the city with knives, knives are forbidden. The restaurant's knives are all chained and cannot leave the kitchen. There was a dispute on the street, and Jingcha arrived within two minutes. People in Korla say that Xinjiang is now the safest place in the country. Most of the ethnic minorities we met were waiters or hawkers and scenic spot guides. Their Chinese was not very good, and communication was a bit difficult. The handsome Uighur guy at a dried fruit stand in the Kashgar Grand Bazaar had no barriers to communication, so I bought a batch of dried fruit from him, and when I came back, I found that two-thirds of the walnuts were bad.

The epidemic prevention measures were very strict wherever we went. We did three nucleic acid tests, once when we got off the plane, once at the Sanchakou near Kashgar on the expressway, and once in a Kashgar hotel. Walking on the street, I kept hearing the sound of "mask" and "wear the mask", and someone specially urged every pedestrian on the street with a loudspeaker. It is not a problem to scan the code when entering and exiting the hotel. Many checkpoints are a major feature of Xinjiang. This road has gone through more than ten inspections, including travel code, health code, ID, registration of personal information, registration of license plate, nucleic acid inspection, taking pictures of passengers in the car, and checking the trunk. Most of them don’t need to get off the bus, and check one or two items, sometimes three or four items, and some have to get off the bus. The most complicated time is at Sanchakou, where they have a nucleic acid test, which takes more than half an hour. The other time it took more than half an hour to enter Taxian County, the inspection was not complicated, it was just a long queue. This checkpoint needs to check the border defense card, and it is located on the top of a mountain more than 4,000 meters above sea level. People with strong resistance are waiting to die.

beautiful scenery

Like many ethnic minority areas, people who live near scenic spots rely on tourism for food. One is to work in scenic spots, and the other is to sell souvenirs. Xinjiang scenic spots are now drawing on international and domestic experience to standardize, which feels too rigid. The visitor center has a huge area and complete facilities. It is a few kilometers away from the scenic spot, and there are scenic cars. Many auxiliary facilities have been built outside the scenic area, intending to allow tourists to have more fun while viewing the scenery. Tickets are generally tens of yuan, only the Xiangfei Tomb is 120 yuan, and there is an additional charge for the scenic spot car. Some dining, leisure, shopping and entertainment facilities are built in the scenic area. They are said to be local specialties, but they are actually quite similar, the quality is not high, and not many people consume them. The bathrooms are very convenient and clean. In fact, I prefer to keep the scenic spot as it is. It is enough to build roads and toilets, and everything else is built outside the scenic spot.

This time we went in and out from Korla. The Uighur language of Korla means "overlook", and it was originally the Quli Kingdom, one of the thirty-six countries in the ancient Western Regions. Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty passed by here when he went to India to learn Buddhist scriptures. It was promoted to a city in 1979 and is now the largest city in southern Xinjiang. The Kongque River passes through the city. The Kongque River was once called the Yinma River. It is said that Banchao in the Eastern Han Dynasty once drank horses here. The Kongque River is a rare tributary-free water system, flowing through Korla and Yuli counties, and ending at Lop Nur. Lop Nur had no water in the 1970s. Our residence is right next to the Kongque River. The renovated Kongque River has become a good leisure choice for the locals. People walk or run along the riverside trails; not far away there is a platform protruding into the river, where some people enjoy the scenery. Or just enjoy the sunshine and breeze; the wider venue has become the base camp for square dancing. Across the Kongque River Bridge, there is Jiayi Lejia Supermarket, which seems to be a large chain store in the local area. There are many varieties of vegetables and fruits, and the prices are amazing. Grapes and apples are 4 yuan per kilogram, tomatoes are more than 2 yuan, and some vegetables are more than 1 yuan per kilogram.

Bosten Lake means "oasis" in Uygur language. It is located nearly 30 kilometers northeast of Korla City, covering an area of ​​1,228 square kilometers. The main water source is the Kaidu River, which is the source of the Kongque River. It is the seat of the ancient Yanqi Kingdom, one of the five traditional city-state kingdoms in the Western Regions. The local people believe in Theravada Buddhism, which was brought in from Tianzhu, and the characters are mainly imitated from India. At the end of the 13th century, this ancient country that had existed for 15 centuries was going into decline. A friend in Korla recommended us to go to the Dahekou (Xihai Fishing Village) scenic spot on the west bank of Bosten Lake, which is the most frequented "country park" by locals. The ticket office is far away from the gate of the scenic spot, and some new landscapes and hotels may be developed on the middle section of the road. Buy a ticket and drive to the gate. Maybe it's because of the epidemic. There are very few people in the scenic area. There is a row of empty food stalls at the gate, and a group of sightseeing bicycles are parked next to it. After entering the door, go straight to the left and there is an amusement park, which seems to be closed. On the right side is the water, which creates some small scenes. The criss-cross trestle bridges bring tourists closer to the water. There are also two observation decks on the third and fourth floors. When you climb up to the heights, you can see the landscape area on the shore and the endless lake in the distance. . Continue to go forward and walk to the end to the cruise ship wharf, accompanied by flowers and plants along the way, and tall pergolas for shade. There seem to be three kinds of boats for the lake tour. We didn't think it was interesting so we didn't take it. There is a free photo booth by the lake. We joined in the fun and took a few photos, and gave a palm-sized photo with very low pixels. If you want an 8-inch clear photo, you have to pay 20 yuan. We chose two and bought them. When I came out, the number of tourists increased, and several food stalls opened. This scenic spot has no special features, it is not suitable for tourists, but more suitable for locals to bring their children for leisure. The 45 yuan ticket is still reasonable.

