2009 06 28 - Singapore - Urumqi

2009 06 28 - Silkroad (Asiangeo)

ASIAN Geographic PASSPORT Silk Road Expedition 2009
Part I: ‘Source of Silk’: Kashgar to Xi’an (China)

HIGHLIGHTS
To celebrate the launch of our new PASSPORT travel magazine, we will be organising an exciting expedition to the illustrious Silk Road, beginning in April 2009. Divided into four separate trips, the expedition will provide you an insight into this ancient trade route.

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THE EXPEDITION
Taking place from 10–20 April 2009, Part I will start from the breathtaking Taklamakan Desert near Kashgar and go all the way to Xi’an, the home of the terracotta warriors and the start of the Silk Road. Experience the unique sights and sounds of this historical and monumental route in this ten-day once-in-a-lifetime expedition.

HURRY! SIGN UP NOW! ONLY LIMITED SLOTS AVAILABLE!

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10 April, Fri (Day 1)
Singapore - Urumqi
Depart Singapore on Air China CA970 at 0015, arrive Beijing at 0620. Connect to CA1293 departing 0815, arrive Urumqi at 1230. Met on arrival and transfer to hotel.

Free afternoon to look around town, get to know participants, briefing, photo seminar?

Overnight Urumqi.


11 April, Sat (Day 2)
Urumqi - Kashgar
Morning drive east to the beautiful Tianchi (Heavenly) Lake. Return to Urumqi for evening flight to Kashgar. On arrival in Kashgar, met & transfer to Qinbagh Hotel.


12 April, Sun (Day 3)
Kashgar
Kashgar, an oasis in the Taklamakan Desert, is the westernmost city of China, and the start of the Chinese Silkroad. An important trading center for thousands of years, it continues to attract traders from Pakistan and the Central Asian countries. Nowhere can this be seen more than the Sunday market, the biggest in Aisa. With every imaginable, and some unimaginable goods being traded, it's an unforgettable spectacle.

13 April, Mon (Day 4)
Kashgar - Turpan
Morning explore Old Kashgar, then fly back to Urumqi in the afternoon. Drive to Turphan, 154 km below sea level and the second lowest spot of dry land in the world. Check in to your hotel and overnight.

14 April, Tue (Day 5)
Turpan
Full day tour of Turpan, a distinctly Central Asian oasis town. Over 2,500 years old, it is a UNESCO World Heritage.

15 April, Wed (Day 6)
Turpan - Luiyuan
Another full day in Turpan. Visit the Flaming Mountain; Gao Chang Ruins, the remains of an ancient Chinese garrison town; the District Museum, Emin Minaret and the central bazaar. In the evening, catch an overnight train (soft sleeper) to Liuyuan

16 April, Thu (Day 7)
Liuyuan - Dunhuang
On arrival in Liuyang, transfer 2 1/2 hours to Dunhuang and check into Dunhuang Hotel. Visit the Mogao caves, with its thousands of Buddhist caves, each with its exquisite murals.

17 April, Fri (Day 8)
Dunhuang - Jiayuguan
Drive to Jiayuguan by car. Not far from the town is the famous fortress which marks the end of the Great Wall, and civilization as the ancient Chinese knew it. Visit the first beacon tower on the wall, then return to town and overnight.

18 April, Sat (Day 9)
Jiayuguan - Xian
Visit Jiayuguan Pass, guarded by the fortress. Afternoon flight to Xian, met on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight Xian.

19 April, Sun (Day 10)
Xi'an
The ancient capital of China, Xian is best known today for the terracotta warriors - an army of life-sized statues, none identical to another. Made to accompany Qin Shi Huang - first emperor of China - to his grave, this is one of the great sights of China. Later visit the City Wall, Bell Tower, and Islamic Quarter.

20 April, Mon (Day 11)
Xi'an - Singapore
Transfer to the airport for departure flight CA1232 at 1525 to Beijing. Arrive at 1255 and connect to CA969 departing at 1525 and arrive back in Singapore at 2125.

