Afghani minaret

Turpan; A desert Oasis

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July 21st 2005
At 45 degrees in the midday heat, Turpan is no place to chill. The air is dry and your body must fight the enormous wicking power to hold any moisture it can. The answer? I decided that the best approach would be to seek shade and drink the cool grape juice and other sweet fluids on offer. The locals, on the other hand, head for the nearest sand-pile to bury themselves in the scorching sand! ... read more

Asia » China » Xinjiang

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For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. A... ... read more