Seeing a photo of Populus euphratica forest many years ago made my heart flutter, and I had the desire to go to southern Xinjiang to see Populus euphratica forest with my own eyes. Jinfu Travel Agency has created this condition for us.
There are 21 people in our group, 16 of them are over 70 years old, and 4 of them are over 80 years old.
From this road map, we can see that we will go around southern Xinjiang in about 10 days, with a total distance of about 3,500 kilometers. basic mileage per day
400-500 kilometers. According to the usual experience, there should be no problem walking for 4-5 hours a day, but walking in a circle is far from what we thought. The hardships of the journey make us unforgettable, but this group of elderly people persisted and are very happy Xing, persevere contentedly.
First introduce the itinerary and the main attractions:
(1) We left Beijing by train on October 14th and arrived in Urumqi on the afternoon of the 15th after a 33-hour drive. The next day (16th) officially started the trip to southern Xinjiang.
(2) Go to Korla on the 16th. Yanqi County "Seven Star Buddha Temple Ruins".
(3) Go to Kuqa on the 17th. "Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains".
(4) Go to Aksu on the 18th. "Wensu Grand Canyon".
(5) Head to Kashgar on the 19th. "Kashgar Ancient City".
(6) "Lake Karakuli" on the 20th. Pass through "White Sand Mountain" and "White Sand Lake".
(7) On the 21st, go to Yecheng via Shache. "Tomb of Fragrant Concubine", "Id Kah Mosque", "Tomb of King Shache".
(8) Go to Hotan on the 22nd. "Hotian Grand Bazaar", "Hotian Night Market".
(9) Go to Minfeng on the 23rd. "The Walnut King".
(10) Go to Qiemo on the 24th. Pass through Wuming Reservoir to see Populus euphratica forest. "Qemo Grand Bazaar".
(11) Go to Ruoqiang on the 25th. "Loulan Museum", "Milan Ruins".
(12) Go to Korla on the 26th. "Robu Village".
Return to Beijing by plane on the 27th.
A few points to explain: (1) Difficulty. The highways in Xinjiang are well repaired. But the speed limit is 40-60, and the car cannot be driven. The security check is very strict and will be checked several times a day. So the time on the road will be about 8 hours a day. It is difficult to eat on the road. There may be no people, no service areas, and no restaurants for a long stretch of the road. You may come across a few small restaurants where it is common to eat pilaf and noodles.
(2) pleasure. Xinjiang's natural scenery is very beautiful, the Grand Canyon, Populus euphratica forest, and snow-capped mountains are all worth seeing.
(3) harvest. It was only after arriving in Xinjiang that we had the most direct and perceptual understanding of the "vastness" of our motherland. Xinjiang not only has a vast territory but also has
The rich mineral resources are really "big land and abundant resources". Learn more about the profound cultural heritage of Xinjiang. So although the journey was difficult, it was worth it.
Due to the limited space, long time, and many photos I want to post, this travel note is divided into two parts, which retains its continuity and focuses on different things.
On the 17th, we went to the "Mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains" near Kuqa County. The next day, I left Kuqa for Aksu, and went to "Wensu Grand Canyon" on the way. I put the photos of Wensu Grand Canyon in (2) so that everyone can have a comprehensive understanding of Xinjiang.
Both canyons are majestic and breathtaking. But there are differences. The mountains of "Tianshan Grand Canyon" are basically red, while "Wensu Grand Canyon" has red, black, gray, light red and so on. Wensu Grand Canyon looks more open, more like a castle.
"Wensu Grand Canyon" brings together a variety of geological and landforms, so it is called "Living Museum of Geological Evolution History".
Leaving Aksu for Kashgar, the photos of "Kashgar Ancient City", "Karakuri Lake", and "Mustagh Peak" are posted in (1).
"Kashgar Ancient City" is "Gaotai Residential Houses".