The Luobu village is one of the largest villages in the west, including the Taklimakan Desert, wandering lakes, the Tarim River, and primitive Populus euphratica forests. I was blocked by the tourist center from a far away place, and spent 50 yuan to buy a ticket to enter by the scenic spot car. This section of the road is about three to four kilometers. The car stops in front of a gate building, and entering the gate of Abudan counts as entering the scenic spot. Check the ticket and change to another scenic car to continue in-depth. There are Populus euphratica forests, small ponds and sand dunes along the way, and the dark asphalt road winds up and down through it. Sitting in the inverted seat in the last row is very suitable for taking pictures. The first stop is Goddess Lake. There is a large shed where you can sit, eat, drink and rest. There are sandy mountains and a clear water next to it. A plank road along the lake has been built. Nice view. Climb up the sand hill to overlook the vastness. There are also camels, tanks, and excavators for children to play with. On the other side is the sand flushing project, which costs 150 yuan per person. Driving by yourself is 380 yuan per car, which can seat four people. After bargaining until he drove, the three of us took 380 yuan. The drivers are all local Uyghur villagers, and their Chinese is limited. The fat guy who drove us was so excited that the people in the car shouted "slow down". The car drove to a place and stopped for us to play. You can try to drive or sandboard. Of course, we mainly take pictures. Then return. I saw that the surrounding sand hills all looked the same, and I couldn't figure out where was where. I admired the locals for not getting lost. From this scenic spot, take a car to the village, and from here you can walk to the gate of Abudan. The place where you get off the bus is a large shed, where you can eat, such as simple meals such as steamed buns, grilled skewers, and hand-picked rice. The environment is very primitive. This design is cheap and tasteful. Surprisingly, there is a sink. There is a large area of ​​water here, and there are Populus euphratica in the water. Thatched houses and thatched sheds are lined up along the water for people to rest. The scenery is more beautiful and it looks very livable. But no one lives here, and I don't know where all the Rob people live. A large construction site shows that construction is underway. The inn under construction maintains the characteristics of the original Luobu folk houses. The shape of the grass and trees adds a modern functional core with a bathroom. There are also performance venues planned. After the completion, there will be life scenes and folk performances, right? This is similar to an antique street, is the deliberate feature still interesting? On a high platform stands a sturdy fossil of Populus euphratica. The introduction says that it was formed in the Jurassic period and was the product of tree roots being replaced by silica. The tomb of the sun next to it is easy to overlook. There are a pile of low wooden piles on a piece of mud, forming a ring shape, and the surrounding ones are arranged in a radial pattern, symbolizing the sun and its rays. They are men's cemeteries with a history of nearly 4,000 years. The village of the Rob people was developed by private individuals a few years ago and has been doing well. Now the government has taken over and stepped up development efforts to build a 5A scenic spot. There are construction workers everywhere, only to see an old man who looks like a local, wearing national costumes and long beards walking down the dirt road.

The Tarim Populus euphratica Forest Park in the south of Luntai is very famous. Friends from Urumqi all come here to see Populus euphratica. Populus euphratica is called Toklaq in Uighur, which means "the most beautiful tree". Drive to the visitor center, buy a ticket and enter the gate, and you will see the 3,000-year-old Populus euphratica, with a thick trunk and a large crown, and a beautiful shape. Take the scenic bus from here, and you will arrive at the small railway station in ten minutes. There is an observation deck nearby, where you can see a large expanse of Populus euphratica forest. The scenic car saw Populus euphratica in the sand along the way, sparse or dense, with different postures. There are a few stops on the return journey, and you can get off and play. There is a bus every 10 minutes, and it stops immediately after waving. The small train can drive to the lake to see the interaction between Populus euphratica and the water. The little train was supposed to go around a 13-kilometer circular track, but for some unknown reason, it stopped by a lake to allow tourists to move around, and then returned the same way. Tickets are 40 yuan, small trains are 100 yuan, and scenic cars seem to be 30 yuan. There are several package tickets, we bought tickets plus scenic car plus small train plus viewing platform package, 150 yuan, more than 30 cheaper than buying alone. In the first ten days of October, Populus euphratica is mainly green and slightly yellow, and it should turn yellow half a month later. But the sense of vicissitudes of Populus euphratica remains unchanged.

Bachu is located in the middle of Kashgar and Aksu. Several forest areas are said to be the largest primitive Populus euphratica forest in the world, with an area of ​​3.16 million mu. In recent years, it has been developed into the Red Sea Populus euphratica National Forest Park, and many performances and entertainment facilities have been added. Tickets are 40 yuan. I bought a ticket at the visitor center, drove along the narrow village path for a while, and then entered the scenic area. There is a large area of ​​water surrounded by Populus euphratica. We pulled over the car and walked around to pat. After driving for a while, you will arrive at the gate of the scenic spot, where tickets are also sold. Entering the gate is a simulated village, with performances such as piano making, playing, and carpet weaving. From here, you can take a battery car, a horse-drawn carriage or rent a bicycle to go deep into the scenic spot. We chose a battery car, which costs 30 yuan per person. The first stop was a stone carving exhibition, which probably imitated the cave stone carvings and murals of prehistoric culture. It was rough, dimly lit, without introduction, incomprehensible, and meaningless. There are also many fake Populus euphratica placed in front of the door. I really don’t understand that there are so many real ones, so why make some fake ones? This attraction is so worthless. The next stop is the song and dance performance. We only saw the end of it, but seeing the image and level of those actors, we have no regrets. Another longer stop, the road is uneven and a bridge is crossed, the scenery is good, and then we arrive at the place to eat and rest. There is "the first naan pit on the Silk Road" here. I can't remember how many camels, horses and sheep can be roasted at one time. I have the urge to climb up to have a look, of course it is not allowed. The smoke from the grilled lamb kebabs next to it enveloped a radius of more than ten square meters. We ordered two skewers and walked around the surrounding area while they were not grilled. There is a restaurant by the lake, which feels like a big cafeteria, but the pavilion-like environment is very comfortable, so I had a simple meal.

Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon is also called Kezilia Grand Canyon, which means "red cliff" in Uyghur language. It travels 60 kilometers north along the Duku Highway from Kuqa. From the parking lot, you can see the bright red mountain, but it is not so red when you go inside. The canyon is wide and narrow at times, and twists and turns. The rocks on both sides have grooves and holes, and are full of traces of water erosion. In some places, water from nowhere drips down the rocks, and it will give birth to clusters of green hairy plants. It is very similar to Antelope Canyon in the United States, only larger and open-air. There are several landscapes with signboards: Shengou Shougu, Xuantian Castle, Appearance Cave, Yunv Spring, Crouching Hump, etc. In the canyon, there is a mysterious Aai Grotto hanging high above the cliff. According to research, it was built in the mid-heyday of Tang Dynasty. There are remaining murals in the grottoes, and the most amazing thing is that there are Chinese characters. It doesn't seem to be open now. It takes about an hour to walk all the way to the end of the canyon, which is also the narrowest point. There is a fence in front of it blocking the way, but there are still tourists jumping over to take pictures. The narrowest place is only enough for one person to pass, and the people on the opposite side can only wait in line. There is water at the bottom of this ditch, so stepping on the slopes on both sides will not get your shoes wet. The entire canyon is very flat. When you first entered, the sand under your feet was soft, and it was a bit difficult to walk, but it was easy to walk inside. When entering the canyon, the temperature dropped several degrees, and the brightness also dropped several degrees.

