24 Jun 11: Turpan, China

40 ° C à l’ombre. And this is not the highest peak which can be closer to 50 °C. Turpan survives with Karez, unique 2000 years old underground water system that irrigates the whole area and desert over 5000 km. The city has a unique road design with grape vine pergolas providing shade over streets and pavements. Uyghur presence seems to be confined to the city outskirts although 3 quarters of its population is still Uyghur. The Chinese Hans are essentially urban. We cycled through the city exploring the bazaar, where Kim found his Uyghur knife and I a Uyghur cotton extra thin shirt for the place. The temperature warrants it and it also gives me the chance to give all my clothes to the laundry to John’s Café, a sort of do-it-all café where all the travelers meet for wi fi and exchange travel information. We met again here the German family and the French couple all seen at the Kashgar livestock market.