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Old historic landscapes, exquisite wildlife, a tribe rich in culture, magnificent snow-capped mountains, mysterious woods, endless greens, elegant birch forests, tranquil waters, blazing heat, an ancient city, the Silk Road… Today, it is known as Xinjiang.
Known as the Western Regions in historic times, it was the land where the Han and Tang Dynasty installed their Protectorates. Recognized as Western Liao by the Song Dynasty, this was where the executive secretariats operated in the Yuan Dynasty and was also where the Qing Dynasty built their Yili General Prefecture, which still stands today. From Zhang Qian’s expeditions in the Han Dynasty to the Buddhist monk Xuan Zang’s quest for sacred Buddhist manuals, from Marco Polo’s Far Eastern travels to the construction of the city fortress in the Ming Dynasty, many have traversed across this terrain.
It resembles a golden ocean from afar, where glistening sand crystals glide through the winds and shroud the sun, and camels bleat impatiently. As the spice merchants journey across the vast expanse, the exotic scents of pepper and sesame fill the air. The richness of frankincense and myrrh saturates one’s senses, while cinnamon and cloves rouse one back to reality….
As night arrives, countless twinkling stars brighten the velvet sky while dinner roasts over a crackling bonfire. The nomads celebrate with traditional song and dance, and even the insects and winds join in the chorus. What a lovely night of enjoyment - grapes in one hand and a bowl of kumis in the other.