Wensu Grand Canyon has a completely different style. It was formed more than two million years ago. After years of wind erosion and erosion, it has become its current appearance. It is also red. It is much more open here, and it should be a big river. The mountains on both sides are more angular, some are like a whole wall, some are like a group of castles, some are like big dunghills, and the inclined parallel lines seem to tell its experience. The locals call it "Kuduluk Grand Canyon", which means "thrilling and mysterious" in Uighur. Here are the rare ancient rock-salt geological scenery in China, the peculiar Yadan geological landscape, and the only giant karst erosion geological secret in China. Self-driving or a four-wheel drive in the scenic spot, it seems that it is not allowed to enter if it is not a four-wheel drive. The ticket for four people and the self-driving car charge a total of 244 yuan. Sign an agreement to allow rescue. There is no road in the canyon, and more cars will become a road. It's a pity that the road is bumpy, soft and muddy. It's best to follow the previous ruts, lest you get stuck and call for rescue. There are several forks on both sides of the main road, four of which can be entered, no navigation, no road signs, the visitor center will give a map. The same scenic spot is under construction: build a plank road connecting the two viewing spots. We met the car of the engineering team. The driver was a foreman who enthusiastically showed us the way. He said that sometimes there would be floods here, so the road could not be repaired. We went up to the top of a mountain along part of the plank road that had been repaired. We had a wide view, and we could just see a turn, and the imprints of the water-cut mountains on both sides were clearly visible. It was very cold and it was raining lightly, so we mostly hid in the car and opened the windows to enjoy the scenery.

The Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves are the earliest grottoes excavated in my country, which witnessed the history of Buddhism spreading to the east thousands of years ago. The scale is not too large, there are only 4 grotto areas, and there are 236 officially numbered grottoes. At present, only 6 caves are opened. There are no Buddha statues in the caves, and only damaged murals remain. Musical instruments are quite valuable to researchers. Each of the caves has its own characteristics. The murals on the walls are seriously peeled off, but the ones on the top are better preserved. The colors are very bright, the characters are vivid and expressive. In one of the caves, there are many handprints of believers. There is also a cave that is the monk's room. It can be imagined that their life is very difficult, and the only thing that can support them is their faith. The grottoes have some unique features, but the management level needs to be improved. The entrance is several hundred meters away from the grotto, so I don't understand why it is so inconvenient. There is a small square in front of the grotto. The sitting statue of Kumarajiva stands high in the center, and next to it is the bag storage place. All bags and personal belongings must be stored. You can only enter with your mobile phone. This is because the cave is small and there is no protection around it. Backpacks can easily rub against walls. After saving the package, line up behind the red line and wait for the arrangement of two staff members. The older one is responsible for forming a team and the younger one is responsible for registering information. The team formation is very rigid, strictly in groups of ten people, the four of us plus another group of four people are not enough to make up the number, and seeing the two groups of five next to us quickly go in, we waited for a long time and two more came. Talent makes a team. Each cave has a commentator, who only talks about this cave and recites lines, and can't speak more.

Not far from the grotto is the so-called Devil City, which is a wild scene. It is located in an arid area with less rain and more wind. The terrain is composed of vertical and horizontal valleys formed by erosion, wind erosion and flowing water, and ridges, terraces, and isolated hills between the valleys. Unmanned and free, it is very suitable for taking pictures, but it is a bit difficult to find. There are nets on the side of the road, and there is a gap at the entrance of the oil mining area to enter. The rocks of various shapes look like mounds, and they seem to collapse when touched, but they are still very strong to the touch.

The Kuqa Palace has been the residence of the local Uighur Prince Kuqa since 1759. Today's palace is restored on the basis of the original site according to the memories of Dawuti Maihesuti, the last king of Kuqa. The Kuqa Palace has a large area, about two to three hundred meters in length and width. Most of the buildings are Uyghur-style, with bright colors inside. There are gardens and green spaces in the yard. The environment is quite good, and there is also a mosque with beautiful interiors. The mosques I have seen are all bare inside. The walls and dome of this small mosque are painted with various bright patterns, which is very unusual. The visit is divided into three places: the Kucha Culture Exhibition Area, the Wangfu Visit Area and the Old City Wall. The exhibition is divided into several exhibition rooms, introducing the history and culture of Kucha with pictures and real objects. It was originally Ashoka's sphere of influence, and was later ruled by the Huns. It belonged to the Western Han Dynasty in 70 BC, and then swayed between the Han Dynasty and neighboring countries. At that time, the territory was vast and it was a big country in the West. Kucha is the first place where Buddhism was introduced in my country. Buddhism existed in the period of King Ashoka in 200 BC, and it was most popular in the third century AD. The monks in Kucha played a great role in promoting Buddhism in the Central Plains. After the Uighurs gained power, they forcibly converted to Islam. The Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves to the north of Kuqa is one of the oldest grottoes in my country. Some replicas of murals and reliefs in the grottoes are also displayed here. Of course, the selected ones are high-quality goods, which are very exquisite, with fairy spirit and gaudy coexistence. The largest area is the Wangfu District, which restores the life scenes of the Wangfu family. The central office and reception room is a Chinese-style building, which displays the portraits and introductions of the Kuqa kings of the past. The last king has done a lot to promote national unity after liberation. Contribution, the evaluation of him and the treatment given to him by the government are also very high. He died in his eighties in 2014. The mausoleum is just behind the yard, and a large building was built for him. A very prominent building in the center of the courtyard is the observation deck, which has a nice and cool view from a high place. The backyard is the living area, the door is wide open, I was about to walk in, and saw a plump and well-maintained middle-aged woman sitting on the sofa, I stood at the door with one foot inside and one foot outside, timidly I asked timidly, "Is there a princess here?" She smiled gracefully and answered "Yes." I realized that she was the princess, and said in surprise, "You are so young!" We went early and there were no tourists. I wanted to go in and meet her Talk, but the husband is not happy. When I exited, I found the sign next to it, which said 30 yuan for a group photo, with a WeChat QR code for payment, and there were photos of her with some celebrities on the wall. Is this the job of a princess? Later I learned that the princess is much younger than King Kuqa, and she should be less than 60 years old now. There is a section of the Qing Dynasty city wall at the back, and there is also a long section of the city wall on the street in front of the Wangfu. The most interesting place is called Easy Mansion, which occupies one side of the yard. The beautiful arches are in harmony with the whole yard, and they are actually toilets. I don't know who came up with this name.

