Travel Notes of the Western Regions | 30 Days in Northern and Southern Xinjiang | Eastern Xinjiang | Shanshan County – Gaochang Ancient City – Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves – Flame Mountain – Jiaohe Ancient City – Turpan Museum – Turpan (3)

▲Shanshan to Turpan route

Speaking of Turpan

I always think that the grapes in Turpan are ripe

But Turpan in reality

Half fire and half oasis

Flame Mountain Mountains (red area on the map)

It’s just like the description in Journey to the West

Burning like hellfire

Turpan area temperature

Basically it’s around 43 degrees

Has the longest lunch break in China

a full 4 hours

Arrive at the scenic spot after 18:00

Use sun protection

avoid sunburn

This famous tourist city

There are no high-rise buildings

Most of the residences are earth-arched bungalows.

Very simple and low-key

Live near Turpan Museum

It will be more convenient

▲Photographed in Flame Mountain

Must visit attractions

1 hour from Shanshan

Arrive at Tuyugou first

Very hot weather

Go out again at 16:00

30 minutes from Tuyugou to Gaochang Ancient City

You can see the Flame Mountains all the way

The ancient city of Gaochang is

The capital of Gaochang Uighur Kingdom

Xuanzang once lectured here

"White Horse Roaring in the West Wind" by Jin Yong

It’s the plot surrounding Gao Changguo

But now it's almost flat here

Not much fun to watch

We just took pictures at the door and left

35 minutes’ drive from Gaochang Ancient City

To Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Passing through the ancient tombs of Astana on the way

15 minutes by car from Thousand Buddha Cave

Next to the national highway is the Flame Mountain

It’s too hot in the scenic spot

You can take panoramic photos in the parking lot

Next to the Huoyan Mountain Geopark is free

1 hour from Flame Mountain to Turpan City

Visit the Turpan Museum in the afternoon the next day

Go to Jiaohe Old Town after 18:00

Grape Valley and Karez

Too commercial

Sugong Pagoda has bad reviews

None of us went

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Built in the Flame Mountains

On the mountainside of a river valley

It is the real filming location of Journey to the West

Driving in the Flame Mountains

Experience unprecedented visual impact

▲Taken on the way to Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Summer business hours 9:00-20:00

Ticket sales stop at 19:40

Actual business hours will be extended

Tour time 1 hour

It is more appropriate to arrive at the scenic spot at 18:30

It is recommended to buy a joint ticket

▲Photographed at Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

The cave was dug in

Late Southern and Northern Dynasties, Ju family Gaochang era

Once the Wang Family Temple of Gaochang Uighurs

It flourished for 840 years

The period of religious wars in the Western Regions in the 14th century

The most severe damage

Some caves and Buddha statues

Completely destroyed and ceased to exist

Between 1904 and 1913

90% of the murals were stolen by Germany, Britain, Russia and Japan

Most of them were destroyed by fire during World War II.

Only photos are handed down

▲Photographed at Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Interested in historical monuments

Still worth coming

Only seven incomplete caves remain

The development of Buddhism in the Western Regions can still be felt

Top craftsmanship from the most glorious period

no time limit

You can enjoy it slowly with a flashlight

▲Photographed at Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Turpan Museum

The most worth visiting museum in Xinjiang

From display, environment to service

all perfect

Not many people and very clean

The museum opens at 10:30

Entry stops at 16:30

Closed on Monday

The hut behind the green mailbox on the right side of the gate

Get free tickets with your ID card

After receiving the ticket, deposit the bag in the storage room on the first floor

(Don’t save it on the second floor)

You have to save anything bigger than your palm.

You can bring water and cameras inside

Hot water and purified water are also provided

and disposable paper cups

▲Taken at Turpan Museum

The exhibits are full of Western style

There is the famous painting of Fuxi and Nuwa

The awe-inspiring tomb beast

The treasure of the museum – giant rhinoceros fossil

There are 11 mummies on display on the second floor

The picture below is what Turpan once looked like

The ruler Zhang and his wife

The man on the left has a scary and ferocious expression

It is said that he was assassinated to death

The lady on the right is tall and well built

Visually, both of them are above 1.8 in height.

Jiaohe Ancient City

Founded in the 2nd century BC

The earliest was the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Ancient Western Regions

The capital of "Cheshi Qianguo"

(Journey to the West prototype of Chechi Kingdom)

Anxi Protectorate in Tang Dynasty

It was also located here at the earliest

▲Taken in Jiaohe Ancient City

This is the world's largest

The city with the best preserved earthen architecture

The buildings are excavated from the ground downwards

▲Taken in Jiaohe Ancient City

aerial view

Jiaohe Ancient City looks like a large willow leaf

It is also a city without walls

Known as "the most beautiful ruins in the world"

▲Pictures come from the Internet

This is what we encountered

The most popular scenic spot

Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring water

The scenic spot stops selling tickets at 8 o'clock

It’s best to come after 18 o’clock

▲Taken in Jiaohe Ancient City

Climb to the commanding heights – Parade Ground

Everything is in ruins

Only endless desolation remains

Here in the religious struggles of the 14th century

Was burned by fire for three days and three nights

▲Photographed at the Jiaohe Ancient City Military Parade Ground

Don’t return to the south gate after watching the commanding heights

The east gate is the essence

Walking on ancient roads dating back 2,000 years

You can still feel it from the ruins

The prosperity and prosperity of this place

Looking back at history, a thousand years at a glance

▲Taken in Jiaohe Ancient City

Must eat food

Koshimakra Baked Buns

Known as the most delicious baked buns in Xinjiang

A strong aroma hits your nostrils

The skin is very crispy when you bite it off

Full of mutton and onions

Locals buy dozens or even hundreds of them

There are many people in the morning

Few people at noon

Open until 15:00

Just across from the museum

Don't miss it

▲Photographed at Kosimakra Baked Buns Shop

Opposite the museum

Sulaiman Noodle King

It is a famous time-honored brand in Turpan

▲Photographed at Sulaiman Noodle King

besides

Ekbalwei people eat rice with their hands

Toksun Mu Sha Golden Noodles

Heilbag (with performances)

Xinjiang, Mubarak

Aili Kaimu Food

Tianma night market

…

They are all famous delicacies in Turpan