Aksu Grand Canyon Guide
The Aksu Grand Canyon in southern Xinjiang: the gorge, the drive in, viewpoints, and the best time to visit on a self-drive trip.
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Urho Ghost City (Yardang) Guide: Xinjiang’s Wind-Carved Landscape
The Urho Ghost City near Karamay is a vast yardang wind-eroded landscape. How to get there, the best light, ticket info and how to pair it with the Duku Highway.
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Turpan Grape Valley Guide: Oasis, Vines and Summer Cool
Turpan’s Grape Valley (Putao Gou) is a green oasis beside the Flaming Mountains. How to visit, the grape varieties, the summer festival and tips for beating the heat.
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The Taklamakan Desert’s Southern Edge: Driving the Sea of Death
Driving the southern edge of the Taklamakan, the world’s second-largest shifting-sand desert, from Kashgar toward Hotan. The desert highway, oasis towns and the reality of the ‘Sea of Death’.
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Karez Wells of Turpan: The Underground Irrigation Marvel
The Karez are Turpan’s ancient underground canal system that made the oasis livable. How it works, where to visit, and why it’s one of China’s great engineering feats.
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Kanas Three Bays Guide: Moon, Immortal and Dragon Bays
The Kanas Three Bays (Moon Bay, Immortal Bay, Dragon Bay) are the most photographed stretch of the lake. How to visit, the boardwalk, best light and where to stay.
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Jiaohe Ruins Guide: The Clay City of the Silk Road
The Jiaohe Ruins near Turpan are the largest raw-earth city ruins in the world. How to visit, the history, the best light for photos and how to pair it with other Turpan sites.
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Gaochang Ruins Guide: The Desert Capital of the Silk Road
The Gaochang Ruins south of Turpan were a great Silk Road kingdom. How to get there, the layout, the Buddhist sites and how to combine Gaochang with Jiaohe and the Flaming Mountains.
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Ebinur Lake Guide: Xinjiang’s Vanishing Salt Lake
Ebinur Lake is a remote saline lake in northwest Xinjiang, famous for flamingo flocks and a harsh, otherworldly shore. How to visit, the birdlife and the fragile ecology.
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Dushanzi Grand Canyon Guide: The Red Earth at the Duku Start
The Dushanzi Grand Canyon sits at the northern foot of the Tianshan where the Duku Highway begins. How to visit, the red cliffs, glass walkway and how to combine it with the Duku.