Restan Street is not long, there are residents and shops, the doors and windows are colorful, and various patterns are carved, which is very characteristic of southern Xinjiang. I don't know if it's early or because of the epidemic, the doors are closed, and some are locked. Except for a few tourists who took pictures, no one was seen. Only some shops selling big naan and the internet celebrity Alimu Stuffed Noodle Restaurant have opened.

There is a road opposite Restan Street, and walking two or three hundred meters inward is the Kuqa Grand Mosque. It is the second largest mosque in Xinjiang after the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar. It is far less popular than Id Kah. After entering, there are no more than ten people including our tourists. The gate tower of the great temple is 18.3 meters high, built with green bricks. The brand-new gate tower and minarets are solemn and straight. The tower pillars are carved with Islamic style patterns. look outside. A small house next to the reception room is the ticket office and entrance. I bought a ticket for 15 yuan and entered through the small aisle without any sense of dignity. The square courtyard seems to be neglected, and the worship hall on the west side seems to be in disrepair. This 1,500-square-meter worship hall, which can accommodate 3,000 people, is built on a platform with several steps. The first hexagonal column is decorated with colorful carvings, rich in decoration, and has been mottled. The ceiling composed of 102 squares contrasts sharply with the sky blue beams, and the patterns of wall bricks and window panes are neat. The lobby looked like it hadn't been used for a long time and was full of dust. It is said that the Great Kuqa Temple was built by Isha Gewuli, the leader of the Black Mountain Sect of Islam in Xinjiang in the 16th century, when he lived and preached in Kuqa from Kashgar. It was originally a civil temple, but it was changed to a wooden structure in the 17th century. It was burned down in a fire in 1923, and the existing temple was built in 1931.

Kashgar is the most exotic place in China, we stayed here for five nights. Arriving in Kashgar before the 11th, tourists have not yet arrived in batches, but the festive atmosphere can be seen everywhere, and the national flag is planted at every gate. The next day at ten o'clock the next day, we rushed to the east gate to watch the city opening ceremony. There were already several layers of people surrounded, so we had to stand in the back. An old man in national costume danced to warm up the venue and invited tourists, and soon several tourists entered the venue and danced together. The ceremony started at 10:30, girls and boys walked out of the city gate one after another, dancing to the recording, and half an hour passed in a lively manner, with nothing outstanding.

After entering the city, we first visited Master Bayi's house. In the morning, there were not many shops open in the old city, and tourists all came to visit the master's house. Not in vain, you have to pay 40 yuan, the ticket includes explanations, and each instructor brings seven or eight tourists. The master's house is divided into two small courtyards, the front and the back. The pattern is a "day" character, with the backyard wall on the upper side and the gate on the lower side. The other strokes are two-story buildings. The master lived on the upper floor across the middle, with a panoramic view of the front and back yards. The butler lives downstairs from the master, and he can move freely between the front and back yards. On the left side of the front yard is the kitchen, and above the kitchen is a terrace. The guide said that the master often sits on the terrace and eavesdrops on people chatting on the street to see who speaks ill of him. What impresses me the most is the basement. The wall bricks are of a high standard both in production and construction, and they are still not out of shape after more than a hundred years. The wooden doors and windows are somewhat deformed, but the exquisite carvings of that year are clearly visible.

The Id Kah Mosque is indeed the largest mosque in Xinjiang, covering an area of ​​16,800 square meters, and the square in front is also tens of thousands of square meters. The light yellow gatehouse and minaret are on the fan-shaped high platform, not very tall, but very solemn and holy. There is a large courtyard inside, lined with trees, and you walk along the passage to the main hall. The rectangular main hall is empty except for two rows of columns. , there is a huge handmade tapestry on one wall. The pomegranate pattern comes from the phrase "people of all ethnic groups should hug each other tightly like pomegranate seeds", which appears in many places in Xinjiang. There is nothing to see in the mosque, and the ticket price of 45 yuan is a bit of a loss.

Kashgar East Bazaar is very large, and overall there are not many customers. We spent half a day in it, and about half of it was done. Clothing materials accounted for a large part. Local people seem to be popular with buying materials to make clothes, so there are also tailors in Bazar. Another big business is dried fruit. Every store has dozens of varieties. The owner enthusiastically lets you taste it, but you don’t even feel like eating it afterwards. There are also a lot of carpets. The night market stalls are lined up along the street, most of them are open at night, only a few are open in the morning, such as selling fruit and baked buns. The meat sellers in the night market accounted for most of them. I tried watermelon, roasted goose eggs, yogurt rice dumplings, and roasted pumpkin, and roasted pumpkin was my favorite.

We entered the city in the evening on October 2, just in time for the wedding performance. A group of tall camels carried brightly-dressed girls through the city, and the boys leading the camels were also mighty and handsome. When you go to the small square at the intersection of the old tea shop, the camels kneel down and let the beauties come down. Two drum-shaped high platforms have already been prepared in the square, and the two girls stand on the high platforms and dance. Then the male host invited the "Princess of the Western Regions" and her "family" to the small platform on the second floor of the tea shop, and then selected a groom from among the tourists to hold the wedding ceremony. This is the same routine across the country. I was attracted by a pair of little brothers on the side. My mother wanted to take a photo with them and the camel. One little boy cooperated very obediently, and the other couldn’t laugh no matter how hard he tried. My mother ran around to pose for them. While picking up a fun. At the end of the wedding, the camels carried the girls away one by one.

The Xiangfei Tomb is undoubtedly a must-see attraction in Kashgar. Now it has been expanded into the Xiangfei Garden. It has a large area and a large parking lot. The ticket is 120 yuan, including the explanation. Each guide leads a dozen or twenty people. The route is set, and you can watch the performance first when you enter the door. Three actors will play the three identities of Xiangfei: girl, concubine, female general, and one will play Qianlong. The performance will be about half an hour. several games. Then go to a courtyard, like a quadrangle, where the four sides of the room display the scenes of Uighur people's home life and production and daily necessities. This is where the docent comes into play. There is a pavilion in the middle of the yard, and a wide corridor in front of the main house, which is the place for wedding performances. The groom is also selected from the audience. This groom is more lively and interacts well. This is the most hilarious and informative wedding show I have ever seen. Then we went to the main cemetery. In fact, it is the tomb of the Xiangfei family. It was built in 1640 and buried 72 family members of five generations. The narrator said that Xiangfei was the last member of his family. She had no offspring, and neither did other clansmen. There are dozens of mounds in the tomb, the big ones are for men, the small ones are for women, the very small ones are for children, and some are buried together. The custom of the Uyghur people is that after a girl dies after marriage, she must return to her natal home for burial, so it took three years for the concubine Xiang to be sent back to her hometown after her death. According to serious historical facts, Concubine Xiang is Concubine Rong, who was very much loved by Qianlong. She died of illness at the age of 55 and was buried in the Eastern Tomb of the Qing Dynasty. A huge pool was built in front of the tomb, and it was possible to take pictures of Xiangfei's tomb and its reflection, but the trees in front of the tomb were somewhat blocked. There is a tree-lined courtyard to the left from here, and there are two small mosques and lecture halls inside, which are not open. There is an oval "holy stone" in the lecture hall, which can dispel diseases and exorcise evil spirits. The two mosques are very exquisite, the carved and painted wooden columns are exquisite, and the paint surface has been severely degraded.

