Well, we are here in Turpan. Will skip journey, but last 45 minutes descent into Urumqi was amazing, very low and steady over rugged, jagged mountains, thick with snow between the bare peaks and cliffs, glaciers almost to touch, incredible. Urumqi a bit chilly, minus 6 or so, great hotel (Luxemon Xinjiang Yindu, used booking.com) and brilliant unlimited buffer dinner (with wines etc.). Maghnus met us at hotel, so we are all three together, up at 6am for 9.04 bullet train to Turpan, what a machine! Gliding through the largest windfarm I could imagine, then by txi intotown, staying at "boutique" Silk Road Lodges (booking.com), a neat, comfortable and ideal place on a working grape-farm just about 1km from Emin Minaret, in the Uighir part of town. Security is tight, as anticipated, but we are enjoying
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