8 Days Cycling from Korla to Kuqa along Duku Road

You will arrive in Korla today and prepare for the ride. There are many hotels and hostels in Korla. For the downtown hotels, they are usually centrally located with reasonable price(￥150 for a standard twin room in 2 star hotels). For your reference: Loulan Hotel (2-star; Address: No.2 Guangchang Road; Telephone: 86-996-2031566), Bayinguole Hotel (3-star; Address: No. 10 East Renmin Road; Telephone: 86-996-2230889).

Ride to Luntai which is 180 kilometers away. Ride westward from East Renmin Road, and then Tiemenguan Road to the north for about 4 kilometers. Ride along S323 for about 11 kilometers and enter Wuhong Route to ride another 13 kilometers. Then, begin the ride on the No. 314 National High Way. Along the way, you will see the endless Gobi on your left side and the barren hills. Trees can only be found in some villages and small towns. To avoid burnt hurt in the sun, cover yourself with long-sleeves shirt, sunglass and cap. After riding for 172 kilometer on the No. 314 National High Way, you will reach Luntai. The 0 kilometer spot of the famous Desert High Way can be seen about 6 kilometers before get to Luntai. Ride on for 4 kilometers from Luntai, you will reach the city area of Luntai. Hostels are available in Yangxia Town, Eyungou Town and near Luntai Passenger Station. You can fully feel the Gobi in this day.

You will pay a visit to the diversifolious poplar near to the Tarim River Bridge which is about 70 kilometers from Luntai County. If you want to the golden forest, you had better come in late October.

Ride westward for about 110 kilometers to Kuqa. There is the vast Gobi on the way. Food and water are available on the way. Kuqa, where the former Qiuci Ancient Kingdom on the Silk Road lay, held the strategic passage on the Silk Road and was the economic and cultural center of the west region in the history. Travelers are suggested to go to the old area of the city to feel the local life. If you happened to be there on Friday, sure you will enjoy yourself in the Friday Bazaar near the Kuqa Bridge. The dry river bed is fully occupied by a crowd of cart drawn by horses or donkeys. These are the main vehicle for the local minority people. Visit the Qiuci Ancient Kingdom Relic and the Grand Kuqa Mosque. Stay overnight at the local hotel at Kuqa County. The standard twin room in the Jiaotong Hotel near the Kuqe Passenger Station is about ￥120.00-￥150.00 net per room per night.

The destination is the Grand Mysterious Tianshan Valley which is 70 kilometers away from Kuqa. Ride to the west from the new area of Kuqa for 6 kilometers and you will arrive at the 1045 meter-high junction of the No. 314 National High Way and the No. 217 National High Way (also named the Dushanzi-Kucha High Way). Ride northward along the No. 217 High Way to reach the Valley. The No. 217 National High Way is a very important road leading from the South Xinjiang to the North Xiniang for tourist, but is easily blocked by heavy rain, snow and things like that. So, please keep close eye on the weather if you decided to ride on this rod. Grand and Marvelous Yadan landforms and Gobi desert are most frequently seen during your ride. Please take enough water and food with you from Kuqa as food is only available at Kangcun-a small village located 17 kilometers on the way to the Valley. Stay overnight at the Grand Tianshan Valley Hostel (￥50-60 per bed per night).

Have a full day to explore the charming valley and take pictures of the red rocks.

You will ride slowly up for 66 kilometers along Duku Road to the Dalong Pond Forest Park. Enjoy the shocked quiet but lively scene. To spend the night, you may either stay at the hostel aside the Dalong Pond run by the Uigur people or the vacation village located about 4 kilometers away.

Please make up your mind either ride for a few days northward to Dushanzi or Kuitun City, or return to Kuqa on the same way.