Day 49 May 28 Mon - Shanshan to Turpan

Many of these cage-like air ventilated for drying the grapes into resin
Sand mountain views on downhill slope to Turpan
Oasis of greenery and stream flowing
Statue of Sun Wukong at the entrance with Flaming mountain at the background
There are few caves at the far end where we saw round openings like doors

Watermelon stop, ohmmm... so nice so cool when you riding under hot sun at temp 42 C
Now I know how many kilo I lost after 49 days of hard pedalling 4 kilo but 70 kilo I am still overweight according to my BMI.
Road side watermelon around 5 rmb each taste no different from Malaysia
Great temptation to fall asleep after we finished the whole watermelon under nice "bed"
Muslim architectures are commonly seen in Xinjiang

Guesthouse entrance in Shanshan
Our 20 rmb each room in Shanshan
Chicken drumstick and BBQ lamb sticks with roti nan

Today's Distance: 97km
Today's Temp: 30 -42 degree C
Average Speed: 17.3 max:51.0
Time on Bike: 5 hr36 min

Ave climb: 1% max: 6%
Trip altitude: 236m max: 498m
Today's spending: 45.0 rmb
Total Distance to date: 3486 km
Total spending to date:3211.0 rmb

The journey to Turpan the hottest so far with midday temp recorded 42 C and known to

be the hottest spot in China . At 154 m below sea level in Lake Iding ,the 2nd lowest depression in the world (after Dead Sea ). The temp is believed to be above 50C in summer. Along the G312 road , as you descend, the sand mountain and the oasis green valley views is heartbreaking ,never seen before in my life . On a hot day like this ,we had eaten 2 watermelon kept cold in icebox and 3 bottles of cold soft drinks, plus 2 very nice cheap ice-creams. We also passed by a tourist spot in Flaming mountains where the popular Chinese novel "Journey to the West" Sun Wukong used a big magic fan to extinguish the braze to protect his master monk Tang Xuan Zang. Another tourist attraction is the Grape Valley but being not the harvest season in Sept , there is really no point to pay 40 rmb. Anyway we had seen many by the road sides. Turpan is apparently named as the Grape city in China. By 6.00pm we checked into a guesthouse for 20 rmb each . Dinner we have Lok-Lok ,not dipping in hot water but everything went in a tank of hot boiling oil under deep fried .

Day 48 May 27 Sun - Chi Qin Ron Zang to Shanshan

Accommodation 15rmb in Chi Qin Ron Zang 45 km to Shanshan
Grape farming a plenty here with low altitude and warmer climate
Crude oil dwelling machine like a robot automatic in operation "nodding donkey"
There are many of them at the background

Today's Distance: 46 km
Average Speed: 18.3 max:29.5
Time on Bike: 2 hr 30 min
Ave climb: 1% max: 3%

Day's temp: 28 - 36 degree C
Trip altitude: 45m max: 517m
Today's spending: 56.50 rmb
Total Distance to date: 3389km
Total spending to date: 3166.0 rmb

Today is a leisure ride to Shanshan only 46 km . Earlier just 5 km before reaching the town center with only 2 rows of shops and some buildings, the locals always says this " here is Shanshan!" maybe this is another way to lure the travellers to eat or stay here. We were prepared to continue all the way to Turpan which is 90km away from Shanshan. As we ride on , we finally reached the town center and within 30 min we changed our mind to take it easy to put up a night here in Shanshan.

Day 47 May 26 Sat - Yi Wan Quan to Chi Qin Ron Zhang 45km to Shanshan

The yellow strike in the middle is a long fine sand
Great view never get bored
That little sister shows a sour face and the eldar sister was smiling sitting on my bike.Don't worry,you get your turn later
We did not make it to Ci Ge Tai
Careful,its heavy!

Morning gradual climb with blue clear sky
Take a rest after a long
What a view!

Long downhill with average speed of 40kph and a max of 60kph

Today's Distance: 135km
Average Speed: 18.1 max: 60.0
Time on Bike: 7 hr 27 min
Ave climb: 2% max: 14%
Trip altitude: 1057m max: 1617m
Today's spending: 55.50 rmb
Total Distance to date: 3343km
Total spending to date: 3109.50 rmb

Today is one of my best ride and really I enjoyed every minute of it . Even after 135 km , I am still fresh and energetic. I was resting at a cold drink stall at Chi Qin Ron Zhang while waiting for Heather whether to put up a night here or further 15km to Ci Ge Tai . At 6pm and 30 min waiting,the decision is stay here and tomorrow we plan to stay in Shanshan which is only 45 km,so there is really no reason to carry on.We experience the best downhills after an initial morning 10km climb,this time the WIND changes to tailwind. The downhill was so long and straight lasted for almost 25 km with an average speed of 40kph. I had to really alert with my hands on both brakes ready to slowdown on unexpected crosswind.From altitude of 1617m descended to 515m , a cool 1100m ! Lunch at Hongsankou ordered fried rice with eggs and green bean fried with pork. Coincidentally our B2P Kiwibikers Arnold & Merike happened to stay here for 3 days according to the ladyowner. With such low altitude here, the weather is so warm just like Malaysia where I only sleep with t-shirt and short , no sleeping bag for the very 1st time.

Day 46 May 25 Fri - SanDaoLing to YiWanQuan

Long and windy climb
Mountain snow starts melting under hot sun
Our double decker beds shared with the restaurant in YiWanQuan

School going children happily having chat and pictures taken with us while we having breakfast
Open-air coal mining in SanDaoLing with a small rial to transport the coal

A lonely dinasour out in the desert
Stop by the strong wing

Today's Distance: 68 km
Average Speed: 9.7 max: 31.0
Time on Bike: 6 hr 58 min
Ave climb: 2% max:10%
Trip altitude: 867m max: 1607m
Today's spending: 37.50 rmb
Total Distance to date: 3208km
Total spending to date:3054.0 rmb

Morning after breakfast met with a bunch of school children,on their way to school ,they stopped by to chat and have photos taken with us. One of the locals strongly recommended a visit to an open-air coal mines 3 km down the road , if we don't then we don't considered to had visited SanDaoLing.So we went and find nothing special.

Today's ride is very very "frustrating" , not to any human soul or the steep hills but to the mother nature - WIND ! We may have the strongest mind and body, eventually both conceded "defeat" . Many times I just stopped by the road side whenever I saw oncoming truck or car overtaking with speed or from the back, you can imagine the scenario, you are riding a bicycle ,going uphill at 5-8kph with your lowest gear under very strong headwind, a 22 wheel overloaded long truck zooms passed from either the front or back , the amount of swirling wind can thrown you off.It is really pointless and is a waste of energy! So what's next? there is no place around here to camp and the next town YiWanQuan is still another 10-15 km to go and the worst thing is we have no idea whether this town does exist although the GPS say Yes! There is just no other choice but to continue pedal dangerously and hope for the best. At about 6.00pm , finally we reached the top elevation 1617m and a downhill to YiWanQuan is just a few shops at the Toll gate.For the first time we slept on a double decker bed which also shared the restaurant. We were tired , real tired not even bothered by the shaking sound of the sliding doors from the powerful wind outside.