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| Here is Xinjiang - KM's 4th Visit (2006, 2015, 2025 & 2026) |
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| Urumqi, Xinjiang, China |
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| Fuyun, Xinjiang, China |
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| Beitun, Xinjiang, China |
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| Altay City, Xinjiang, China |
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| Burqin, Xinjiang, China |
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| Jiadengyu, Xinjiang, China |
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| Karamay, Xinjiang, China |
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| Kuytun, Xinjiang, China |
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| Yining, Xinjiang, China |
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| Nalati, Xinjiang, China |
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| Tekes Baqua City Xinjiang, China |
" Sunsets are proof that ending can often be beautiful too. Every sunrise brings you a new hope & begins with new eyes "
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| Sunset in Downtown Urumqi Xinjiang, China (5 Sept 2026) |
Global warming, worsening climate change, extreme weather looks like everywhere, glacier meltdowns (a fault line has already occurred near the Himalaya Nepal / China border recently), volcanic eruptions & earthquakes shaking the earth every moment, hazardous haze making our daily life hazy & crazy, torrential rains, severe flooding & wild fire, on-going regional war conflicts etc; sound like for Aug / Sept 2026, the world's weather had made a dramatic change (turn turtle) as though it never rains but it pours (the red flag & warning signs are there) ! Thus travelling is no longer a fun & easy thing but full of challenges these days so you need an "oomph" & an extra ounce of mental, physical & spiritual strength / energy plus a weather watch in order to keep your passion in travelling alive & burning so that your desire to see the world after retirement could still be ambitiously pursued & fulfilled ! I often reminisce My Good Old Days (15 & 20 years ago) travelling solo in Europe, Scandinavian countries, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Jordan, Türkiye, UAE, Oman & South East Asian countries (Brunei, Thailand, Laos) etc; a little sightseeing & a little eating in each of these countries were all that I aimed for without worrying so much of climate change but these days a little hotter & a little more rain each year could throw one's travel plan off the balance or in the worst case scenario, it can be life threatening !
Against all the odds, here goes my northern Xinjiang story ..... 2 seniors (aged 76 & 63) "dancing" to Xinjiang rhythm taking public transport (trains, long distance & public buses) from one county town to another, thriving to see the best of the natural landscapes & cultural traits of northern Xinjiang, China on a 29 days free & easy trip, eating simple Xinjiang & Chinese food along the way & last but not least, a decent hotel room for a peaceful slumber in each city in the wild, wild northern Xinjiang !
Towards the end of our 29 days Xinjiang trip, my travel buddy started counting the "dinosaur eggs" we explored & visited; we came, we saw & we left our footprints in these wonderful places of northern Xinjiang, most were my 1st time visits (except Urumqi, Burqin & Kanas National Geopark). Well done KM & Boon ! Following are the major tourist attractions (6 of these are 5As level National Tourist Attractions of China) we visited:
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| Map of Provinces, China |
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| Map of North & South Xinjiang, China |
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| Urumqi > Beitun > Altay > Burqin > Jiadengyu > Burqin > Karamay > Kuytun > Yining > Nalati > Yining > Tekes Baqua City > Yining > Urumqi (total aprox 3,560km) |
- Urumqi International Grand Bazaar, Urumqi
- Heavenly Lake, Urumqi (5As)
- Koketuohai, Fuyun (5As)
- Irtysh Grand Canyon, Fuyun
- Wu Bai Li Commercial Street / Night Market, Altay City
- Five Color Beach (Wucaitan), Burqin
- Kanas National Geopark, Jiadengyu (5As)
- Hemu Village, Jiadengyu
- Urho Devil City (5As)
- Karamay 100-mile Oilfield
- Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Kuytun
- Ili Oldtown, Yining
- Sayram (Sailimu) Lake, Yining (5As)
- Gouzhigou Bridge, Yining
- Tekes Baqua City
- Nalati Grassland (5As)
Not to forget the numerous walking & food streets, night & wet markets, museums, temples, shopping malls, riverside boardwalks, gardens & parks etc we had the liberty to explore in each of the city we stayed overnight ....... I ponder & ponder, is walking a man's best medicine ?
