Speaking of the mystery of Xinjiang, the Taklamakan Desert is the source of all the mystery of Xinjiang.

In my impression, the Taklamakan Desert is terrifying. In this death sea, many bizarre events happened. The Peng Jia Mu incident in that year caused a sensation. Around the Taklamakan Desert, the Western Regions' 36 countries each have a legendary story. The mysterious disappearance of the ancient city of Loulan, the secret treasure of the ancient city of Jingye… The secrets here seem endless to explore.

Travelers who love to travel will not miss Xinjiang's towering Tian Shan mountains, the Douhe Road. The beauty of the Douhe Road doesn't need to be elaborated here. Everyone who has traveled the Douhe Road will have an unforgettable experience. However, if you don't turn back at Urumqi after visiting the Douhe Road, it would be a pity. It's close to the Taklamakan Desert. This provides a valuable opportunity to explore the desert's secrets.

Route Selection:

The Taklamakan Desert east-west is 1000 kilometers wide, and north-south is 400 kilometers long, with an area of 330,000 square kilometers. It is the largest desert in China and the second largest mobile desert in the world after the Rub' al Khali desert in the Arabian Peninsula. The vast area of flowing sand and its wide range are daunting. However, there are two highways crossing the desert. We must admire the ingenuity and craftsmanship of our construction workers.

The first is from Ruolai to Minfeng, the No. 1 Desert Highway, also known as the Tarim Petroleum Highway, connecting the oil production base in the Taklamakan Desert's core area. The other is from starting south of Wutian to Alal, which started construction in 2005. If you take the No. 1 Desert Highway, you will have to detour for hundreds of kilometers. Minfeng and Tarim have simple accommodation environments, and sometimes it's difficult to find a room. Therefore, considering the overall situation, it's better to take the No. 2 Desert Highway.

Meet the beautiful yellow willow scenery in the death sea,

We all know that yellow willow is a beautiful landscape in autumn. Every autumn, thousands of tourists go to Ejina and Ruolai to see the golden charm of the yellow willow. However, this season, Ejina is expensive and Ruolai is crowded, and the mosquitoes in Ruolai's tourist area are numerous, which is not a good travel experience. Although we haven't traveled the No. 2 Desert Highway, based on experience, I instinctively felt that there must be beautiful yellow willows along the Taklamakan River,

After leaving Kuche, the scenery changed slightly to the south before reaching Shaaya County. There were vast cotton fields and vineyards. People were selling all kinds of fruits and melons along the streets. The bustling scene of the southern foothills of Tian Shan continued. When you pass Shaaya County, the scenery changes drastically, becoming increasingly desolate. After passing Shaaya County, you will see a reed field, and then the Taklamakan Desert,

Taking the No. 2 Desert Highway from Kuche to Wutian is nearly 700 kilometers long. There are few gas stations along the way, so you need to make arrangements. Before entering the desert core area, you must check the oil level at Alal gas station. Also, when parking on the roadside, be extra careful. It seems like a gentle slope, but it's difficult to climb down. The No. 2 Desert Highway starts at the Taklamakan River Bridge, and it's a great place to see the yellow willow. The yellow willow has lived for thousands of years. It doesn't die, and it doesn't decay for a thousand years. Every yellow willow guards the desert for thousands of years. It has experienced countless winds and rains. The yellow willow forest is very large, unlike the Ruolai yellow willow forest, which has no human-made construction traces, no entrance fees, and no tourists. The yellow willow trees are bathed in the sun and set off in the desert, which is particularly vibrant and golden. This is the most beautiful scenery in the desert,

There are many kinds of yellow willow trees, some are tall, some are short, but they all welcome distant tourists. Some are shaped like arches, like the entrance to the park. Some are arranged in a queue like a corridor. Some are hidden in the depths, with golden eyes blinking. It's easy to be immersed in the wonderful beauty of nature and forget about time. When you leave, don't go too deep. It's difficult to distinguish directions in the desert, and there is soft flowing sand. Be careful,

In the depths of the desert, you encounter the Desert Boat,

After admiring the moving yellow willow, you continue to the south and leave the Taklamakan River. The yellow willow is hard to find in the vast desert. In the midday sun, the desert looks extremely dazzling. The Taklamakan Desert is even whiter, and the sand and gravel are finer than in other Chinese deserts. It's quite distinctive. It's almost impossible to see vehicles passing by. The scenery is desolate to the extreme. There are only a few water points for animals on the roadside. If you're lucky, you can see camels drinking and resting. These camels are either domesticated or wild. They don't fear people. When you enter them to take pictures with a camera, they will all look at you. They are all very photogenic, with big teeth, which is also very funny. Sometimes two or three camels will run along the roadside, which adds vitality to the otherwise lifeless Taklamakan Desert,

The road stretches straight into the distance. It's extremely difficult to build and maintain highways in the mobile desert. There are reeds and grass on both sides of the road. No matter how many kilometers, in order to ensure the smoothness of the highway, sand fixation plays an extremely important role. We salute the construction workers and the people who maintain the road,

As the sun sets, enjoy the desert sunset, and feel the danger of the highway,

We started from Kuche early in the morning, plus playing in the middle, it took at least ten hours to reach Wutian. In autumn, night driving is unavoidable. Since we have to drive at night, we must not miss the magnificent sunset. As the sun slowly sinks from the sand dune and disappears into the endless sea of sand, the blood-red sunset perfectly complements the desolation of the desert. The camel statues in the sunset look very tall. The Desert Boat is a symbol of the desert and a beautiful landscape.

The desert nights are very cold. When the moon comes out, the starry sky makes people intoxicated. But be careful to keep warm. When you walk along the highway, you always feel like it never ends. When you're about to reach Wutian, factories begin to appear in the desert. The big trucks and small trucks pass each other on the road. The narrow road has been passed many times. The headlights are dazzling. The roadside workers are walking, which is very dangerous. So it's best not to drive at night. It's very dangerous.

The No. 2 Desert Highway has changed the originally closed environment of Wutian, providing a shortcut for our journey. Along the way, there are constantly changing landscapes. If you have the opportunity, come and experience it,