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PRICE INCLUDES
Ex Singapore
Tour Cost per person: S$3,660 (twin-sharing)
Special Price for Xplorer Members: S$3,295 (twin-sharing)
Single-room supplement: S$400

• International airfare Singapore - Urumqi, returning Xian - Singapore
• Domestic flights Urumqi - Kashgar - Urumqi, and Jiayuguan - Xian
• Twin-sharing accomodation in 4-star hotels
• All meals
• Soft sleeper train from Turpan to Liuyuan (4 pax in a compartment)
• Accompanying English-speaking National Guide
• Entrance fees for all sites
• Transportation in private a/c coach

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EXCLUDES
• Airport taxes and fuel surcharge (currently S$450, subject to change)
• Personal expenses including bar bills, telephone & laundry

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TIPS AND GRATUITIES
• Travel insurance (recommended)

2009 06 28 - Silkroad (CTC Travel)

14D MAJESTIC SILK ROAD [SR14]
URUMQI-TURPAN-HAMI-DUNHUANG-JIAYUGUAN-ZHANGYE-XINING-LANZHOU-YINCHUAN-XI'AN



Highlights
HIGHLIGHTS :

URUMQI : Tianshan Mountain, Tianchi Lake (boat ride) , International Bazaar, Wuyi Xingguang Night Market
TURPAN : Jiaohe Ancient Town, Jiaohe Cultural Village, Flaming Mountain,Karez System, Grape Valley, Uygur Performances
SHANSHAN: Thousand Buhhda Caves
HAMI : Balikun Grassland, White Stone Scenic Area , Mausoluem of Hami King, Old City
DUNHUANG : Mogao Crottoes, Echoing-Sand Hill, Crescent Moon Spring , Sand-sliding activity
JIAYUGUAN : Jiayuguan Great Wall , Jiuquan Luminous Factory
ZHANGYE: Giant Buhhda Temple, Wooden Pagoda
XI’NING: Qinghai Lake, Sun and Moon Hill, Ta’er Temple, Tibetan Family Visit
LANZHOU : Yellow River Iron Bridge, Mother Statue of Yellow-River, Water Wheel, White Pagoda Park
ZHONGWEI: Shapotou- one of 3 Sounding Sand Hills
YINCHUAN: Maosaleum of West Xia, 108 Pagodas at Qingtong Gorge, Ningxia Gouqi Garden
XI’AN : Ancient City Wall , Big Wild Goose Pagoda Fountain Square , Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Huaqing Hot Spring

DELICACIES: Xi’an Dumpling Feast, Lanzhou Ramen, Yinchuan Mutton Steamboat, Xi’ning Herbal Chicken, Dunhuang Farmer’s Meal, Roast Lamb, Dapan Chicken



Itinerary
Day 1 SINGAPOR- SHANGHAI(KUNMING)-URUMQI
Your vacation starts with a pleasant flight via Shanghai(Kunming) to Urumqi-the capital city of Xinjiang. Upon arrival, meet by our local guide.After dinner, proceed to Wuyi Xingguan Night Market- the biggest one in Northwest China.

(Dinner)

Day 2 URUMQI
Today enjoy your coach journey to Tianshan Mountain scenic area. Highlight will surely be Tianchi Lake. Also known as Heavenly Lake, this crescent-shaped lake deserves its name, Pearl of Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan Mountain). With melted snow as its source, Heavenly Lake enjoys crystal water. Take a boat ride on the lake to explore the amazing scenery. Thereafter, drive back to Urumqi for your shopping leisure at International Bazaar.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 URUMQI—TURPAN
In the morning, travel to Turpan for a visit of Jiaohe Ancient Town , which is the most famous ancient cities along the Silk Road. It is found from underground 2000 years ago. Next make a stop at Jiaohe Cultural Village to explore the unique folklore and culture. Then procee to Kares System-life resources of the oasis. Karez system is very delicate irrigation system made up of vertical wells, underground canals, above-ground canals and small reservoirs. Lastly, the Grape Valley is a scenic area not-to-be missed, covered with layer upon layer of grapes. Also taste fresh fruit in Uygurs’ House. In the evening, enjoy the Uygur Dancing Performances under the Grape Trellis.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 TURPAN—SHANSHAN—HAMI
After breakfast, continue your journey to Shanshan. Entoute visit Flaming Mountain & Tuyugou Thousand Buhhda Caves. Then proceed to to Hami, the first oasis in Xinjiang, also called the East Gateway of Xinjiang. Upon arrival, enjoy your tour to Hami King’s Mausoleum & Old Town.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 HAMI— DUNHUANG
Morning, proceed to Balikun Grassland & White Stone Scenic Spot. It’s located in deep Tianshan Mountain. Also visit the Hazak Family . Thereafter continue your coach ride to Dunhuang- the pearl along ancient silk road. Enroute you may be able to see the endless Gobi Desert and Haishizhenlou( Mirage).

