Xinjiang desert
Electricity has to travel, somehow
Xinjiang desert
Turpan or Tulufan has an elevation of -145 meters and was historically located on the Silk Road. It is well known for its grapevine trellises.
Xinjiang desert
Layers of the history of the earth on the "Flaming Mountains".
Xinjiang desert
As far as people can think desert in China is not flat at all! It is a continuous up and down, sometimes also over 1000 meter.
Xinjiang desert
Unfortunately the only way to cycle this part of China is along the G30 highway. The old road has been quite completely abandoned and most of it is an imperceptible track on sand.
Xinjiang desert
Hami melon is very famous, and after eating it we totally understand why: so sweet and refreshing! It is also possible to eat it in sun dry slices like the one in the picture.
Xinjiang desert
Never trust petrol stations signs in this part of the world! It can happen that although the station is on the board it has not yet being constructed!
Xinjiang desert
An impressive fence runs all along the G30 highway, once you're in you can't go out.
Xinjiang desert
Fighting the heat!
Xinjiang desert
Fighting the wind!
Xinjiang desert
There's a lot of wind in the desert, no wonder China is using it to produce electricity.
Xinjiang desert
Long ascent. Mentally it has been the longest we've done so far. The never changing landscape, the heat, the wind and the road that goes on straight with no turning, make it very difficult to ride.
Xinjiang desert
At the end of the day a great reward: Sichuan pork noodles, maybe the best we had in China!
Xinjiang desert
Sunrise over Tarmi Basin mountains. Due to the heat we have to start cycling long before the sunrises. It is impressive also how the wind start rising together with the sun, another good reason to start early!
Xinjiang desert
The only bucolic place we manage to find along the G30
Xinjiang desert
Sunrise over electricity towers
Xinjiang desert
Bicycles in the heat of the G30
Xinjiang desert
In this part of China it is common to see collapsed buildings. At the beginning we thought that they were stroke by violent earthquakes, lately we discovered that due to heavy city renovation most the buildings are destroyed and build again.
Xinjiang desert
Bicycle lane in Hami
Xinjiang desert
Chinese tempe? Nope, public toilet!
Xinjiang desert
Hami public sport center, many elderly people gather here at sunset to exercise.
Xinjiang desert
Even Simona tries but it is impossible to touch the flaming metal bar!
Xinjiang desert
Elderly enjoying a bit of freshness near a small dirty stream in Hami public park.
Xinjiang desert
Thousands of perfect eggs
Xinjiang desert
Spices
Xinjiang desert
Not very inviting chinese dishes
Xinjiang desert
Not very inviting chinese dishes
Xinjiang desert
Everything in China is in single packet, also boiled eggs and chicken legs.
Xinjiang desert
Everything in China is in single packet, also boiled eggs and chicken legs.
Xinjiang desert
Saying goodbye to our host in Hami. He leaves in a very special compound: China Petroleum City. A place where all workers of China Petroleum leave.
Xinjiang desert
Early morning street cleaning not with the most modern equippement.
Xinjiang desert
BeCycling in the desert wind
Xinjiang desert
Unfortunately most of the time we have to camp under highway tunnels. Not the best camping spots of the journey.
Xinjiang desert
Camel Spider, that's the common name of this creature. Looking for some shelter from the sun it decided to hide in our tent. Kicking it out has been a great effort!
Xinjiang desert
Sun is not missing in the desert so it is quite easy to recharge devices, but be carful the strong sun can sometimes make the solar panel not work properly!
Xinjiang desert
Worst enemy of the G30 highway? Wind and truck tyres debris. A lot of flat tyres along the way due to the tiny metal wires.
Xinjiang desert
Hami melon
Xinjiang desert
This sign shows the driver what it means to keep a distance of 200 meters from the other vehicles.
Xinjiang desert
Looking for some shelter behind a small earth dune.
Xinjiang desert
Entering one of the most dry area of Xinjiang.
Xinjiang desert
Colours are impressive here.
Xinjiang desert
Google translate?
Xinjiang desert
Bicycle in the heat of the desert
Xinjiang desert
Moving fast in the early morning fresh air
Xinjiang desert
Daniele pretending to climb a tunnel wall
Xinjiang desert
Cyclists shadow along the G30
Xinjiang desert
Fighting against the wind. It is so strong that although going down hill we have to push heavy on pedals to proceed!
Xinjiang desert
Sunflowers drying in the city streets, that thing behind are sunflower's seeds!
Xinjiang desert
Another impressive sunrise.
Xinjiang desert
The best way to fight desert sand storm is by covering up as much as possible, as local people do.
Xinjiang desert
The wind is so strong this day that we decide to stop and wait the day after to keep on cycling. We never experienced such a strong wind, it was really dangerous as it was pushing our bicycles into the car lane!
Xinjiang desert
The young police officer helped us to find this shelter for the night and to arrange a transportation the day after.
Xinjiang desert
The shelter.
Xinjiang desert
When we wake up the morning after it is RAINING! Rain, wind and the visa expiring, an horrible combination. For the first time in the trip we decide to put our bicycles on a bus and reach the next destination.
Xinjiang desert
Rain in the desert.