The most unsuitable thing in Kashgar is that it doesn't light until 8 o'clock in the morning, and breakfast is eaten at 8:30. For someone like me who wakes up before 6 o'clock every day, this morning is very difficult. Kashgar has done a good job in protecting the old city. The houses and streets basically maintain their original appearance and have been repaired. Most of the residents still live in the old city, and most of the shops and night markets are run by local residents. Schools and hospitals have also been retained. Of course, B&B Street and Oil Painting Street seem to be dominated by outsiders. Flowers and plants are placed in every house, and the front door and balcony are vigorously decorated. The streets are clean, and sprinklers are frequent. I often see sanitation workers and merchants cleaning the streets in Kashgar every morning. Every family is sweeping the streets in front of their doors. Almost every street has toilets, and they are relatively clean. On Artist Street, I saw a shop owner chiseling a huge copper plate in a leisurely and serious manner, with all kinds of beautiful pots and pots he made next to him. He said it would take a month to make this plate.

Oytak Glacier Park is located in Oytage Town, Akto County. It is 86 kilometers southward from Kashgar along National Highway 314. After seeing the sign, you have to walk 30 kilometers on a country road. The day we went was dark and dusty all the way. After 12:00, I stopped at the gate of the park, put on thin cotton clothes, and spent 53 yuan to buy tickets and scenic spot tickets. The scenic spot car drove for more than 10 minutes to unload us, and the rest of the way had to be walked or rode. In fact, there are asphalt roads all the way up to the plank road, and the administrators also drive to inspect. The scenic spot cars may leave a section of the road to give the locals some room to make money. It costs 50 yuan to ride up and down, and it takes about ten or twenty minutes to walk, and I feel a little short of breath when walking, after all, it is nearly 3000 altitude. We were the first tourists and the horses lined up waiting to be picked. I took a fancy to a beautiful tall horse for my husband to ride, and I plan to go on foot. Unexpectedly, he got on the horse with the help of two and a half people. He said that it was too high and he couldn't sit still, so he had to get down and replaced it with a shorter one. He was still scared all over. The horse quickly carried him and disappeared. I slowly climbed up panting heavily, and he had already dismounted before climbing to the plank road. I asked him to wait for me to come down from the platform to take pictures of him riding the horse. The horse-leader couldn't wait any longer. A large number of tourists had arrived, and he wanted to take the horse to pick up other guests. We walked down and took pictures together. An administrator's car stopped and greeted my husband to get in the car. I must have seen him walking hard, so I decided to take him for a ride. Blessed people need not be busy. The Kezhou Glacier Park is printed on the ticket, which should be its official name, but people usually call it Oytak Glacier Park. Look at the introduction in the park. This snow-capped mountain is called Aylanish Snow Mountain. It is 6684 meters high. Avalanches often occur from May to September every year. It is a virgin peak that no one has climbed. The glacier is called Qikaraz Glacier, which is a low-latitude and low-altitude glacier with an altitude of 2,804 meters. These four names have me scratching my head, where did they come from? What's the meaning? what is the relationship? In any case, the snow-capped mountains are quite spectacular, and the glaciers are also very characteristic. The lower part is black, and there are forests, plateau meadows and sheep. It should be a beautiful picture when you meet the blue sky and white clouds.

Taxkorgan is deep in the Pamirs, and it is not easy to visit here. Taxkorgan means "crown" or "the one who wears the crown" in Tajik language, and "stone city" in Turkic language. I don't understand how two languages ​​use the same word. In the south there is K2, the world's second highest peak at an altitude of 8611 meters, and in the north there is Muztagh, the "father of the iceberg" at an altitude of 7546 meters. The only scenic spot in the county is Stone City, which used to be the royal city of Puli Kingdom in the ancient "Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions", and it was also an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. Stone City has existed since the Pantuo period (about the 1st century AD), and is a precious historical relic in Xinjiang. Professionals may be interested in it, but ordinary tourists don’t see much of it. The Alarkin Grass Beach next to the ancient stone city is the best angle to watch and shoot the stone city. The local area has built a wooden plank road here to facilitate shooting and prevent stepping on the grass. The good angles are surrounded with Stone City, and tickets are required, 90 yuan including transportation vehicles. The tour is along the one-way plank road, and the car will send the tourists to the entrance, and then go around to the exit to pick them up. It is said that the scenery of Jincao Beach is the most beautiful in the evening, we arrived late, and it was already dark when we got off Stone Town. When I arrived at the free area of ​​Jincaotan early the next morning, I found that there was a mountain in the east, blocking the sun. It doesn't seem right in the morning.

Although it is only more than 200 kilometers to Taxkorgan, it is still necessary to stay for one night and visit several unique attractions nearby. National Highway 314 is the only passage leading to Taxkorgan. Although it is well-built and there are not many cars, there are many villages and animals on both sides, so the speed limit is strict. In the county town, the speed limit is 40. I didn't see a gas station along the way, and there were very few toilets, and they were dry toilets, so I had to drink less water. There is a gas station in the county seat, and there are toilets in the paid attractions.

The first stop after leaving Kashgar is Baisha Lake. The lake is slender. The Baisha Mountain on the opposite bank separates the sky blue from the lake blue. It is bright and pure, clear and soft. You can watch it from different angles along the way, and you can walk to the vicinity of the sand hill for a while. But the best location is separated and charged, 40 yuan per person, and parking is free. A plank road has been built here, which is convenient for walking, but the railings on the plank road are high, and it is quite annoying to enter the camera.

