Hong Xin

TURPAN
The city of Turpan is...

by SirRichard

TURPAN
The city of Turpan is an oasis in the middle of the dessert. Their green streets and patios give you a fresh break after so much sand. The local residents have not only covered all the main streets and walkways of the town with vine trellises, converting them into delightful shady green tunnels (see photo), but have also managed to retain a relatively easy-going manner even in the heady economic climate of modern China. There are still few cars (there were when I was), and donkey carts remain the preferred mode of transport.
In summer the weather is reputedly the hottest in China - the dry heat is so soporific that there is little call to do anything but sleep or sip cool drinks in outdoor cafes with other tourists. This may not be what you came to China for, but quite a lot of people appreciate it by the time they reach Turpan.

Urumqui

by Jungle_Ed

"Going to Urumqui June 15th 2005"

I am going to Urumqui June 15th 2005 with my Chinese friend (who lives in Italy). Really excited about it.

I am really excited about finally getting out of this country for real. (The cruise was nice but didn't count.) Of course I am going to a place that is very little like this country so I can't feel like I have really been somewhere.

Anyways I would love to meet up with anyone who will be there around that time.

Be back later on the final plans and eventually the results.