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China,
The Northwest Provinces
The Northwest Provinces: -
Lanzhou: is an oasis on the Silk Road. The capital of Gansu Province, the town is relatively unspoilt. There is a park and museum, and river trips can be made along the upper reaches of the Yellow River to the site of early Buddhist caves.
Dunhuang: is a 2000-year-old town on the edge of the desert, once an important Silk Road caravan stop, famous for the Mogao Caves, the oldest Buddhist shrines in China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These ancient hand-carved shrines are a national treasure and represent a thousand years of devotion to Buddha between the 4th and 14th centuries. Some 500 exist today, and large areas of frescoes can still be seen. Also worth a visit when in Dunhuang are the Yang Guan Pass and the Mingsha Hill.
Turpan: and Urumqi are situated in the far northwest, cities on the edge of the vast deserts of Xinjiang Province. These Muslim cities, lying on the Silk Road, are well known for the distinctive appearance, dress and lifestyle of the inhabitants. Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The city is inhabited by people of 13 different nationalities, including Mongolian, Kazakh, Russian, Tartar and Uzbek. The majority of the inhabitants are Muslim Uygurs who speak a Turkish language completely unrelated to Chinese. Northwest of Urumqi, a few hours' bus ride away, is the beautiful Lake of Heaven, a clear turquoise-coloured lake set in the midst of the Tien Shan range of mountains. It is possible to go horseriding with the local Kazakhs in this spectacular scenery. Turpan is the hottest place in China, being the second-lowest point on earth next only to the Dead Sea. Nearby are the Flaming Mountains, which have the appearance of fire. Museums in both cities trace their fascinating histories.
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