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 DUNHUANG— JIAYUGUAN
Today’s highlight will surely be the Mogao Grottoes, a World Heritage Site on the Silk Road. Located near the ancient town of Dunhuang in northwestern China, the caves are a depository of historical and cultural exchanges over more than a thousand years between China and other nations. Later proceed to Echoing-Sand Hill offering superb picture-look desert scenery. The thunder-like sound produced when sliding down along the sands. Surrounded by the Echoing-Sand Hill, the Crescent Spring can be called a natural wonder in the Gobi Desert. Having been lying among these sand dunes for thousands of years, although given many

surprise attacks by sandstorms, Crescent Spring still gurgles clear, and still remains worthy as the first spring in the desert. (Camel-riding on own expense). Also experience one free –of –charge sand-sliding activity. Then coach to Jiayuguan City.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 JIAYUGUAN—JIUQUAN—ZHANGYE
Jiayuguan is the west ending point of the Great Wall of China, earning the name “the First and Greatest Pass under the Heaven”. today, visit Jiayuguan Great Wall and Luminous Factory as well. After lunch, drive on to Zhangye, one of the most important cites along so-called Hexi Corridor.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 ZHANGYE-XI’NING
Morning, visit Giant Buddha Temple, the biggest indoor sleeping Buhhda in China. Next stop at the Central Square for a visit of Wooden Pagoda with a history of several hundred years. Then continue your journey to Xi’ning--capital of Qinghai province. It has an area of 3.5 thousand square kilometers and a population of 1.05 million. Xining lies in the Huangshui River Valley with a lot of mountains and ravines. Xi’ning is one of good summer resorts of China, because it is very cool in summer time. Xi’ning has many ancient relics as well. Today, visit Qinghai Lake,the shrine lake of Tibetans. Known as China’s largest inland salted lake, it is famous for the pure water, clear sky and the mysterious religion’s environment. On the way we can see the Sun and Moon Hill—the stop for Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty. Later we will step into a House of Tibet family .

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9 XI’NING—LANZHOU
After breakfast, proceed to visit Ta’er Temple, the building well combined the Han and the Tibetan style and also the birthplace of Zongkaba, the founder of the Lamaism. Then head for Lanzhou which is an important stop along the Silk Road with a history of over 2,000 years.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10 LANZHOU—ZHONGWEI
Morning, visit the Yellow River Iron Bridge and Mother Statue of the Yellow River, and you will also be able to see the ancient Water Wheel. Maybe you will have some idea on why Chinese regard Yellow River as the Mother River. White Pagoda Park is small and fairly attractive, famous for a white pagoda on the top of a steep hillside. There is a fine view of Yellow river snaking its way in Lanzhou from the top. Then move on to Ningxia. En route take a visit to one of the 3 sounding sand hills-Shapotou. The Yellow River wind its way here. If you are interested in camel-riding, you can rent a camel walking into the desert. Theraafter continue your journey along the Wushaoling expressway to Zhongwei, a city of Ningxia Province.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 11 ZHONGWEI—YINCHUAN
After breakfast, drive on to Yinchuan- the capital city of Ningxia. On the way , visit the famous 108 Pagodas near Qingtongxia Gorge Scenic Area. Upon arrival at Yinchuan, proceed to the Pyramid of China, Maosaleum of West Xia King. Liyuanhao was the founder of the West Xia Kingdom.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 12 YINCHUAN - XI’AN
Ningxia is the leading production base of Gouqi, the fruit of Chinese wolfberry which has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine or as a tonic element. As the original producing place, Ningxia boasts a 600-year history of planting Chinese wolfberry trees. So far, the region has more than 21,300 hectares of land grown with the plant, producing more than 40,000 tons of dried fruit a year. Morning proceed to Gouqi Garden. Then take domestic flight to Xi’an, the eternal city & starting point of silk road, recording the great changes of the Chinese nation just like a living history book.. After dinner visit Wild Goose Pagoda Square, the biggest fountain square in Asia.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 13 XI’AN
Start your Xi’an tour with a visit to Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. It is the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century, listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages. It has become landmarks on all travelers’ itinerary. Another not-to-be-missed scenery is Huaqing Hot Spring, which is famed for both its dainty spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Guifei in the Tang Dynasty. Next stop at Ancient City Wall , Cultural Street & Zhonggulou Square.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 14 XI’AN -KUNMING(SHANGHAI)-SINGAPORE
Bid farewell to Xi’an and Silk Road, and fly to Kunming(Shanghai) for your international flight back to Singapore. We hope you have had an enjoyable time with CTC Holidays!