On one side of Karakuli Lake is Muztagh Peak, and on the other side is Gongger Jiubie Peak. When the weather is calm and the waves are suitable, the snow-capped mountains are reflected in the lake, which is a rare beauty. When we went, the wind was relatively strong, and reflections were hard to find, but there was a small piece of water surrounded by aquatic plants by the lake that was relatively calm, and part of the snow-capped mountains could be reflected. The altitude of the lake is high, and the slope of the lake is steep, so it is quite difficult to walk to the lake. A plank road has also been built here, but many tourists still prefer to walk the gravel road by the lake to get in close contact with the lake. Tickets are 46 yuan. There is also a glacier landscape under construction. It is said that this glacier can be touched by hand.

Not far from Taxkorgan, there is Taheman Township, a quiet village under Muztagh Peak. The most famous one is the one-kilometer golden tunnel—a section of tree-lined road at the entrance of the village. We made a special trip to go there in the morning. Originally, the car could drive directly into the tree-lined road, but now the car has to detour through a very narrow dirt road to protect the landscape. There are several open spaces on the side of the dirt road for parking. Tourists walk to the boulevard, and local cadres and police check their certificates and masks. There is no rule that no cars are allowed on the boulevard. There are two cars taking videos in the middle of the road, tossing forward and backward for a long time. On both sides of the road are large fields and pastures, separated by barbed wire, and can only be seen from a distance. Several cows were grazing, but no one was seen.

"I have gone through all the detours today, and my life will be smooth from now on." This famous slogan stands at the foot of the Panlong Ancient Road. Many people around take pictures in various poses, and even park their cars in the In front of the billboard, take turns sitting on the roof of the car and taking pictures endlessly. This winding mountain road opened to traffic in 2019 has more than 600 S-curves in a length of 75 kilometers. Although there are many and sharp curves, the road condition is very good and it is not difficult to walk. And it is being widened under construction, and it will be better in the future. Even so, there are still many people who drive to the opposite road to "borrow" when turning a corner, which not only shows their low level, but also exposes their low quality. In addition to the foot of the mountain, there are several viewing platforms in the middle where you can take pictures. There is an altitude mark on the top of the mountain: 4216 meters. Someone will be unwell. This road is not only an Internet celebrity, but the most important thing is that it solves the travel problem of 3,000 villagers in Waqia Township. The key point is that it provides another possibility for local villagers to get rich through tourism. Personally, I think the road leading to Panlong Ancient Road is more difficult and dangerous, but also beautiful. There are huge Xiabandi Reservoir, villages surrounded by woods and meadows, and sandy mountains with ravines. The Xiabandi Reservoir (Longchi) built in 2007 is really big! After driving for 20 or 30 minutes, it still hasn't gone out of its range. According to reports, it spans 21 kilometers and is one of the largest reservoirs in Xinjiang. After passing the reservoir, there is a village hidden in the dense forest, which feels like a paradise. If it is not for the hurry, I really want to turn in and have a look. There are two ways to walk the Panlong Ancient Trail, from top to bottom or from bottom to top. Walking from the top is from south to north, in the direction of Khunjerab or in the south of Taxkorgan Town, and when you see the Panlong Ancient Road self-driving camp, turn in and go up the mountain. Walking from the bottom is from north to south, in the direction of Kashgar or north of Ta County, turn at the Quman Checkpoint, and arrive at the Xiabandi Reservoir. It takes about three hours to start from Ta County and return to Ta County. No matter which direction is basically a road, there are no forks, and there are signposts. From the bottom to the top, take the small panlong first, which is very short, then there is a viewing platform and parking lot, and then go up to the big panlong, the road is long and high in altitude, some people only take the small panlong. We walked from the bottom to the top. When we arrived, there was a police checkpoint to check the driver's license, probably because we were afraid that someone would not be able to complete the whole journey or be in danger.

Gourmet articles

Ate at two restaurants in Korla. Zuimei Restaurant is a Sichuan restaurant, and this may be the only non-Xinjiang meal we have. A towel is distributed to each person when they enter the door, and the towel is taken back when they walk to the second floor. Order food on the first floor, and dine on the second and third floors. There are many kinds of dishes, and fish is the main one. We ordered yellow spicy diced, which was tender and light, very good. What impresses me the most is the vegetable steamed buns with wild vegetables, which look like dried vegetables and are served with egg vermicelli, which is neither greasy nor chaffy. The pimple soup is slightly sour and slightly warm, which is very suitable for cold nights.

Yingxiang Tianshan is our second hotel, which shows our recognition of it. It is at the corner of a restaurant street, directly going up to the second floor. The decoration is very Uighur-style, and the waiters are also ethnic minorities with a good attitude, but there is a small obstacle in communication. On the first day, local friends treated guests, and a large table was set up. Of course, there were no mutton skewers, a large skewer, and a bite full of juicy meat. The best impression I have is the baked pumpkin, which is sweet and soft like a baked sweet potato. There is less spicy chicken and more peppers, it is not very spicy, and pears are added, it is pear town after all! Scrambled eggs with scallions are also a special dish, and scallions and leeks taste similar. We came by ourselves the next day, and ordered a few dishes that we hadn’t eaten the day before. There was a lot of chicken on the big plate, and the taste was similar to that of spicy chicken. Wudaohei is a local specialty, and I bought it for this, but my husband said that the fish was wrong. The waiter called the manager and explained that it was a small Wudaohei, and their shop did not have a big one. 30 yuan a piece is not expensive, it tastes like sea bass.

Zaipal Food City has three stores in Kuqa, and we went to two of them. Compared with the surrounding environment, this shop on the small shop street stands out, with a tall gate, strong stone pillars, and a huge oven at the door, just like a rich man in a slum. At present, the street in front of the gate is being dug and constructed, and it is dirty and difficult to walk. The interior decoration is in the style of the Western Regions, and it can be felt that a lot of thought and financial resources were spent at that time. It's a pity that it is now showing dilapidation. The dishes are well done, especially the hand-picked rice, which is the most memorable dish I ate during my trip to Xinjiang. The saltiness, sweetness, oil content and softness of beef, mutton and rice are all right. Lamb kebabs are also of a high standard. Stir-fried beans are added with a lot of sesame and peanuts, which is full of fragrance and crispy peanuts. It would be better if the beans were more rotten. The waiters are friendly but not proactive. There may be some language barriers, but they are responsive. The location of Tianshan West Road is very good, the same tall gatehouse, the style of the Western Regions, and a huge oven at the entrance. The decoration is relatively new, the store is big and clean. The yogurt tastes very good, sugar-free, not delicate enough, some small particles, and the dried fruit is very flavorful. I ordered naan pit meat, and after eating it, I realized that the taste is similar to lamb skewers, but the naan pit meat has bones, so I will eat lamb skewers in the future. There is a big plate of pigeon noodles, and the three of us didn't finish it. The green and red peppers not only increase the taste but also embellish it, which stimulates the appetite just by looking at it. The pigeon meat is firm and tender, but has bones, which makes it difficult to eat. The waiters are warm, thoughtful and very discerning.

