CHINA-DAY 8-SILK ROAD TOUR-URUMQI TO TURPAN--SEP 2014

 

CHINA-DAY 8-SILK ROAD TOUR-SEP 2014

Urumqi to Turpan

DAY 8

26 Sep 2014                                                         

                                                                        

The Silk Road tour started from Urumqi and ended at Lanzhou. The Total distance is 2100km on 23 hours bus journey.

Flaming Mountains

It is a scenic geological landscape dominated by red sandstone landforms. The erosion of the red sandstone give the mountains a flaming appearance. Here lies the ancient city of Gaocheng. There is an underground gallery style display hall. The famous “Journey to the East” Sun Wukong was filmed here. Many mystical characters related to this show are here.

From the gallery display

Gaocheng Ancient City

This ancient city was built along the Silk Road more than 2000 years ago. Due to war and the inhospitable weather of Gobi Desert, this city was abandoned and decayed into ruin. Despite the ruin, the past greatness and glory cannot be denied as we viewed it today. It was tour on tram and some on boardwalk. Some areas are restored.

We stopped at the Astana Ancient Tomb. It was built for the Chinese descendents who stayed in Gaocheng.

   

Turpan Karez Wells

Karez Wells is the Uyghur’s underground irrigation system in Turpan. Water is drawn by gravity from the Tianshan Mountain in the North. The water is used for the fruit orchard in Turpan. Turpan lies in the desert of Tarim Basin.

It’s truly an ingenuity of mankind. Turpan owes its prosperity to the water it provided on the ancient Silk Road.

Grape Valley

Dinner