Thousands of miles of self-driving, beautiful Xinjiang No. 4 (desert road)

On the morning of October 11, we drove on the desert road to Minfeng.

Luntai County, where the starting point of the Desert Highway is located, National Highway 314 crosses the county and connects with the Tarim Desert Highway. Luntai County used to be the seat of Luntai Kingdom, one of the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty. It used to have a name called Wulei. If we talk about the Protectorate of the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty, everyone who is familiar with history should know, and the headquarters of the Protectorate of the Western Regions is located in Luntai County. The majestic and powerful Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also conducted self-criticism and issued the "Luntai Guilt Edict". From the Ming and Qing Dynasties to the Republic of China, Luntai belonged to Yanqi Mansion (Tao).

Because of the early departure, it was still dark when driving on the desert road. After eight o’clock, the sun gradually rose. We found a parking area, made breakfast, and happened to take a photo of the sunrise on the desert road.

Aerial Photography Desert Highway

desert road sunrise

Aerial Photography Desert Highway

lead to the distance

After breakfast, we moved on. There was a small road in the desert that led to the oil field. We went in and took a look.

a path leading to the distance

In the distance is the drilling platform

The original intention of building this road was to develop the oil resources in the Tarim Basin. Although my country has a vast territory, its oil and gas resources are not rich. In the 1970s and 1980s, huge reserves of oil resources were discovered in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, but transportation was an insurmountable problem. In order to better explore, develop, and transport oil and gas resources in the desert, the construction of desert roads is imperative. After the unremitting efforts of nearly 20 scientific research institutions and nearly 200 experts and technicians, the problems we faced were overcome one by one. The Tarim Desert Highway, which started construction in 1993, was finally completed in two years and six months with the concerted efforts of all participants.

The plants on both sides of the road are for sand fixation, and there are pump rooms every ten kilometers to supply water to these plants

water supply pump room

The black pipes supply water to these plants

desert impression

Passing through Tazhong on the way, it is a small town where you can refuel, eat, and stay. Although there is still enough fuel for the car, in the spirit of safety, I still fill it up and move on. The continuous sand dunes on both sides of the road gradually turned into Gobi, and Populus euphratica forest began to appear. When we saw a place with a good view, we stopped to take pictures

Impression of Populus euphratica on Desert Highway

desert road terminus

Desert Highway End Sculpture

Desert Highway Guinness World Records Certificate

The Tarim Desert Highway ends in Minfeng County on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, where it intersects with National Highway 315. Minfeng County also has a long history. The famous Jingjue Ancient Kingdom, one of the thirty-six countries in the Western Regions of the Han Dynasty, is located in Minfeng County. The Jingjue Kingdom is known as the Pompeii of the East. It was not until the period of the Republic of China that Minfeng County was established. We live in Minfeng.

On the morning of October 12, we departed from Minfeng to Kuqa. Passing through Hotan on the way, I went to Yulong Kashi River, where Hotan jade is produced, and turned around. Although I didn’t pick up Hotan jade, I also picked up a few beautiful stones.

Impression of Yulong Kashi River

In the evening, arrive at Kuqa, stay at the accommodation, please continue to browse Wanli self-driving, Damei Xinjiang No. 5 (Kuqa).