(Breakfast, Meal on Board)

2009 06 28 - Xian Terracotta Army ( Sunday Times , 26 April 2009 )

Xi'an's terracotta sentinels

The capital of Shaanxi Province is a historical goldmine of masterpieces. -SPU

Mon, Apr 27, 2009
Special Projects Unit

By David Bowden

IT'S hard to imagine just how large an area the famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Xi'an cover.

Think of a huge enclosed sports stadium and you start to appreciate the archaeological significance of the 7,000 life-size, pottery soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons located here beneath a high roof.

Even more amazing is that what is considered to be the eighth wonder of the world was only unearthed by accident in 1974.

The discovery created one of the greatest archaeological frenzies the academic world has ever seen and now these terracotta masterpieces dating back some 2,200 years ago are on display for all to see.

Like the Terracotta Warriors, which is a work-in-progress with more treasures continually being unearthed, Xi'an is an evolving city.

Recorded in the history books as eastern most point of the fabled Silk Road, Xi'an was once the ancient capital of China and a gateway for travellers arriving and leaving in camel caravans for thousands of years.

Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, is now a starting point for tourists curious about the ancient Silk Road.

The Terracotta Warriors, which are located just outside the city, are listed as a Unesco accredited World Heritage Site and are the main draw for most visitors.

There are, however, many other attractions in this culturally diverse location. For example, the nearby site of the Tomb of Qin Shihuang, who was the first emperor of the united Chinese people, was hidden from sight for over 2,000 years.

Indiana Jones wannabes could spend all day here and barely scratch the ancient surface of the terracotta sentinels.

Plan on allocating at least three hours as seeing the figures often requires a bit of jostling during peak periods.

Xi'an's second-most popular attraction is Banpo Neolithic Village, which is the earliest known agricultural settlement in China.

There is evidence to suggest that the site was farmed as far back as 4,500BC. Parts of the excavated village are housed under a large hall and there are artefacts on display in the museum.

Don't just rush to Xi'an's archaeological sites and then set off along the Silk Road.

Plan for at least a day's sightseeing in Xi'an. The Great Mosque is another Unesco site situated in downtown Xi'an and exhibits both traditional Chinese and Islamic architecture.

Also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and China's best-preserved city wall that encloses the older parts of the city.

I enjoyed scaling the rickety steps of the pagoda for a good view of the historic heart of Xi'an - there is an additional charge for this on top of the entry fee.

Other places to seek out in the surrounding districts are natural attractions such as Mount Hua, Zhongnan and Taibai.

For a scenic detour, head to the Hukou Waterfall in the Jinxia Grand Canyon. Naturally formed when the Yellow River narrows from over 400m to just 50m, the fall is a spectacular 40m drop that reminds one of water being poured from 'the mouth of a kettle', from which it earns its name - Hukou.



Survival kit
◊ Skip the hotel buffet and beat the crowd to Lintong, 30km from Xi'an, to be at the front gate for the 8am opening of the Terracotta Warriors. To photograph its full enormity, consider using a tripod or adjusting exposure to an ISO reading of more than 800.
◊ If you can withstand the harshness of the Chinese winter, visit Xi'an from Dec to Feb when entrance fees are lower. Average temperatures reaches a low of 0 deg C in winter and a high of 40 deg C in summer from June to August.
◊ At 'official' souvenir shops, slash the quoted price by 90 per cent to get a reasonable base from which to start bargaining.
◊ For travel bookings and enquires, call ASA Holidays at 6303-5333. For international medical assistance, call OCBC Concierge at (65) 6322-2588.


