Southern Xinjiang Self-Driving Tour (33) Self-Driving Holy Land - Duku Highway (2) Southern Section

Southern Xinjiang Self-Driving Tour (33) Self-Driving Holy Land - Duku Highway (2) Southern Section Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture - Aksu Prefecture June 25, 2023 Weather: Sunny to cloudy, 17-31 degrees Celsius, highest altitude 3070 meters. Yesterday, we finished the northern section of the Duku Highway, and today we continue on the southern section, with half the journey remaining. Waking up to beautiful weather this morning felt like a reward from Mother Nature for our persistence, resilience, and determination. We set off early. Just outside Bayin Town, the Duku Highway stretched out in a straight line for a full 40 kilometers without a single bend (Picture 1). On both sides of the road, besides the backdrop of the Tianshan snow-capped peaks, there were flat, endless green grasslands, with herds of cattle and sheep under the blue sky and white clouds. For those who love horseback riding, this is the perfect place. A new airport is under construction on the grassland, and soon there will be another way to travel here. On the road, we saw several groups of determined male and female cyclists, their courage and willpower admirable. After more than 60 kilometers, we entered the southern section's mountain pass and began our ascent. Overall, the southern section has fewer bends than the northern section, but the road surface isn't as smooth. Today's highest altitude was 3070 meters at the Tielimaiti Tunnel. We didn't see the Bingdaban, and the scenery was slightly less impressive than the northern section. We passed the relatively well-known Big and Small Dragon Pools. Big Dragon Pool was low on water, diminishing its beauty (Picture 2). We could only view Small Dragon Pool from the car as parking wasn't allowed nearby. A highway is under construction alongside the Duku Highway. After asking locals, we learned that it will be completed in two to three years and will replace the current Duku Highway, becoming a year-round open route. This will provide self-driving travelers with more options. Just before leaving the Duku Highway, we visited the Tianshan Mystic Grand Canyon, located on the side of the road (Picture 3). The Tianshan Mystic Grand Canyon (4A), one of the ten most beautiful canyons in China, is located north of Kuqa City in the southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains. It stretches eastward for about 5.5 kilometers. The canyon is made of reddish-brown rock, and over thousands of years, flood erosion has created natural wonders that resemble running dragons. The canyon's winding paths lead to hidden, otherworldly scenes, with varied mountain formations and peaks soaring into the clouds (Pictures 4-8). Taking photos in this canyon often requires looking up, which can cause neck stiffness, dizziness, and headaches, especially for the elderly. Leaving the canyon and returning to the Duku Highway, we saw the crisscrossing ravines and distinct ridges of the mountains on both sides. From a distance, some resembled exquisite bonsai, showcasing the wonders of nature. Near the Kuqa side of the highway, there is a small monument where tourists eagerly take photos (Picture 9). Reaching this monument marked the completion of all the planned sightseeing for our Southern and Northern Xinjiang self-driving tour. During this self-driving tour, we passed through Kuqa (the crossroads of Southern and Northern Xinjiang) twice without stopping. Tonight, we will stay here. Tomorrow, we will return to Urumqi, spending the entire day on the road.