Luxor: A Museum in the Open – An Essential Stop on an Egyptian Trip, Full of Diverse Charms

When people think of Egypt, they often immediately picture the pyramids located in the desert, as they are the most representative symbols of the ancient Egyptian civilization. However, considering the four ancient civilizations, it's not only the pyramids that represent them.

During my trip to Egypt, I saw both the world-renowned ancient sites and the chaotic street scene, as well as the beautiful beach scenery. But as the ancient Egyptian civilization gradually disappeared into the annals of history, Luxor, as the last dazzling light, has become the cornerstone of ancient Egyptian civilization. As more and more secular cultures have made many Middle Eastern cities increasingly prosperous and modern, even the capital Cairo is now the same.

Luxor Cityscape

Luxor is just right – a civilization with deep cultural heritage and a backward city construction, which looks completely different. When you admire the majestic and sacred temples of Luxor and the exquisite and ornate mosques next to them, you'll often see dilapidated houses and public facilities, which perfectly reflects the diverse style of Luxor.

Luxor West Bank Real Shots

Gold belongs to the desert of Luxor, occupying 90% of the Egyptian territory's desert, which is the most distinctive color of Egypt. In the Luxor Nile West Bank, you can also see vast expanses of desert and sand, as well as the tombs of pharaohs, queens, and nobles hidden among yellow hills. Therefore, the yellow Nile West Bank looks more solemn.

Luxor West Bank Oasis

Green represents vast oases. When I took a hot air balloon ride early in the morning to rise above Luxor, I was instantly attracted by the magical scene of half desert and half oasis. Or perhaps it's only visible by overlooking. Many people say that the Luxor Nile West Bank symbolizes death, but because of the existence of oases, the quiet West Bank has gained a touch of vitality.

The Blue Nile

Blue represents the Nile, which divides Luxor into two and forms two eternal cycles. If the West Bank symbolizes death, then the East Bank interprets rebirth. Unlike the yellow river water that is often flooded, the Nile in Luxor is calm, like a mirror, with ripples only appearing in the breeze, and mostly shows a blue appearance, looking like an ocean. Of course, the beauty of the Nile is not only because of its appearance, but also because it nourishes the residents along the river.

Sunset on the Nile

In the evening, my travel buddies and I rented a boat to go along the Nile from the East Bank, along the way to appreciate the pastoral scenery of the West Bank, pick a banana, and drink a cup of authentic Egyptian coffee. Sitting and sitting, we couldn't wait to return. When night fell, the boatman urged us to get on the boat to wait for the beautiful time of the Nile. At that time, Luxor became red.

Sunset is beautiful, just near dusk. Quietly sitting on the bow of the boat and chatting with the boatman, the setting sun dyed the sky, temples, and oases all in red, which reflected in the Nile, bringing a passionate feeling. This is the passion of Luxor.

Luxor Temple Real Shots

Luxor's numerous tourists must visit the temples on the East Bank. I like the majestic columns in Karnak Temple, which are engraved with the symbols of ancient Egyptian civilization, as well as the hundreds of tons of granite obelisks and the sacred Ramesses II. I also like the exquisite murals in Luxor Temple, which depict the scene of the king worshipping the sun god and the harmonious integration of the mosque and the temple. These seemingly yellow temples actually hide rich colors, and colorful murals make Luxor the most dazzling place.

Colorful murals in Luxor Temple

This is perhaps why the East Bank of Luxor symbolizes survival. From these temples dating back 4000 years, it can be verified until now, Luxor locals still inherit traditions of ancient Egyptian civilization, concentrating their city's buildings on the East Bank.

This is Luxor, the former capital of ancient Egypt, with a history of 4000 years. It is not as desolate as southern Egypt, nor as prosperous as northern Egypt, but rather a city surrounded by boundless deserts and colorful.

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