Another well-known restaurant in Kuqa is Yaksim. This store was highly rated in the reviews, and the local driver also said it was good when taking a taxi, so I decided to try it. The front door is very small, and you can go directly to the second floor when you enter the door. The storefront is very large, and the overall green decoration is full of Muslim style. We ordered a table of vegetarian dishes. The tomato and spicy eggs are quite novel. We conservatively asked to remove the peppers. The roasted eggplant with beans and spicy peppers is salty and tasty. Fungus yam and Chama mushroom are relatively refreshing. This is the first time I heard of Chama mushroom. It tastes a bit like white radish. The yogurt is delicate and slightly sweet, which is great. There are many guests at night, and the food is not served quickly. The waiters are diligent, but the language can be a bit of a barrier at times. I like their chopsticks very much. The chopstick sticks are reusable, and the chopstick heads are disposable. They are hygienic and environmentally friendly, and they are easier to use than disposable chopsticks. But it will increase the trouble of washing dishes, which may be the reason why most restaurants don't use it.

The baked buns and big naan in the old city of Kuqa are famous. After we visited Kuqa Palace, Restan Street, and Kuqa Temple, the first batch of steamed buns at Alimu Stuffed Noodle Restaurant had just been baked. I tasted it and didn't think it was particularly good, but the meat was fatter and oily. The naan was too big and there was no chance to eat it.

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Kashgar's Nolan cuisine is highly rated, and it really lives up to its good reputation. This store is on Jiefang North Road, which divides the old city into two halves. It has a small front, and I almost missed it. Entering it makes people's eyes bright, the wide and beautiful steps are like those in European palaces. Going up to the second floor is even more pleasing to the eye. The large dining table, sofa chairs, crystal chandeliers, carved columns, and white grand piano make you feel like you are attending a royal banquet no matter what you eat. When it comes to the topic, the dishes basically reach the middle-to-high level, with both Chinese and Western styles, shared between the north and the south, and the tableware is beautiful. The lamb chops are fat and thin, tender but not stinky. With cucumbers, potatoes and tomatoes, a large plate of protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates are all available. The beef vegetable soup is Western-style and has enough ingredients. Fried shrimp with fried sweet potatoes, crispy, slightly spicy and sweet, but the shrimp is a little less. The steamed opium fish surprised us. We didn’t expect to eat such a good steamed fish in Xinjiang. It was steamed just right, and the fish was tender and less thorny. I don't like the recommended diced chicken, the peanut skin is crumbled and spicy. The yoghurt had no sugar, was thick and seemed to have creme or cheese in it. The service is basically in place, but compared with this environment, the taste is a bit poor. The only thing that can be said to be dissatisfied is the bathroom, which is not hygienic enough.

The location of the golden bottle is relatively remote, and parking spaces can be found around it. This is rare in Kashgar. Luxurious decoration, exotic style, large spacing between tables, but a little old, poor lighting. Since it was evening, we only ordered a few vegetarian dishes and did not experience the essence of his family. The combination of potatoes and scrambled eggs is quite novel and delicious, but it is oily.

The Kemerdin blue pigeon noodles recommended by the hotel manager is really good. Very close to the hotel, the store is small, there are many customers, and there are always people waiting for a seat. It should be a small shop opened by the family. Several people are busy walking around, and no one cares about us. We see for ourselves who is almost finished, waiting at the table to grab a seat, as if back in the 1970s. There are seven or eight tables in the store, which are very close to each other, and it is very hot, and everyone is sweating from eating. We waited over ten minutes for a table. His family specializes in pigeon soup. Apart from pigeon soup noodles, sheep’s feet and naan, there is nothing else. No matter what pigeon soup you order, you can drink it casually. The soup is very fresh, although there is a layer of oil, it is not greasy at all. The pigeon meat is firm and tender, and the noodles are firm and thin. It takes a lot of practice to achieve this just right. I still miss that bowl of noodles.

The Rough Pear Home Cooking Restaurant was also found on the Internet, but the gap is relatively large. It has a very good location in the old city of Kashgar. The decoration is in the style of 20 or 30 years ago. The simple tables and chairs are dirty, which made me almost turn around and leave. Thinking of so many people saying yes, maybe the dishes are well done, why not give it a try. The meat in the crock is served in bowls with soup and plates. There is less meat and more bones, and it is not cooked enough, so the meat cannot be torn off. The thin-skinned buns are good, full of meat, and taste good, but a bit salty. The restaurants in the old city feel like decades ago in terms of decoration, cooking methods, service level and business philosophy, and are not as attractive as restaurants outside the old city.

The name of the century-old tea shop in Kashgar is very famous, and the locals do not recommend it very much. We went in and took a look. There was a large open room on the second floor, and several "kang" were full of people. Mostly, I am not used to it. Everyone in the room was talking, it was very noisy. There are a few small tables in the corridor outside and they are all full. We went to another teahouse not far away. There were tables, chairs and benches. The locals would definitely let us try the special Xinjiang tea, a kind of tea brewed with more than a dozen plants. The taste is naturally complex and thicker, and it tastes better with honey. The teahouse offers dried fruit and a homemade dessert. The dried fruit is placed on a biscuit and coated with sugar, which is delicious but too sweet. Every teahouse has music performances, and some even sing while playing.

In addition to barbecue, steamed buns, and naan, Kashi night market also has roasted pumpkin, roasted goose eggs, yogurt rice dumplings, jar meat, etc. The local characteristics are obvious, and the quality is uneven. There are various preserved and dried fruits in the roasted pumpkin. There are many houses on the street. Seeing the bees busy on the exposed pumpkin, I feel a little awkward. I chose one that puts the pumpkin in a glass case, and I like this sweet snack. If you don’t go to Hotan, you can only experience roasted goose eggs in Kashgar. The egg seller carefully cracked open the eggs, put two or three kinds of seasonings, and put a tiny plastic spoon on them. The spoon is too soft, the egg is too hard, a small piece will fall off after a long time, and it is as elastic as a rubber band when biting, and there is no seasoning at all after eating the top layer. It cost 15 yuan each, and I was not willing to throw it away. My husband and I ate this egg in embarrassment while standing on the street. In particular, we bought it in the afternoon, and the locals analyzed that it should be baked the night before and it was not sold out. One morning when it was hot, I bought a watermelon from a few stalls in the night market. The hawker didn’t wash it, so he cut it into big chunks. We enjoyed it very much. The watermelon is really delicious. The face is a bit dirty. The yogurt zongzi really lives up to its name. Putting a zongzi in yogurt has no technical content, and I can do it too.