Expenses incurred (29 days): Rm4,310 + CNY2,341 = Rm5,738 (US$1,400)
- Airfare (Cathay Pacific, KL > Urumqi > KL): Rm2,236
- Hotels (28 nights, twin sharing): @Rm1,646
- Trains (5 rides): Rm214
- Long distance buses (18 rides): CNY870
- Cable car: CNY110
- Town Bus (34 rideas): CNY34
- Private car hire (Wucaitan & Dushanzi): CNY50 + CNY80
- Shuttle bus: CNY110
- Entrance fees: FOC (Senior above 70s)
- DiDi (23 rides, twin sharing): CNY297 @CNY149
- Food: CNY938
- Groceries: Rm50
- Sim Card: Rm48
- Airport Bus / Grab: Rm10 + Rm36
- Travel Insurance (Annual Plan, pro rata):Rm80
Exchange Rates: US$1 = Rm4.10; CNY1 = Rm0.6064
My travel buddy: Boon from Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Boon is a member of my Klang buddies & together, we visited Thailand & Cambodia in March & Aug 2018.
Travel Itinerary: Kuala Lumpur > Urumqi > Fuyun > Beitun > Altay > Burqin > Jiadengyi > Burqin > Karamay > Kuytun > Yining > Nalati > Yining > Tekes Baqua City > Yining > Urumqi (total mileage on ground transport by trains & buses / MPV vans = approx 3,560km)
1) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Urumqi (transit in Hong Kong) > Kuala Lumpur (by air)
2) Urumqi > Fuyun > Beitun > Altay > Burqin > Jiadengyu (by train & public buses / MPV vans, approx 1,000km)
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| Urumqi > Fuyun > Beitun > Altay City > Burqin > Jiadengyu, Xinjiang, Chinas (approx 1,000km) |
3) Jiadengyu > Burqin > Karamay > Kuitun > Yining (by trains & public buses, approx 620km)
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| Jiadengyu > Burqin > Karamay > Kuytun, Xinjiang (approx 620km) |
4) Kuitun > Yining > Nalati > Yining (by train & public buses, approx 1,000km)
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| Kuytun > Yining > Nalati > Yining Xinjiang (approx 1,000km) |
5) Yining > Tekes Baqua City > Yining (by public buses, approx 230km)
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| Yining > Tekes Baqua City > Yining Xinjiang (approx 230km) |
6) Yining > Urumqi (by train, approx 710km)
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| Yining > Urumqi, Xinjiang (approx 710km) |
Photogenic train rides & interesting sightings in Northern Xinjiang (you may have to forgo your power nap to capture a picture of these sightings from a moving high speed train's windows travelling at an average speed of of approx 150km per hour !) :
1) Cold desert landscapes, Northern Xinjiang
2) Mountain Tunnels, Northern Xinjiang
3) Oilfields, Northern Xinjiang
5) Power Transmission Lines, Northern Xinjiang
6) Solar Farms, Northern Xinjiang
7) Agro-based farming, Northern Xinjiang
8) Mongolian Grasslands, Northern Xinjiang
9) Wild Camels, Northern Xinjiang
Travel Highlights covering 11 cities / county towns in Northern Xinjiang:
1) Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
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| Hongguangshan Scenic Area Urumqi, Xinjiang |
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| Hongshan Park, Urumqi |
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| The Central Asia Park, Urumqi |
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| Grand Bazaar Walking Street, Urumqi |
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| International Grand Bazaar, Urumqi |
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| Erdaoqiao, Urumqi, Xinjiang |
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| First Street, Minjie, Urumqi |
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| May First (Wuyi) Starlit Night Market Urumqi, Xinjiang |
2) Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), Xinjiang, China
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| Tianshan Tianchi, Xinjiang, China |
3) Fuyun, Xinjiang, China
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| Fuyun Walking Street / Night Market Xinjiang, China |
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| Fuyun County by Night |
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| Fuyun Riverside & Irtysh River, Xinjiang |
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| Fuyun Museum, Xinjiang |
4) Koktokay, Xinjiang, China
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| Keketuohai, Xinjiang, China |
5) Irtysh Grand Canyon, Xinjiang, China
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| Irtysh Grand Canyon, Xinjiang |
6) Beitun, Xinjiang, China
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| Monument of Genghis Khan Deren Park, Beitun, Xinjiang |
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| Beitun, Museum, Xinjiang, China |
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| Longjiang Xiaozhen, Beitun, Xinjiang |
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| Yudai River Waterfront Leisure Area Beitun, Xinjiang, China |
7) Altay City, Xinjiang, China
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| Altay Swan Lake Park, Xinjiang |
