The Silk Road east of Kashgar
splits into two threads in the face of the huge Taklamakan Desert. The
northern thread follows the course of the modern road and railway to Kuqa and Turpan.
The southern road charts a more remote course between desert sands and
the huge Pamir and Kunlun ranges. The ancient route is marked by a ring
of abandoned cities deserted by retreating rivers and encroaching sands.
Some cities, like Niya, Miran and Yotkan, remain covered by sand;
others, like Yarkand and Hotan, remain important Uighur centres.
While there are no spectacular sights, the journey
takes you about as far into Uighur heartland as you can get. It’s
possible to visit the southern towns as a multiday trip from Kashgar before crossing the Taklamakan Desert to Ürümqi, or as part of a rugged backdoor route into Tibet or Qīnghǎi.
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