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Turfan, a Buddhist center before being converted to
Islam in the 8th century
Xinjiang has a history of growing grapewines
for more than two thousand years; with Turfan in the lead. In summer and
early autumn, the Grape Gorge is cool with spring water flowing along the
cliffs and through the grape trellises, which forms a sharp contrast against
the hot world outsite of the Gorge.
Facts F
History
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Diary F
People
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The ruins of Jiaohe
All the ancient architectural structures
pf the city were built by carving of natural ground.
Astana burial grounds
The site to be the burial ground of the
noble people, officials and civilians of the time of the Dynasties of
Wie, Jing, Tang and the Huihu Gaochang Kingdom. The unearthered bodies
are almost dried mummies.
 Bezeklik
Thousand Buddha caves
All the caves are in dreadful
confition, most having been devastated by Muslims or robbed by all and
sundry. Particularly active in the export of murals was a German, Albert
von Le Coq, who removed whole frescoes from the stones walls and
transported them back to the Berlin Museum where Allied bombing wiped
most of them out during WWII.
 Minaret Emin
Designed in a simple Afghani style and
was built in 1777 by the local ruler, Emin Hoja. The minaret is
circular, 44m high and tapers towards the top. |
[14 Aug. ensoleillé Dunhuang-Linyan bus 130 km
Linyuan-Turfan train Hotel Oasis]
 Ulrich
dégueule dans les chiottes du train. Cela me rappelle le Trans-sibérien.
Plus tard, dans la journée du 15, Peggy se décompose au soleil du
Taklamakan; le maquillage dégouline sur sa peau adipeuse; et
cela ne fait que commencer... People are
people!
 Ballade à vélo
dans la Vallée du Raisin. La personne sur la photo me file une grappe, délicieusement
sucrée!
 Karez,
invention géniale! Que d'énergie économisée en 2000 ans.
Retrouvaille
avec Leon et Edith, godet oblige, beaucoup de vin et conversation sans
fin. Klaus est de la partie.
Edith raconte l'histoire du paysan qui, un jour, aperçoit un faisceau de
lumière jaune. C'était une cave contenant un bouddha à la tete d'or.
Quand les autorités sont mises au courant, la statue disparait. |
Views F
Landscape
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Orientation F
Maps
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 Flaming mountains
A classical Chinese novel, "Journey to
the West" tells the story about how the Golden Monkey put out the fire
of the mountains with a palm-leaf fan borrowed from the Princess of Iran
Fan. The mountains, about 100km from the east to the west, about 10km
wide, 400-500m high, are well known because the temperature in summer is
as high as over 80°C.
 Taking
part to traditional Uyghur music, song and
dance.
 Check
out the photo album of the trip between
Dunhuang and Urumqui. |
Wine production
Part of Turgan Basin is 154m below sea
level - it is the lowest spot in China and the second lowest depression
in the world after the Dead Sea. Turfan is also the hottest spot in
China - the highest recorded temperature here as 49.6°C.
 Fortunately
the humidity is low - so low that your laundry is practically dry by the
time you hang it out! To compensate, Turfan is famous for its grapes and
is an important producer of sultanas and wine.
 Hotel
Oasis |
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