Travelling the Old Silk Road in Xinjiang

Today, a modern expressway traces much of the Silk Road of ancient times. It is possible to enjoy the mountain and desert scenery in the comfort of a modern coach, while still imagining the life of caravans with their risks and adventure.

As in old times, the roadways hug the mountain ranges. The TianShan (Heavenly Mountains) cut through Xinjiang from east to west. Along this range are oases where there are streams and underground water channels even in the driest months.

The landscape is spectacular and varied. While the distances and time for travel are long, the visitor is rewarded with many beautiful sights.

From time to time, there is evidence of local life. Some people in the cotton and maze fields, herding goats and sheep, and otherwise ekeing out an existence in a rather harsh climate which has the extremes of cold winters and record hot summers.

I’ve prepared two albums of photos from my travel through this area. I hope viewers will take the time to travel with me through a part of China that few foreigners (and, yes, also few Chinese) have the opportunity to see.

Click links to see my online photo albums:

Xinjiang Roadsides 1 — The Old Silk Road
http://www.canadiandragonfly.net/?p=3215/

Xinjiang Roadsides 2 — Life Today on the Silk Road
http://www.canadiandragonfly.net/?p=3182/

Tip: If you have difficulty using links, copy and paste the link-address (URL) into your browser. These links should work in China without VPN.

First published 2010/03/02
Last update: 2016/11/08