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| Aletai Museum, Xinjiang, China |
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| Wu Bai Li Commercial Street Altay, Xinjiang, China |
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| Kelan River & Kelan Park Altay, Xinjiang, China |
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| Hualin Park, Kelan River Valley Altay, Jinjiang, China |
8) Burqin, Xinjiang, China
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| Burqin Museum, Xinjiang |
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| Burqin Hedi Night Market Xinjiang, China |
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| China-Russia Old Wharf Style Street Burqin, Xinjiang |
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| Kanas Tower Bridge, Burqin, Xinjiang |
9) Five Coloured Beach (Wucaitan), Xinjiang
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| Wucaitan, Xinjiang |
10) Jiadengyu, Xinjiang, China
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| Silk Road International Food Bazaar Jiadengyu, Xinjiang |
11) Kanas National Geopark (UNESCO), Xinjiang, China
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| Fish Viewing Platform Kanas National Geopark, Xinjiang |
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| Wolong Bay, Kanas National Geopark Xinjiaqng |
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| Moon Bay, Kanas National Geopark, Xinjiang |
12) Hemu Village, Xinjiang, China
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| Hemu Bridge, Altay Mountains Xinjiang |
13) Karamay, Xinjiang, China
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| The Hundred-Mile Oilfield, Karamay |
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| Nine Dragon Pool, Karamay, Xinjiang |
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| Black Oil Mountain Karamay, Xinjiang |
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| Karamay River Scenic Spot Karamay, Xinjiang |
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| Karamay No 1 Oil Well Monument Karamay, Xinjiang |
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| Jixian Lu Pedestrian Street, Karamay, Xinjiang |
14) Urno Devil Town, Xinjiang, China
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| Urho Devil Town (Ghost City) |
15) Kuitun, Xinjiang, China
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| Kuytun Botanical Garden, Xinjiang |
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| Lian Hua Temple, Kyutun Xinjiang |
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| Lin Zhexu Memorial Hall Kuytun, Xinjiang |
16) Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Xinjiang, China
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| Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Xinjiang |
17) Yining, Xinjiang, China
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| Light of The Silk Road Tourist Town Yining, Xinjiang |
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| Yili Oldtown, Yining, Xinjiang |
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| Yili River Tourist Resort Area, Yining |
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| Hanren Street Grand Bazaar Yining, Xinjiang |
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| Liuxing Street, Yili, Xinjiang |
18) Sayram Lake (Sailimu Hu), Xinjiang, China
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| Sayram Lake, Xinjiang |
19) Guozigou, Xinjiang, China
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| Guozigou, Xinjiang, China |
20) Nalati Grassland, Xinjiang, China
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| The Valley Prairie, Narati, Xinjiang |
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| The Sky Prairie, Narati, Xinjiang |
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| Nalati Town, Xinjiang |
21) Tekes Baqua City, Xinjiang, China
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| Tekes Baqua City, Xinjiang (Eight Diagram City) |
Package tours on Ancient Silk Road & Charming Xinjiang currently promoted by local travel agencies in Malaysia are:
Reminiscing My Good Old Days - following the trails of Ancient Silk Road (May 2006, May 2017 & Sept 2025), the Exotic Southern Xinjiang (Sept 2025) & the Charming Northern Xinjiang, China (May 2006 & Aug 2026). I am glad that over the years since 2006 starting from Xi'an, Shaanxi to Tianhui / Lanzhou / Wuwei / Zhangye / Jiayuguan / Dunhuang (2 visits), Gansu & then to Urumqi (4 visits), Fuyun, Beitun, Altay City, Burqin (2 visits) / Jiadengyu (2 visits) / Karamay (2 visits) / Kuytun / Yining / Nalati / Texes Baqua City / Korla / Aksu / Kuqa / Kashgar, Xinjiang & in between these 3 provinces in China, I managed to visit a number of 5As tourist attractions in Shaanxi, Gansu & Xinjiang, but there are some cities in Xinjiang which I have yet to visit ie Fuhai, Zhaosu, Tashkurgan, Hotan ..... (in travelling, you win some, you lose some ?)
