Along the Silk Road from Korla to Kashgar, 2015/09
Fresh photos from a seven-day expedition along the Silk Road, with stops in Korla, Kuqa, Aksu, and Kashgar.

During the October Golden Week holiday we made a seven-day expedition along the Silk Road, with stops in Korla, Kuqa, Aksu, and Kashgar.
As well as checking out the sights in the old oasis towns that were key stops on the journey to the west we camped a night in Baicheng, where we hiked in some stunning scenery that’s well off of the tourist track.
Photos below!

Our jeeps coming through the toll gate, ready to get started on the Silk Road.

We stopped off for hikes along the way. Here we hiked up into a narrow valley, sharing the trail with sheep.

A stream in the valley.

Crossing over.

The hiking team.

Further along the journey, spices for sale in a small town.

Hiking in the Luntai area.

Silhouetted on the ridgeline.

Some pretty slippery going here!

We got deeper into the hills.

Checking out the old quarter of Kuqa.

A little store in the town.

Fruit for sale at a small street market.

Hanging out at the town square.

Street scene at the market.

Very blue!

Not sure what this game is. Looks a wee bit like Go, but with a much smaller board.

Butcher.

Fresh bread.

Team photo in the old quarter of Kuqa.

Part of the ruined city of Subashi.

Hiking near the Dakziliya Canyon.

Further up into the canyon.

We preferred the side trail to the boardwalk.

Narrower and narrower.

Amazing colours in the hills.

We climbed up to a high point in the hills near Baicheng.

Heading back to the campsite.

The last obstacle.

Another nice silhouette shot.

The caves at Kizil.

We did another short hike near the Kizil Caves.

More interesting colours in the hills here.

Fresh-pressed pomegranate juice for sale.

Men, balconies, carpets, in Kashgar.

With our Kashgar guide.

Tomb of Xiangfei.

Getting extra information about the tomb.

The old city in Kashgar.

A cow?!

Photo with a youngster.

Inside a mosque.

We took a stroll about Kashgar.

Photo with a youngster.

Happy kids.

He looks rather determined, whatever it is he’s doing.

Special milky drink fountain.

Street scene in Kashgar.

Hats for sale.

“The Feeling of Tea House”.

Working with a lathe.

Fresh naan bread!

Lovely architecture.

Doors in the old town.

Kids and bikes.

Some serious soup at the livestock market.

Donkey bus.

Rope for sale at the livestock market.

Looks like a good bull.

Getting a tidy up.