This article was first published in The Straits Times Special. It is produced by the Special Projects Unit, Marketing Division, SPH.

2009 06 28 - Dunhuang ( The Star , 12 Mar 08 )

Yungang's treasure

Shanxi's Yungang grottoes are renowned for some of the finest Buddhist carvings in China
Ziying

Wed, Mar 12, 2008
The Star

WHENEVER China's coal-rich Shanxi province is in the news, it is usually for the wrong reasons.

Grim images of the darkened skies and soot-covered streets of Linfen, a coal-mining centre in the southern part of the province, have been featured repeatedly in various international media.

The city is notorious for being China's most polluted and has become symbolic of the ills afflicting the country's environment. Collapsing illegal mines and deaths of miners in pitiful working conditions are also reported with disturbing frequency. And to add insult to injury, Shanxi is sometimes confused with its more well-known western neighbour, Shaanxi, home of the Terracotta Warriors.

With such a barrage of negative reports and the dismal images of poverty and environmental and human degradation, it is easy to overlook the fact that Shanxi is home to some of China's most fabulous architecture and sculpture; and would you believe it, blue autumn skies and days so clear you can see as far as your eyes will take you.

What I wanted to visit most of all in Shanxi was Yungang which, together with Longmen in Luoyang and Mogao (Dunhuang) in Gansu along the Silk Road, forms a tripartite of China's greatest Buddhist grottoes.



Yungang is just a few kilometres west of Datong, a 2,200-year-old Han dynasty city near Shanxi's border with the province of Inner Mongolia, about 20km south of the Great Wall. Our 'express' train took six hours to cover the 300km from Beijing to the industrial city, passing through an arid countryside hilly in places, with large stretches of brown cornfields, until finally we arrived at Datong's grey, drafty and very cold train station.

At first sight, Yungang seems less impressive than Longmen which is situated on Luoyang's Yi River and from which one gets spectacular views of its colossal Buddhist statues. A small portion of Yungang's kilometre-long stretch of caves, which house over 50,000 carvings, is protected by graceful multi-storey Chinese-style structures built into the cliffs and roofed with grey or blue tiles. Beyond this section, however, is an absolutely stunning expanse of exposed grottoes and niches fronted with soaring stone columns some 8m or 10m high.

Yungang's caves are ornately carved, and coloured in a style reminiscent of the intricately painted frescoes of Mogao. And fortunately, unlike at Longmen where the sculptures bear the scars of the Cultural Revolution, or have been looted by Western and Japanese treasure hunters, Yungang seems to have been spared the worst of the larceny and destruction.

The energy that went into the creation of the tightly-packed buddhas, boddhisatvas, disciples and flying apsaras in Yungang's caverns is palpable, and the figures' gestures as well as their twisting, rounded contours appear more Central Asian than Central Plains.

This is evidently a legacy of the grottoes' history as work on them started some 1,550 years ago under the auspices of the nomadic Tuoba clan who made Datong their capital when they swept into north China. A few decades later, they moved to Luoyang where they began work on Longmen, adopted the Han culture of the Central Plains and disappeared altogether.

It was at Yungang that I met one of the most beautiful buddhas I have ever seen. Or perhaps it was he who beckoned. For as I strolled past the outdoor niches, I suddenly felt his gaze on me. His eyes were mesmerising, his lips curved in a gentle smile and his face took on a radiant glow in the rays of the autumn sun. Sitting serenely in his niche, he emanated benevolence, his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing and assurance.

Given Shanxi's coal deposits, it comes as no surprise that coal mining is fundamental to Datong's economy. But contrary to expectation, there was little sign of the massive pollution reported in places like Linfen further south.

Datong (population three million) is small by China's standards and retains the ambience of a market town.

Near the Huayan Monastery in the heart of the city, bundles of leeks were propped against the wall to dry, while across the street from what used to be the palace of a Ming dynasty prince, a woman was sorting a pile of platter-sized loafs on a sidewalk. The thick round 'loaves' turned out to be seed-filled sunflower pods and she was carefully inserting the loose seeds back into the pods for sale at, she said "Two yuan for the big ones and one yuan for the small."

