Jiayuguan to Urumqi, China

For seven hours we sped across the Taklamakan desert which is sprinkled with gas and oil rigs. Our comfortable train made us appreciate the fortitude of the Silk Road camel trains.
At 10.00pm we arrived in Urumqi, China’s most western city and with more than 3 million citizens it isn’t small!! Magnificent skyscrapers lit at night with animated lighting.
A very dry region but artesian wells, fed by glaciers, ensure local fruit and vegetable supplies. Wine and table grapes a regional specialty and it’s harvest time 😊. Hard to decide which of the green, red, purple, finger-shaped and round (some as large as golf-balls) grapes to choose so we sampled many. Delicious.Read more