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Asia » China » Xinjiang
October 15th 2012

Published: October 18th 2012

September is a good time to visit northern China. The blistering 40+ temperatures of Summer have finished, the Winter deep freeze is still many weeks away and it will be March before the desert sandstorms of Spring. The birch and larch forests are putting on their best autumn colours and the nomadic communities are packing up their yurts and herding their livestock from the high grasslands down to... Read Full Entry

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Linxia

The side of this mountain was covered in Buddhist rock carvings. A 5km drived up the dry river bed led took us to the isolated monastery and the last monk.

Linxia - Bingling Monastery

This is the last monk remaining at this remote monastery. He proudly showed us his temple. It seems unlikely that anyone will replace him.

Xi'Ahe -Labrang Tibetan Monastery

This monastery of 4000 monks is situated at over 3000 metres in a remote corner of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Xi'Ahe - Monastery

The climb to the top of the hill behind the town was worth the effort to look down on the monks' accommodation.

Labrang Tibetan Monastery - Xi'Ahe

Shoes off before entering for prayers.

Xi'Ahe - Labrang Tibetan monastery

Prayer time - chanting was almost mesmerising.

Xi'Ahe

Monks in traditional capes needed in this cold climate.

Xi'Ahe -Labrang Tibetan Monastery

A corridor of prayer wheels in the monastery grounds. The faithfull walked around the entire complex in a clockwise direction, spinning wheels as they went.

Xi'Ahe - Labrang Tibetan Monastery

Yak butter sculpture. There was a room full of these amazing creations.

Labrang monastery

This shy little boy was visiting the monastery with his dad and didn't want to leave his side.

Xi'Ahe

Some local Tibetan beauties who were visiting the monastery.

Xi'Ahe

Traditional prayer flags on the hill overlooking the monastery.

Camels - Dunhuang

Bactrian camels now provide for tourists but were of a more practical use in the days of the Silk Road.

Dunhuang - Jade Gate

This was the famous gate in the Gobi desert that marked the entrance to China (and civilization) to those Silk Road caravans travelling from the West.

Dunhuang - Gobi Desert

The Gobi desert surrounds this oasis town and the dunes go right to the edge. The crescent lake in the background is a natural spring of water.

Dunhuang

Contemplating the giant sand dunes.

Keketuohai Geological Park

This newly established park was full of fossils and spectacular granite cliffs facing a narrow valley full of trees in their full autumn glory.

Keketuohai Geological Park

We spent an afternoon walking through the spectacular scenery.

Keketuohai Geological Park

A stunning display of spectacular cliffs and autumn colours.

Our hotel - Kashgar

The interior looked as though it had been decorated with frosted icing.

Kashgar - taxi

The local taxis carried just people ... and just about everything else.

18th October 2012

Helen Smith
non-member comment

Produce your own book on The Silk Road
Thank you so much for sharing these photos. They were stunning and I loved the Faces of China at the end. Wonderful photography and camera.

18th October 2012

Lynn & Mick
non-member comment

Wow!
Hi Rick & Jan, thanks for including us in, absolutely loved seeing the photos. We are of course jealous! Looks amazing..............

18th October 2012

Hamish
non-member comment

That looks like hard work!

18th October 2012

Hamish
non-member comment

Why do you do such terrifying things on holiday??

18th October 2012

Loretta
non-member comment

Faces of china
Some haunting, some funny, some weary but all of them strikingly memorable. What an amazing trek!

26th October 2012

Lynne
non-member comment

just found the blog, Tye accidently hid it !
Thankyou for sharing your trip with me, it looked absolutely fasinating...on my wish list when I win the lottery now ! xxx

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