In the palace grounds, a row of round, football-sized white orbs oozing a viscous dark liquid full of berries and star anise sat on a low table under a tree. The owner said they were pickles and the white orbs were a kind of cabbage.

As for the Ming prince's palace, all that is left of it is a magnificent 45m-long Nine Dragon Screen constructed 600 years ago, the oldest and largest of its kind in the world.

2009 06 28 - Inner Mongolia ( Sunday Times 26 April 2009 )

Magical Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is a treasure trove of diversity that opens the traveller's mind. -SPU

Fri, Apr 24, 2009
Special Projects Unit
[top photo: Sunset view at Xilamuren grassland in Inner Mongolia]
By Wong Sher Maine
IT COULD have been a scene straight out of the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom movie: the part where the archaeologist adventurer and his posse are served eyeballs in soup and brain jelly quivering atop the sawn off top of a monkey's head.
Only this time, wheeled out on an elaborately carved wooden wagon in a restaurant in Inner Mongolia was what appeared to be a barbecued goat stripped of its hide and hair, reclining contentedly on all fours.
By what devious means the cooks managed to cook the entire goat - still with its skin on - was a question that did not immediately come to mind, for the biggest distraction was the huge white bow which was tied between the carcass's ears.
It is apparently a special dish called boodog. The cooks placed super-hot stones and seasonings to cook it from the inside while heat-blasting it from the outside to burn off the hair and roast the meat. The result is an animal that is cooked in its own skin.
Suffice to say it was an unforgettable meal in the land of Genghis Khan that was eye-opening at every turn.
Inner Mongolia is governed by China, unlike (Outer) Mongolia, which is an independent state.
Occupying 12 per cent of China, its surface area is 1,700 times larger than Singapore but its population is just six times larger.
The vast land captures nature at its wildest. Historical attractions such as Genghis Khan's mausoleum and the Zhaojun tomb aside, the most beautiful images are those of a lone horseman, miniscule against rolling green hills and blue skies with the sun beating down mercilessly.
Tourists can hire horses to ride on the plains alongside the Mongolian horsemen, some of whom learn to ride before they learn to walk.
Then there are the stunning sand dunes at the resonant Sand Gorge.
Not small beachside dunes, but a whole sea of sand.
Take a camel ride on the dunes - a whole troop of camels, some nice, some ornery - are ready for hire.


Sandboarding is also an option and so are chair lifts for those seeking a bird's-eye view of the spectacular gorge.
Even the sleeping quarters are picturesque.
The nomadic Mongolians basically used to carry their yurts or homes - a sturdy construction of poles covered with thick felt that looks like a white dome - with them wherever they went.
Grassland resorts line up rows of yurts for tourists to sleep in, only these are modernised, with toilets and air-conditioning for the hot months.
One of the best experiences during the trip was when our 20-member tour group spontaneously decided to visit a local home.
It was a little surreal shivering outside the yurt, underneath a blanket of stars, waiting for the guide to explain why we were all out there.
Once inside the big round yurt, we swiftly found comfort sitting on a floor covered in elaborate handwoven carpets, leaning back on thick mattresses and chatting with the friendly people over a hot oven.

Stunning plains and tall, craggy mountains greet visitors to Mongolia.
Spirits got even higher as we liberally imbibed alcohol and the Mongolians whipped out an accordian and a traditional two-stringed instrument, the tovshuur, to accompany their boisterous singing. It was a night to remember.

