Wandering in Heaven (Part 1): Xinjiang – I Needed to Go Twice in 3 Months!
In Xinjiang, there's a place where I went twice in 3 months and still wanted to go again – it's called 'Human Paradise, God's Garden', a national 5A-level scenic area – Kanas.
Without Xinjiang, you wouldn't know the vastness of our country. Without seeing Xinjiang, you wouldn't know how beautiful it is.
I thought, after participating in the aid to Xinjiang project, I'd be in Xinjiang territory and things would be easier. But without Xinjiang, I didn't know how vast the country was, and I realized that traveling between places meant driving for a whole day, and most trips involved taking taxis between different provinces. I only had time to visit Xinjiang's attractions during my summer vacation in 2019 after working in the south for a whole year.
Just at the beginning of summer vacation, we eagerly started planning our Xinjiang tour, wanting to explore Xinjiang properly in this time. My first destination was Kanas.
Years ago, I saw a report about the Kanas water monsters on television, and I thought it was a mysterious place. I never imagined I'd one day go to the place where the water monsters lived.
Day 1: We flew from Kashgar to Urumqi for one night, resting and preparing to spend some time looking at this city, which I had previously passed through many times without truly seeing it.
Day 2: We visited the Xinjiang Museum, ate local snacks, and felt the charm of the city up close. A friend helped us book a train from Urumqi to Beitun at 8 pm, which started our journey to Kanas. The train was delayed, and the crowded waiting room was full of people. I regretted not inviting a friend to fly, and I didn't know how long it would take.
Once we found our compartment, we were surprised. It was our first time taking a double-deck sleeper, and the carriage was much cleaner and more organized than we imagined. There were beautiful Xinjiang-themed bedsheets and curtains. Our neighboring passengers were a mother and daughter who were traveling for leisure and fell asleep with the sound of the train's (gun-dang sound – a clanging noise).
Day 3: We woke up early, and the outside view was a vast expanse of desert or grassland. The red sun slowly rose over the horizon, creating a sense of vastness and emptiness.
There were no road signs, and we didn't know where we were. We just looked out the window and waited for the train to arrive.
The train arrived at Beitun station around 7 am. As we stepped out, we felt a deep autumn chill, despite the hot summer weather. Luckily, I had done my research and brought a hat and a windbreaker.
Outside the station, there were many travel agencies and taxi drivers offering tours. Because it was our first time visiting Kanas, we didn't know the route, so we joined a tour group. The second time, we went independently, which saved us time and money.
We rode a bus to Kanas with a tour guide. During the journey, we listened to the guide's explanations and watched the grasslands and rivers/deserts pass by. It was a long, beautiful ride north.
(To be continued)
This is Ms. Mei's personal blog, recording her life and sharing her teaching experience and her experiences in aid to Xinjiang. I hope everyone can live an extraordinary life in ordinary life.
(
