If you are interested to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and the riding segment ongoing from Hami then have a look at:

AROUND THE WORLD 2014 (Part 3): Hami > Guangyuan

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Turpan to Hami

Some spectacular sceneries in the heart of the „Flame Mountains“ are waiting for us today. After a short turn we already exit the highway to ride great curvy mountain roads to see the 1000 Buddha caves and to explore the village of Tuyoq by foot. Tuyoq, an AAA Tourism attraction in China, is a traditional Uighur village being completely build of adobe and showing their typical architecture. By the way: Being a muslim pilgrim place seven trips to Tujoq equal one to Mekka.

On our way to 1000 Buddha caves - what an area!!!

Impressed tour members ...

Oncoming traffic

Tuyoq, seen from the parking lot.

and right in the middle of

Local art work on the walls of their houses

Wolfgang unfaithful

Like it is ...

On the road again - everything new in China: Highway ...

... railway

Recruiting Edelweiss tour guides at the gas station!

... and reaching our Hotel finally.

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Korla to Turpan

Nothing less than the deepest landmark of China, the second deepest one on earth will be the spot oft he day. Not too far south of the city of Turpan, which is called the death valley of China, we will find the Ayding Lake that marks the lowest point of China at 154 meters below sea level. Temperatures up to 45 degrees in July and August are quite normal there.

Before we arrive at the hotel in Turpan´s city center we will visit the Turpan wine village. This region is famous for its Chinese wine and as a caravan stop of the silk road.

Towards the mountains

Sometimes we meet them at a coffee stop: Gabi, Rainer and Horst

Out of the mountains ...

... the deep valley already visible in the back

Being down on valley level

Heiri giving a hand to Claudia putting of her rain pants

Typical lunch meal in Xinjiang - noodles with vegetables and meat

Riding through China´s death valley  - the lowest poing is close ...

Arrived!

Alois quite relaxed on ...

... minus 154 meters sea level

A vineyard in Turpan ...

... and it´s chateau!

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Aksu to Korla

Wow - what a night behind us! After we arrived at the hotel last night and already unpacked and showered we were kindly asked by the authorities to leave the hotel due to security aspects! This was an interesting experience that lead us to another hotel being located downtown Aksu.

Today is one of the longer days with 570km which we will manage by using the highway of the Xinjiang Province. Our lunch spot will be in the beautiful old Arabic town´s heart of Kuca. Enjoying the Arabic kitchen and visiting the local mosque, we will continue our way to Ku’er la after.

On the road again ...

... with typical sceneries ...

...

At our lunch place in Kuga´s Arabic town heart ...

... sometimes it feels like stage diving!

Another Edelweiss jungster!

The mosque in Kuga from outside ...

... and from inside!

Different gas station, same procedure!

Approaching Korla!

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Kashgar to Aksu

Finally having our Chinese driver’s license and registration forms for the bikes, we start our journey eastwards. We follow the Silk Road that leads us past the Taklamakan Desert. Our way is surrounded by a huge amount of sand, a lot of oil drilling, copper mines, beautiful mountain ranges and the 1000 Buddha caves. We will certainly enjoy our first day riding in China, and see that the traffic is a completely different story from Kyrgyzstan´s.

It´s early morning - but this does not mean that the white shade on the hills is ice ...

... just some kind of calcification!

But it looks great

The tourguide ordering lunch - he speaks perfectly chinese ...

And it works!!!

We get what he ordered (hopefully)!

China is different and diverse ...

... even at the gas station - motorcycles are not allowed to take fuel directly at the pump!

Desert right hand side ...

... colourful mountains on the left!

Its a great scenery around us ...

...

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Kashgar

Another rest day - and we need it. First of all to do the customs procedures that finally allowes us to ride our motorcycles officially and individually in China. Thisfor we need to ride outside of Kashgar where the responsible authorities are being based. In the later afternoon the participants have time to explore Kashgar downtown and its markets and bazaars. Kashgar is the capital of the Xinjiang province, one of the three autonomous regions of China, and is mainly populated by Muslim Uyghurs.

On our way to the customs authorities

Waiting for the procedure

Still waiting for the procedure

Another way of waiting for ...

... until it finally is accomplished!

Arriving back at our hotel. Always surrounded by locals.

Finding our ways into the city

Looks arabic, doesn´t it? Actually here China does not really look like China.

Bazaar scenes ...

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Naryn to Kashgar (China)

China - we are coming! 20 days ago and around 6000 km more on our Bikes today we head for entering China! Everybody feels a kind of excited, curious, and may be also a little restless. There will be a lot of paperwork, several checkpoints on both sides of the border, and finally a different culture to meet. To enter China we have to climb the Torugart pass up to 3752 m and some parts of this road definitely will not look like a main connection route between Kyrgyzstan and China ...

The last kms in Kyrgyzstan

Whatever you may see here - in the end it stays being a cemetery - typical for this area.

And it does not stop to be magnificent!

