China's Great Northwest: Extreme Scenery and Humanistic Epic China's Great Northwest (usually refers to Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and western Inner Mongolia) is a region with

China's Northwest: Extreme Scenery and Humanistic Epic China's Great Northwest (usually referring to Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and western Inner Mongolia) is one of the most magnificent and wildest regions on Earth. With its world-class natural scenery, rich historical culture and unique ethnic customs, it is the ultimate destination for explorers, photographers, cultural scholars and food lovers. 1. Geography and Climate: A Symphony of Wilderness and Extremes The landform diversity of the Northwest is the highest in China: - Loess Plateau (Shaanxi, Gansu): Thousands of ravines and gullies, cave villages, the cradle of Chinese civilization. - Hexi Corridor (Gansu): The throat of the Silk Road, with snow-capped mountains, Gobi deserts and oases interlaced. - The edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Qinghai): Hoh Xil, Sanjiangyuan, the wild beauty of the roof of the world. - Taklimakan Desert (Xinjiang): China’s largest desert, the legend of poplar trees in the “Sea of ​​Death”. - Tianshan and Altai Mountains (Xinjiang): snow-capped steppes, summer pastures for Kazakh herders. Climate characteristics: - Dry and little rain (annual precipitation is generally less than 200mm) - Large temperature difference between day and night ("wear a fur coat in the morning and a gauze dress in the afternoon") - Ultraviolet rays are extremely strong (sunscreen is a must) 2. Natural landscape: the most alien-like place on Earth Zhangye Danxia in Gansu: "God's overturned palette", the colorful hills show brilliant colors under the sun. Chaka Salt Lake in Qinghai: the second largest salt lake in the world, purer and with fewer tourists than Chaka Salt Lake. Kanas, Xinjiang: "The most beautiful autumn colors in China", from late September to early October, Siberian larch dyes the entire valley red. Ningxia Tengger Desert: One of the four major deserts in China, suitable for desert camping and starry sky photography. 3. Humanities and History: The Silk Road and the Integration of Multiple Ethnic Groups Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang: "The Louvre of the East", with 735 existing caves and 45,000 square meters of murals. Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Xi'an: "The Eighth Wonder of the World", Qin Shihuang's underground army. Kashgar Ancient City in Xinjiang: A "living thousand-year-old city" and the core of Uyghur culture. 4. Food: A paradise for carb and meat eaters Shaanxi: Biangbiang noodles, Roujiamo, and Yangrou Pao Mo Gansu: Lanzhou beef noodles, Zhangye fish noodles Xinjiang: grilled lamb skewers, big plate chicken, hand-pulled rice Qinghai: Yak beef hotpot, yogurt, sweet mash 5. Travel advice Best season: May to October Transportation: Self-driving/chartered car is the best Note: - Altitude sickness (some areas in Qinghai are over 3000m above sea level) - Sun protection and sand protection - Respect ethnic minority customs The Northwest has both the vastness of "the lone smoke rising in the desert" and the vitality of "the wind blowing the grass low and the cattle and sheep can be seen". Whether you are a history lover, landscape photographer, or food explorer, you can find your own shock here.