Main sites along the route
Dunhuang is located in the west end of the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province, one of the well-known Chinese historical and cultural cities and a gem on the ancient Silk Road. It is an oasis town nestled in an irrigated cotton-producing oasis.About 25 km southeast of the town is the Mogao Grottoes which has 492 grottoes. The first caves are said to have been built by the monk Lezun in 366 and the last ones were carved out at the time of the Mongolian conquest in 1277. Other tourist attractions in Dunhuang are the Crescent Moon Spring and Singing Sand Mountain.
Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region lying 900 meters above sea level. Urumqi means "A beautiful Pasture land" in ancient Mongolian. The Museum of the Autonomous Region is worth a good visit. Apart from significant archaeological finds it also exhibits life-size models of the houses and tools of the most important nationalities in the region. An excursion to the Lake of Heaven 100 km away is a must-see. It lies 1,900 meters high in the Tianshan Mountains at the foot of the 5,445 meters high Bogda Peak.
Turpan can be reached from Urumqi in a half-day bus journey from the town. A few old buildings have been preserved in Turpan. The Emin Minaret, built with clay bricks in 1776 and the sparsely furnished mosque next to it are the symbols of the town. The underground irrigation system Karez is worth visiting. In Karez, the ice melt water from the mountains is channeled underground to the oasis over long distances. The local museum shows relics from the Silk Road, mummies from the Astana Graves, silks from the early period of transcontinental trade and funerary objects.
Kashgar lies 1,300 meters high on the bank of Tuman river in the middle of an irrigation oasis with cotton and agricultural cultivation. The population of 240,000 is predominantly Uighur. Kashgar only became part of China around 200 BC, then again during the Tang period and finally during the period of the Qing emperors. Geographically the city is the furthest away from the sea among all the major towns in China.
The Id Kah Mosque at town centre is the China's biggest mosque with a central dome and two flanking minarets. Behind the gate are open, tree-lined squares for prayers and 100 meters behind is the Great Prayer Hall, open only for Friday prayers.
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