1) Ancient Silk Road - Xi'an (2006, 2015, 2017 & 2025), Shaanxi, China
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| Bell Tower, Xi'an Shaanxi (2025) |
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| Drum Tower, Xian, Shaanxi (2025) |
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| Muslim Street, Xi'an, Shaanxi (2025) |
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| Big Goose Pagoda, Xi'an Shaanxi (2025) |
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| Small Goose Pagoda Xi'an, Shaanxi (2025) |
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| Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, Xi'an Shaanxi (May 2025) |
Gansu Province, China
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| Gansu Province, China |
1) Ancient Silk Road - Tianshui (May 2017), Gansu, China
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| Maijishan Grottoes, Tian Shui Gansu, China |
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| Fuji Temple, Tianshui, Gansu |
2) Ancient Silk Road - Lanzhou (May 2015), Gansu, China
3) Ancient Silk Road - Bingling Temple Grottoes, Yongjing County, Gansu (May 2017)
4) Ancient Silk Road - Wuwei (Sept 2025), Gansu, China
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| Leitai Park, Wuwei Gansu (Sept 2025) |
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| Leitai Park Han Tomb, Wuwei Gansu (Sept 2025) |
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| Lousi Pagoda, Wuwei Gansu (Sept 2025) |
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| Confucius Temple, Wuwei Gansu (Sept 2025) |
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| Xixin Museum, Wuwei, Gansu (Sept 2025) |
5) Ancient Silk Road - Zhangye, Gansu (Sept 2025)
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| Zhangye Museum, Gansu (Sept 2025) |
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| Zhangye Colourful Danxia Geopark Gansu (Sept 2025) |
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Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhangye Gansu (Sept 2025) |
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| Mati Grottoes, Gansu (Sept 2025) |
6) Ancient Silk Road - Jiayuguan, Gansu, China (Sept 2025)
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| Jiayuguan Fort, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Beacon Tower No 1 Jiayuguan, Xinjiang |
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| The Overhang Great Wall of Jiayuguan Gansu, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
7) Ancient Silk Road - Dun Huang, Gansu, China (May 2006 & Sept 2025),
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| Mogao Grottoes, Dun Huang Gansu (2006) |
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| Yang Pass, Dun Huang Gansu, Xinjiang (2006) |
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| Yang Pass Relic Site Dun Huang, Gansu (2006) |
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| Yang Pass Beacon, Dun Huang Gasu (2006) |
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| Yangguan Beacon Tower, Dun Huang Gansu (2006) |
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| General Zhang Qian Dun Huang, Gansu (2006) |
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| Ancient City of Dun Huang Movie Set Gansu (2006) |
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| Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Lake Dun Huang, Gansu (2006) |
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| Western Thousand Buddha Caves Dun Huang, Gansu (2006) |
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| Leyin Temple, Dun Huang, Gansu, (May 2006) |
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| White Horse Pagoda, Dun Huang Gansu (May 2006) |
Xinjiang Province, China
1) The Charming Northern Xinjiang - Hami, China (Sept 2025)
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| Hami Museum, Xinjiang (2025) |
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| Hami Melons Exhibit Hami Museum, Xinjiang (2025) |
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| Hami Huiwang Mansion, Xinjiang (2025) |
2) The Charming Northern Xinjiang - Turpan, China (May 2006)
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| Grape Valley, Turpan, Xinjiang (May 2006) |
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| Sugong Minaret, Xinjiang (May 2006) |
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| Karez Well, Turpan, Gansu (May 2006) |
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| Flaming Mountain, Turpan, Gansu (May 2006) |
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| Monkey God, Flaming Mountain Gansu, (May 2006) |
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| Flaming Mountain Turpan, Gansu (May 2006) |
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| Ancient City of Gaochang, Turpan Xinjiang (May 2006) |
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| Ancient City of Gaochang, Turpan Xinjiang (May 2006) |
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| Ancient City of Jiaohe, Turpan Xinjiang (May 2006) |
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| Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves Turpan, Xinjiang (May 2006) |
3) The Charming Northern Xinjiang - Urumqi, China (May 2006)
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| Urumqi International Grand Bazaar Xinjiang, (2006) |
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| Wuyi Night Market, Urumqi Xinjiang (2006) |
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| Xinjiang Regional Museum, Uruimqi Xinjiang (2006) |
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| Urumqi Railway Station, Xinjiang (2006) |
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| Erdaoqiao Bridge, Urumqi Xinjiang (2006) |
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| Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) Xinjiang (May 2006) |
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Burqin Riverside Night Market Xinjiang (May 2006) |
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| Burqin Morning Market Xinjiang (May 2006) |
5) The Charming Northern Xinjiang - Kanas National Geopark, Jiadengyu, China (May 2006)
6) The Charming Northern Xinjiang - Baihaba Village, China (May 2006).
1) The Exotic Southern Xinjiang - Korla, China
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| Tiemenguan Pass, Korla Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Swan River Scenic Area Korla, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Kongque Park, Korla Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
2) The Exotic Southern Xinjiang - Kuqa, China
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| Kuche Ming & Qing Dynasty Wall Remains Park, Kuqa, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Kuche Grand Mosque Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Kuqa Old City by Night Xinjiang, (Sept 2025) |
3) The Exotic Southern Xinjiang - Aksu, China
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| Aksu Laojie, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Kumarajiva Plaza, Aksu Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| International Bazaar, Aksu Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
4) The Exotic Southern Xinjiang - Kashgar, China
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| Ancient City of Kashi, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Xiang Fei Garden / Tomb Kashgar, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Kun Lun Tower, Kashgar (Sept 2025) |
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| Etigar Mosque, Kashgar, Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Kashi Museum, Kashgar Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Baisha White Lake, Habahe County Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |
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| Karakul Lake, Karakoram Highway Xinjiang (Sept 2025) |