Gifts of the gods
It’s no joke when it comes to extreme climates on the Silk Road. In Turpan, where the mountains are aptly named the Flaming Mountains, temperatures can shoot way up to 55 degrees in the summer! This is the hottest spot in all of China. There’s even a blown up version of a thermometer to measure how hot it is. Inspired by the story of the monk Xuanzang who spread Buddhist wisdom by getting Buddhist manuscripts from India, the Flaming Mountains was the source of inspiration for the author Wu Cheng’en to create the stories of Monkey King and Xuanzang crossing the “wall of flames” in their journey. It’s hot in Xinjiang but Tianchi or Heaven Lake is a true gift from the gods. Known as the lake in the skies, this is the perfect place to enjoy the natural waterfalls, hop on a boat ride and the view of the snow capped peaks in the horizon just takes your breath away. It’s the perfect way to hide from the heat. Weather might be extreme in Xinjiang but it’s also the fruit bowl of China. Be sure to sink your teeth into the sugar sweet and lip smackingly juicy Xinjiang melons and grapes, especially during harvest season in July and August. That’s a even better way to quench thirst.
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