Xinjiang adventures. Deserts, grasslands and glaciers.

[woodyren]

More photos from the village and surrounding area.





I think this photo says a lot about the contrasts in modern China.















There were many Golden Eagles flying but my phone camera zoom wasn't good enough to get a clear photo.

 

[woodyren]

Later on our second day in Hemu we headed off to visit a mountain resort with a cable car ride to the summit. That was all I knew as we jumped on the bus. Again zero expectations of what or where we were going. This really was a magical mystery tour. Again this place exceeded my expectations. We were now almost up to the Russian border and the mountains were breathtaking.






As with all the areas we visited the grazing lands were still heavily in use and sparsely populated.











This was the first cable car stop on the way to the summit.

 

[woodyren]

Photos from the top. Mid summer. You can see Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan from here.

Breathtaking.










You can stay overnight in these.

 

[woodyren]

After leaving Hemu village we travelled by bus over mountain ranges headed to a station (unknown as by this time the stations had no English name and the names were only in Mandarin and an Islamic style language) to reboard the train. We had a stopover at a small village where we enjoyed lunch with a local Uygur family.

The terrain along the way changed from lush green meadows and forest of the Hemu Village area to semi arid as we climbed up and down some spectacular switchback roads..

 

[woodyren]

Lunch with the local villagers. Local tradition is to throw sweets at guests as they arrive.

 

[woodyren]

Overnight and breakfast on the train and then back on the bus headed to Sayram lake somewhere near the Kazakhstan border.


Again no idea where the station was where we reboarded the train.


















I think we arrived in a city called Yinning.

 

[woodyren]

From Yinning station we travelled for an hour or so to Sayram lake. The lake is the largest (458 km2 or 177 sq mi) and also the highest (at 2,070 m or 6,790 ft) alpine lake in Xinjiang.




More wonderful meadows filled with wildflowers.


Quite a few camping sites in Xinjiang which is quite uncommon in most of the places I have visited in China.

 

[woodyren]

Found some more random photos from the first part of this trip that I will add. They are mainly of myself and my wife plus her friends who inspired and organised us to make this journey.

 

[woodyren]

After lunch on the lake it was back on the bus for the 5 hour drive to the Nalati Grasslands park.

While the amount of travel due to the distance between many of the areas was quite tiring I hardly ever slept on the bus or in daylight on the train because I was always worried that I would miss another once only opportunity to see something wonderful.

This turned out to be another spectacular bus ride.
























Always some amazing engineering to see along the way.

 

[woodyren]

More photos of the trip from Sayram Lake to the grasslands plus our hotel for the night.

 

[woodyren]

Another early start with a short 30 minute drive from our hotel to the Nalati Grassland park. The grasslands are situated in a long narrow plane between two mountain ranges and have been home to Kazak herdsman for many centuries. The herdsman still live in their yurts and heard their sheep, cattle and horses in the high alpine meadows.

Often China is associated with overcrowding and pollution but the extensive wilderness areas I visited were very clean and unpolluted.

This was also our first wet day of the trip with fog and showers around for much of the morning.






Not sure how one walks carefully to avoid stepping?


The line of small buses that deliver the tourists into the park from the park entrance.













Much of the pasture is unfenced and the horses are herded when required.

 

[woodyren]

More photos of the grasslands.

 

[woodyren]

We stayed overnight in our hotel near the Nalati grasslands and then in the morning while the rest of the group visited some other nearby areas (Apparently it rained heavily and the sights were not that good) we were transferred back to Yining by private van for a short flight across the Altai Mountains to Kuqa.

The flight over the mountains gave us an opportunity to view the stark contrast between the change from forest to desert depending on which side of range you were on.


Arrival at Kuqa airport.


The desert side of the mountain range just before landing in Kuqa.







Some of the high peaks we flew over.








A memorable flight at a low enough altitude to get a great view of the mountain range.


Yining airport.

 

[woodyren]

We were met at Kuqa airport by a local tour guide who was to pick us up and drive us to meet up with the rest of the group. We also were met by local police who instructed us to follow them to their airport office. After some checking of passports and according to my wife questioning of the tour guide as to where we were heading we were on our way and into the nearby desert and mountains.

I still had little idea of where we were heading but the drive was worth a visit alone. The rock formations and colour were exceptional.
































This rock formation is said to resemble a Buddhist Monastery.

 

[woodyren]

Our destination for the day. Kuqa Grand Canyon also know s the Mysterious Grand Canyon or the Tianshan Grand Canyon.

As we arrived we were met by the rest of our group who were awaiting our arrival. It was extremely hot and while the ladies took a golf cart to the head of the Canyon I took a long slow walk. The early parts reminded me very much of the Souk entrance to Petra.

The photos speak for themselves.

 

[woodyren]

More canyon photos. There were warning signs and raised platforms throughout the canyon in case of flash flooding during storms. As I was on my way out a thunderstorm was brewing and the sirens sounded to evacuate.

 

[woodyren]

The last lot of canyon pics.

 

[woodyren]

Another bus ride through the desert to rejoin our train. On this night we were invited to the lounge car by our tour guides for warm beer and the worst wine (and I have had a few) that I have ever tasted. It was undrinkable even after a few beers. They managed to find a few cold ones for me.

Turned out to be a great night of karaoke and hospitality.












Everyone produced snacks and more beer to keep the night going.


None of the label was true. Truley horrible.


Karaoke machine at the end of the carriage. A few were very good. The rest....thought they were.


Upside down beer label.




This guy spoke a little English. I warned him about the wine but he was keen to try it himself. Also not impressed.


Before the crowd arrived.



Even in the middle of the desert the railways and highways were ever present.