(pic1) The visit in Urumqi, district capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was started from the bazaar. Snacks and daily miscellaneous goods were sold there from early morning.
(pic2) The lifestyle of the minority and the relics and the mummys, etc. excavated in the vicinity were able to appreciate at the museum in Urumqi.
(pic3) The carpets were the principal products of this district but the price of the good things were not inexpensive.
(pic4) At a restaurant we took early lunch, the bride of the reception was waiting for the bridegroom's arrival.
(pic5-7) After the lunch, we went toward Tolfan by bus through the Gobitan desert. To call it a desert though it was a field of gravel. We were told that this was a gobitan and was different from the sand desert. The snow-crowned Tian Shan was seen in the far distance of the left hand(north). The mining places of the oil (natural gas?) and the pinwheels of the wind power generation were seen at the road sideward. I hear that the strongest wind in China blows around here. Had we run for about three hours?
(pic8) The long and narrow buildings made of bricks had come into view. They were dry rooms of the grapes.
(pic9-13) At the oasis scattered in the desert, The thaw water that flows far from Tian Shan and the water digged under the desert flows in the Caraz supports people's lives. It must have been an big undertaking that they made the underground water roads of these in the age without the construction machineries. Young sisters were selling raisins at the entrance of Caraz. Dry fruits are an important mineral source. To be attracted for her smile or for the reason of cheapness that is five yuan for one bag(about 0.6dollers), some old guys bought raisins here.
(pic14-18) Jao-he ancient city is a ruin of the people who prospered here before. There was no longer what used to be now though it was a fortress of nature that shouldered cliffs behind.
(pic19) Small Islam mosques were noticeable often in Tolfan's outskirts.

(pic20-22) After ate dinner, we appreciated the folkloric music and the dance under the grape shelf. At the end it was joined by the tourist and turned into the Bon Festival dance.
(pic23) We were slightly drunk and went to stroll to a dim town by several. Children were bubbling over in the plaza in front of the movie theater mixed with the adult who drank wine while picking up the shish kebab. On the way back to hotel we found a small liquor store. So we said, "Show us the most expensive wine in this shop", then the Rouran in two red and white was 80 yuan (about 11 dollers).
(pic24) Toward the further east next day with the minibus.
(pic25-30) Passing the sideward of the flame mountain that is written in Hsi Yu Chi we went to the ruins of ancient Gaozhong city first. We took the donky coach from the entrance to the center part. A remain of the round building had left the influence of Islamic community. Small bricks were piled up scrupulously and accurately when entering in that.
(pic31) The Astarna tumuluses group were a mark where the mummy had been excavated. The coloring wall painting remained there.
(pic32) The Bezecrik thousand buddas caves were carved on the cliff where skirts of the flame mountain got into Multuk river that flowed from Tian Shan. In the souvenir shops here, watermelons and Hami-melons were all-you-can-eat and served at free of charge instead of the service of tea.
(pic33) The flame mountain dyed up the surface of it in red like the name as the sun rose high.
(pic34) We headed eastward and ran on the bumpy road for about two hours more. We flew to Dunfang by the propeller aeroplane after our baggages had been rummaged by a female soldier in a small military airport.

(September 1999)