Inside Mongolia
◊ Those who are lactose intolerant be prepared: The Mongolian diet consists mainly of dairy produce like milk, yoghurt and cheese.
◊ Visit Mongolia during the Nadaam Festival in July or August, when the three traditional sports of Mongolia (wrestling, horse racing and archery) are showcased.
◊ Be prepared for extremes of climate in one day: It can get blistering hot in the day and freezing cold at night.
◊ For travel bookings and enquires, call ASA Holidays at 6303-5333. For international medical assistance, call OCBC Concierge at (65) 6322-2588.
-Special Projects Unit

2009 06 28 - Urumqi ( Sunday Times 3 May 09 )

Oasis in the wilderness
Urumqi is a colourful frontier city in north-west China that links the deserts with snow-capped mountains. -SPU

Wed, May 06, 2009
Special Projects Unit
[top photo: Tsui Hark's Seven Swords was shot in Urumqi, China]
By David Bowden
AS FAR as Chinese destinations go, they don't come any more remote than Urumqi in north-west China. Head any further west and you are into one of the 'stans' that border China's largest province, which covers one-sixth of the country.
Urumqi is like a spoke in a wheel that has Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan as well as India, Russia and Mongolia around its rim.
I decided to fly from Beijing to explore Urumqi and use it as a jumping off point in travelling along the Chinese section of the Silk Road.
The heavy air and grey skies upon arrival confirm that Urumqi is a large industrial city, but it doesn't take long to realise that beyond the city, the landscape is a contrast of barrenness in all directions.


The flaming cliffs of Gobi desert with its singing sand dunes in Mongolia.
Within a few hours of the capital is a land of extremes ranging from snowcapped peaks to the surrounding barren Taklimakan, Gurbantunggut and Gobi Deserts, which once formed near impenetrable barriers to the camel caravans that traversed the Silk Road.
Urumqi is a fully developed city thanks to injections of capital from the central government, but there is still very much a frontier atmosphere here.
Being one of the oasis towns in a parched landscape, everyone here seems to be on their way to somewhere, like nomads in the desert. It retains much of its historical role as a place for man and beast to rest and recover before setting off for another destination.
Looking at the people in the large Renmin Park in central Urumqi, I realised the complexity of the culture and the ethnic diversity. Urumqi is a place where various peoples from the West and East have coexisted and cohabitated for centuries.
I could see elements of nomadic herders, Mongols, Tibetans, Hans, Kazak horsemen, Uygur farmers and barbarian warlords in the park and in the city's wonderful bazaars.
On the greens, folks performed traditional local dances while others waltzed to ballroom music next to calligraphers writing Chinese characters. Signs written in Arabic, Chinese and English can be seen all throughout the city.
Most visitors will end up in a bazaar at some stage although many goods are traded on the street. Look out for colourful and ornate Moslem skull caps, sharp Uygur knives, carpets and rugs and hawker stalls selling the inevitable shish kebab, barbecued lamb and nang (naan) bread.
While the bazaars and markets of the city indicate its important function as a trading centre, most of the city's tourist attractions lie some distance away.


The serene beauty of Xinjiang's Heavenly Pool or Tianchi glistens under the sun.
Tianchi, or Heavenly Lake, is like a little piece of Switzerland in the middle of China. The waters of the lake are a shimmering turquoise and the snowy peaks look like they don't belong on Earth.
Nomadic Kazak people still tend to their flocks of sheep and goats. Along with their yurt, or 'mobile' home, they graze their cattle in the hills during the summer months.
Nanshan or Southern Pasture is another tourist attraction that is characterised by deep gorges, fast-flowing streams and rolling hills. Cattle graze here and tall poplars line the riverbanks.
My guide told me that in autumn, the valley floors are lined with ribbons of orange and yellow as these trees change colour. While spectacular, he said, they were nothing compared to the autumnal colours of the forests lining Kanas Lake situated in the Altay Mountains of the remote northern part of Xinjiang bordering Mongolia.
I made a mental note to put this on my 'must see' list for the future.
Frontier facts
◊ Remote as it may be, many products are available in Urumqi city. However, products are mostly labelled in Chinese so do carry items such as medicines, sun block (essential for the summer months) and personal hygiene products with you.
◊ In winter, the city fogs up and early morning flights are often delayed. Ask your travel agent to book afternoon flights in and out of Urumqi if travelling in winter.
◊ Be warned that the thermometer often slips below zero in winter, so come prepared with plenty of warm clothing or buy some in the markets.
◊ For travel bookings and enquires, call ASA Holidays at 6303-5333. For international medical assistance, call OCBC Concierge at (65) 6322-2588.
This article was first published in The Straits Times Special. It is produced by the Special Projects Unit, Marketing Division, SPH.

Map - Silkroad provinces

Maps - Silkroad