Desert

Grabbed an opportunity, I made a quick trip to Turpan, staying at the same winery, enjoyed same grilled lamb chops and grilled beef skewers. Dozens of kilometers of gravel roads in the desert finally revealed the limits of shock absorbers. I thought the Red River Valley was just a rocky beach, hoping to see the crimson world at its edge. But, braving the scorching sun at over 40 degrees Celsius, I reached the cliff edge and discovered a lush green valley. No wonder Tang Sanzang was able to traverse the desert to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

Tianshan Mountains

It’s rare to get a moment in the photo myself. In just an hour or so, the Arc’teryx and I were sunburned like boiled shrimp. The mountains on the left are the Tianshan Mountains. The clean, clear stream must be melted snow, a marvel of nature. In the scorching desert heat, I gazed at the snowcapped mountains in the distance and the pure water flowing beneath my feet, nourishing the greenery.

Stone Forest

The strange Stone Forest, a place not often visited. The ticket counter made sure we had enough water. Between the half-price ticket and the free ticket, I shouldered my 15kg backpack and turned through the gate. Seeing the 60-degree (C) steep (and shaky) stairs, my heart sank, even though the sun was scorching.

Reaching the summit, I confirmed what my Hui classmates, who were descending, had said: they rested many times as they climbed.

From the summit, the view was vast, and the heat melted away. My clothes were soaked, but the cool breeze at 1,200 meters was refreshing. I even used my Hasselblad after carrying it up. After hundreds of years, these strange rocks shouldn’t be strange anymore.

Flaming Mountain

The entrance to Flaming Mountain was now more heavily guarded. So many tourists parked their cars that the parking lot expanded to the opposite side, but at the entrance stood a thermometer pointing to 76 degrees and a rather fake palm-leaf fan. The scenic area collects fees, and tourists check in, each taking what they need, a sign of peace and tranquility. Turning back up the mountain to the Thousand Buddha Caves, everything became quiet. Monkey King Sun stood in the sun, with the silent sand dunes behind him and the blue sky as a backdrop—a truly beautiful sight.

Camel Caravan

In the distance, another camel caravan was heading off to attack the Xiongnu. Actually, there’s a drive-up viewing platform at the top of the dune, but I didn’t go up this time. From a distance, I could see how the marching troops returned.

Tuyugou

It was dusk, still light, and I thought of Tuyugou at dusk; perhaps I could take some good photos when the temperature was lower.

Sure enough, the parking lot was far away, so I had to take their electric carts to get in. The money I saved on the half-price ticket was enough for a taxi, thankfully.

Last time I passed by, I didn’t change clothes to check in and take a video, but now I’ve done just that. The ancient village should have been a dilapidated grotto, a site where wealthy merchants carved Buddha statues and invited monks to chant sutras. How did it all become a modern Persian style?

The entrance is a must-see, and against the blue sky, it’s still beautiful.

Capture

Seeing this alley at sunset, with its contrasting shadows, I couldn’t help but snap a ton of photos. The Fujifilm 100VI really shines, capturing the crystal-clear feeling. The Velvia effect is just like expensively developed film.

The correct color temperature is only available in the evening, but with a very short hour to finish, several cameras were busy, so mistakes were inevitable. As long as I got a few good shots, I was satisfied.

Watching the sunlight fade, I seized the opportunity on the way back, stopping along the way just to capture those final moments of light. Looking back at Tuyugou, the backlight made it difficult to photograph. But in the final moment, the sidelight gave me the perfect angle, reducing the EV by one point. Finally, I found the perfect result.

Silhouette

On the way back, watching the sunset, a vineyard owner and his daughter were observing the grapes in the vineyard. The silhouette technique was the perfect ending to the day.