The meal in Ta County was the most dramatic. We went to have lunch at six o'clock, and saw that this so-called first yak hot pot restaurant in Ta County is located in a prominent location, facing the snow-capped mountains. There are seven or eight tables in the small courtyard in front of the door, thinking how romantic it is to eat hot pot facing the snow-capped mountains , we chose a table and sat down. After ordering, the waiter brought out snacks, the hot pot was also cooked, and the meat was waiting. Unexpectedly, when a gust of evil wind came, the snacks on plastic plates and unused plastic bowls were blown away in an instant. The waiter quickly and skillfully helped the guests bring the meat and vegetables on the table into the room, and said to us quickly, "Hurry up! Go in and find a place to sit, and I'll send you things." At first I hesitated to enter the house, holding the fantasy that the wind would pass in a while, but soon realized how unrealistic this fantasy was. It seems that the waiters are experienced and well trained. Everyone quickly squeezed into the room. Fortunately, we moved quickly and grabbed a table. Many people stood and waited for arrangements. The waiter brought back the snacks and tableware, and then the meat came. The taste is not as good as the one in Deqin, Yunnan, and it is a bit fishy. Give it 80 points.

The meals in the scenic spots are relatively rough, and they are probably made by local villagers. The lakeside restaurant in Red Sea Populus euphratica Forest Park has a good atmosphere. The tables and benches are made of thick logs, and you can enjoy the scenery while eating. The food is not flattering, there are very few ingredients in the pilaf, and the taste is incomparable with Zaipal Food City. The kebabs had too many bones and the meat was too old to chew. The restaurant in Robren Village is too simple to be called a restaurant. It is just a big shed that provides steamed buns, hand-picked rice, mutton skewers, etc. The steamed stuffed buns are made in advance, and I heated them in a microwave oven at my request. Not tasty at all. The kebabs were also burnt.

The first floor of many restaurants in Xinjiang is just a facade, and you have to go to the second and third floors to eat, and there is no elevator. One thing is beyond my expectation, all places to eat, including simple restaurants in scenic spots, have places to wash hands. Probably thanks to the epidemic.

Accommodation

I lived in the Tarim Petroleum Hotel in Korla. It mainly receives internal personnel. The location is superior, the management is good, and the facilities are outdated. The room is not big but enough. It has everything you need, but it is old-fashioned. The advantage of the hotel is that the breakfast is rich, and the external environment is good. The breakfast is mainly Chinese and of good quality. The hotel is located in the petroleum compound, the trees and lawns are very eye-catching, and there is also a pear orchard.

Kashgar also lived in the Tarim Petroleum Hotel, which is much worse, barely enough for three stars. The room is crowded, the lighting is poor, the floor under the chemical fiber carpet is uneven, the bedding is dark purple, it looks unclean, and the room is even darker. The advantage is that it is relatively close to the old city, and the food is well cooked, whether it is breakfast or dinner. When we checked in, the hotel was being remodeled and was preparing to receive guests on November. There is a lot of construction waste in the yard. The front desk said that there might be no hot water tonight due to construction, so try the water temperature first before taking a shower. This night I can take a cold bath, but fortunately the highest temperature is 30 degrees. The next day, external construction cut off the water pipe, and there was no cold water, so I took a "hot" bath. The third day was fine, the fourth day the shower malfunctioned and there was no water at all. The maintenance man couldn't fix it anyway, and the hotel solved the problem by changing us to a suite.

The Kuqa Hotel is said to be the best hotel in Kuqa, and it is also the one I am most satisfied with during this trip. The scale is quite large, there are several buildings, and the one facing the street seems to be the largest and the newest. We booked two standard rooms, one was the Dream Lily Twin Room before November, and the other was the Deluxe Business Twin Room during November, and the latter was tens of yuan more expensive. The room is bright and spacious with complete facilities. Cleanliness is good, just the carpet needs cleaning. The bed is soft and hard, and the bedding is of good quality. The shower is full of water. The disadvantage is that there is only one mirror above the sink in the whole room. There is no movable small mirror or a full-length mirror. Breakfast is Chinese style, with many varieties. There are more than a dozen kinds of hot and cold dishes. Milk, soy milk, fruits are also available, and there are also pasta made on site.

The Europa Garden Hotel in Taxkorgan has a Europa style on the outside, but a homestay style on the inside. The decoration is minimalist and the materials are low-grade, but it is very tasteful. We live in a suite with an attic. The room is very large, and it is no problem to accommodate four people. There is a sofa and a large bed on the first floor, a large mattress on it, and a long strip table. The stairs are narrow and spiral, and it's hard to go up if you don't have enough legs and feet. The bathroom is too small compared to the room, it can be enlarged. And there is no place to put clothes, and it is not convenient to hang towels. The place is very cold, the night we were here it was below zero and the heater needed to be turned on. But the room is too big and the heating is not enough. The price of nearly 600 feels a loss. Or the standard room is more livable. The breakfast is relatively simple, and there are so many people, you have to queue up to get food. This hotel should be one of the best in the county, and the others are basically at the level of guest houses.

Aksu Vienna International Hotel Airport Branch is far away from the city center, on the side of the highway. The hotel is very modern, which can be regarded as western style. The lobby is empty, and some small scenes have been made. There is a viewing elevator, which makes people feel at ease. Hotel management is quite standardized. The room is large, with complete facilities and good sanitation, but the carpet is a bit uneasy. The breakfast is a bit inferior. The price of more than two hundred is really good and cheap.

When I left Korla, I felt the vastness and desolation of southern Xinjiang again. The airport was endless, and a few wisps of white smoke rose to the sky. Unlike the smog when we came, the weather on the return trip was fine. Looking at Xinjiang from the plane is very shocking. The regular patterns in the desert look like they were drawn by people. The winding Tarim River is right? There are ice and snow accumulated on the top of the mountain and among the folds, as well as ice lakes. The mountain peaks are like small islands in the sea of ​​clouds, and the floating clouds actually form cloud waterfalls. The power of nature is boundless, and the power of man is even more amazing. Two lines are clearly visible in the desert. The straight one should be the railway, and the curved one is the high-speed road, right? It is so convenient to travel now, I really want to thank the infrastructure construction of our country over the past few decades.