The mountain facing the front is "Mustagh Peak", and the second highest peak of Kunlun Mountains is Gonger Peak next to it.
Visited the "Tomb of Fragrant Concubine" in Kashgar City.
The largest Islamic mosque in Xinjiang, "Id Kah Mosque".
Leave Kashgar and go to Shache County. Shache has a history of more than 3,000 years and has been a well-known tribal country in the Western Regions for several times. It was successively called "Shache Kingdom", "Qusha Kingdom" and "Yarqiang Khanate". The mausoleum of Rashid Khan, a monarch of the Yarkand Khanate, was built here.
Shache's Tomb was first built in 1533. There are more than thirty tombs here. The 12 Khan kings and some princesses of the Yarkand Khanate are buried here.
Ministers, scholars.
Go to "Hotian", a place where jade is produced. We didn't go to Jade Bazaar, but "Hotian Night Market" is good. Xinjiang
Food is available here.
Baked eggs. There are different types of eggs, with different seasonings on top, and different prices.
Feibing is very authentic. The durian-flavored one contains a large piece of durian for 30 yuan, which is worth the money.
What is this baked below? take a guess.
The one below is said to be "papaya" seen on the road, and it looks like the above when it is baked. Tastes a bit like baked apples.
Friends who want to satisfy their hunger must go to "Hotian Night Market" in southern Xinjiang.
The walnut king tree in Minfeng County is more than 500 years old. Here walnuts and dates attract the attention of tourists and become a small market.
Lovely Xinjiang children.
Looking at a group of strangers.
Noodles are made one by one in this way.
The scenery along the way into the desert is infinite.
The shadow of the Xinjiang Construction Corps is left everywhere. They dedicated their youthful blood to the construction of Xinjiang. It is worth remembering forever.
"Ruoqiang" County is located in the southeast edge of "Taklamakan Desert". It is the largest county in the country. (Approximately equivalent to the area of two Zhejiang provinces). It is the only way of the ancient "Silk Road". "Ruoqiang red dates" and "Ruoqiang gray dates" are well-known throughout the country.
"Ruoqiang" is also known as "Loulan". "Loulan Museum" is a must, but it's a pity that the journey time is too long, and I only stay here for half an hour, so I have to browse through it hastily.
The overall architecture of the museum is very distinctive. One side imitates the Milan pagoda, the other side is a modern building, and on the wall of the modern building is a statue of a beautiful woman restored from the corpse of a Loulan woman, and on the other side are three Buddha statues.
In the museum, there are several mummies unearthed from Loulan, as well as leather boots, brocade, wooden slips and various utensils collected from ancient tombs.
Seeing these, we can imagine the prosperity of the Loulan Kingdom and the prosperity of economic and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road at that time.
"Ruoqiang" has a long history and profound cultural heritage, and there are many cultural relics in the territory. Leaving the museum in a hurry
"Milan Ruins", where the sun is going to set.
The Milan site is a group of cross-cultural sites of different ages. Among them are the ruins of Yixun City in the Shanshan Kingdom, the farmlands of the Han Dynasty, and the ancient villages of the Tang Dynasty.
Garrison ruins, etc.
It is said that there were still grains in the stove pit at that time when it was excavated.
This is the husband and wife watchtower.
The ruins of the ancient city of Milan are too big, and it is a pity that I only walked around a corner when I drove in. Night has fallen, which is a pity.
On the last day we visited the "Robu Village". The village is located in "Yili County", adjacent to China's largest
"Taklamakan Desert", the longest inland river "Tarim River" flows through the scenic spot, the largest primitive Populus euphratica forest reserve
and the ancient and mysterious Rob people are in this scenic spot.
The Luobu village is a collection of deserts, rivers, lakes, and Populus euphratica forest, making people mesmerized and lingering. "The Great Beauty of Xinjiang" is fully displayed here.
Come to Xinjiang, come to southern Xinjiang. A visit here is worthwhile.
