Shanshan - Tuyugou Grand Canyon - Kumutage Desert
🌳This is our first trip, a self-driving journey that started from Urumqi at 10.00 in the morning, all the way through Lianhuo G7 Jingxin, the whole journey is high-speed, driving in Xinjiang is really convenient, although the journey is a bit far, but fortunately Turpan is a tourist city, so the road conditions are very good.
🌳We passed directly through the scenic spots in Turpan city, because we have been there too many times. We went directly to Tuyugou Grand Canyon, you can search for the introduction of the scenic area if you want to know what it is like, I won't say much here. An ancient Uighur village. There are ancient buildings and houses, and the Thousand Buddha Caves (this is sometimes not open).
🌳I went in May, during the May Day holiday, because it is located in Turpan, so it is already very hot in May. After getting off the highway, you have to take a mountain road, but it is on this road that you can take a panoramic view of Tuyugou. The green matches the earthy yellow to form the unique landscape here. I always go when I am a tour guide, so I didn't go into the scenic area this time, I left after taking pictures at the best shooting point.
🌳Don't go back to the highway, take the county road (navigate to Lurqin) directly to Shanshan County Lurqin Town, we are going to find a place to enter Kumutage from here today, the normal itinerary is to enter from the main gate of Shanshan County, the regular ones have been seen, let's see some irregular ones. On the road, you can see a large desert, but most of it is fenced off and cannot be entered. I accidentally saw a sign, Sand Therapy Hot Spring, so I drove in, maybe because it is the off-season and no one is managing it, the door is open, so we went in, the free scenic spots are really good-looking . Climbing up a small hill, I saw a magnificent scene, the key point: here you can take a perfect combination of Flaming Mountain and desert photos . I, who grew up on the edge of this desert, think it's very beautiful.
🌳After coming out, continue along the county road. Arrive at Shanshan County Lurqin Town, you can have lunch here, simple mixed noodles and barbecue, just find a Uighur restaurant on the street, the taste is very good. There is a free attraction in the town, Liu Zhongcheng, ancient town ruins plus people who are still living now, basically are Turpan's unique rammed earth structure houses and each household has a very ethnic wooden door, the combination feels not bad. If you are interested, you can go and visit. Didn't stay in the town for long, took the national road to Shanshan County.
🌻PS: Because I arranged this route that few people take when I went home for the holiday. So after arriving in Shanshan County, I went home, you can go to the regular Kumutage Desert for a visit after arriving, the tourism development is good in recent years, various tourist facilities in the scenic area are very complete, take a desert surfing car, slide sand, ride a camel... If you have time, you can wait for a desert sunset, it's so beautiful!
🌻PPS: I hung 2 pictures of grapes, there are no grapes if you go in May, if you want to eat, I suggest you come in late July - August, all kinds of grapes to eat 😄.
🌻PPPS: Shanshan County snack recommendation: hand-grabbed mutton, roasted pig's feet