Already on 3000 m again

...

Approaching Torugart Pass - the border area to China - first checkpoint!

Leaving Kyrgyzstan - departure formalities

No man´s land ...

But somebody takes care of!

First check point to China at an altitude or 3700 m ...

A good time to take a picture of the whole group. One of the rare moments everyone is at the same place in the same time. From now on now pics allowed until Kashgar.

But we did one! The second check point!

After the third checkpoint and immigration procedure we are welcomed by a thunderstorm!

But our Chinese guide explained: If you have water you are rich! This is the best welcome China can offer!

And finally - our hotel

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Tamga to Naryn

Last full riding day in Kyrgyzstan. An unbelievable beautiful country. Today we will finish the loop around lake Issyk-Köl and head towards south more close to the chinese border. Naryn is the destination city and the way there leads over a high mountain pass with an elevation of more than 3000m.

Last views on lake Issyk-Köl ...

... which offers beautiful sights ...

Short rest at a Kyrgyzs recreational area that never was finished!

What a beautiful and picturesque country ...

...

Sid and the kyrgisian ladies - we are not sure if he had lunch that day!

Extremly seldom (still) in Kyrgyzstan - tourists from the western hemisphere.

Not extremly seldom - treadless tires!!!

Going up ...

... up ...

... up ...

... while the rain is following us ...

... to take an extreme cool pic on the pass hight! Wow!

We definitelly love what we are doing!

And finding the way down again ...

... to approach Naryn!

The boys having fun with the the big water pistol ....

Everyone at and with Edelweiss is talking about Boot Beer - we are the only ones who finally found the real one!!!

Time to say goodbye to Alex, our Russian guide ...

... and Arslan, our Kyrgysian guide!

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Cholpon-Ata to Tamga

Today our route will lead us to lake Issyk-Köl (translation is hot lake) which is the second largest alpine lake after Titicaca. 170km long and 70km wide this lake offers throughout all year warm water due to thermal activities and mild salinity. Our simsuits are with us all day today.

Riding in a mild morning sun along the Issyk-Köl ...

... in a beautiful scenery.

First coffee stop ...

at Tash Su Hot Springs - the locals love it!

Continue Riding to to the next spot

Another proof - the Kyrgysians don´t like their animals to run themselves ...

Heiri trying to get an eagle flying

Alois tries it himself ...

Claudia, Sid and Claus are having fun watching their efforts - while waiting for lunch!

Which is being prepared in a natives yurta. Hmmm - very comfortable and great food!

An unbelievable environment around the lunch place! Here the so called ´Broken Heart´

Or here - the ´Seven Bulls´

On the road again - obviously also Kyrgysians want to be Swiss!!

Visiting another spot close to Issyk-Köl - Great offroad ride to a beautiful waterfall area!

Approaching at the hotel area ...

... and having a lazy evening at the lakeshore!

Ois easy in Kyrgyzstan ...

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Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata

In early morning we take the chance to go some more distance further into the hills behind the hotel to explore an area were Kyrgyzian natives are still living in their Yurts. Beside this we do some nice gravel roads for having fun.

The route from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata leads us to the east where we have a stop at the Burana tower. This 11th century monument is to be found south of city Tokmok, was restaurated by the Soviets in the 50´s and looks like the stump of a huge minaret.

In the afternoon we end up at our todays hotel which is being located on an altitude of 1700m at lake Issyk-Köl. This area is unbelievable beautiful regarding ist shape and colourful look. And for sure we again have a swim …

Heiri and his daily morning procedure

Yurts in their natural environment

Suspension bridge between the yurts

Having fun off the roads ...

... to end up with this view!

Being with us these days - the Tien Shan mountains

In Kyrgyzstan sheeps do not have to run themselves ...

Exploring the bazaar by bike - nice experience with friendly locals

The Burana tower

In Kyrgyzsatan they learn driving very early!

Market situation along our route

... and beautiful riding

Heiri and Alois - relaxing at the lunch place and enjoying the scenery!

Fixed!!   Don´t worry - it´s only a leaking fork seal ...

If it was more green it could be in the alps!

Our hotel area at lake Issyk-Köl

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Almaty to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

To reach the border to Kyrgyzstan we leave Almaty westwards for around 150km before we turn south again to get through the foothills of the Tian Shan mountains. We just can´t believe how exciting it is to come into a hilly region and to climb some altitude. As being experienced border crossers meanwhie the procedure more and more becomes routine and everybody gets through easily.

Leaving Kazakhstan we do not want to miss to mention again the overwhelming friendliness of the Kazakh people. At any place we came to we received warm welcomes and best wishes for our further trip.

They have lots of roads without curves in Kazakhstan, why not also cars not being able to turn?

Imagine - the next pics are taken on a motorway ...

The riding style increase every day more and more - who cares about dirt roads?

What´s growing there? - This must mean luck ...

In the Tian Shan foothills

"Fuchsi" on the road

Sid and his new friends at the border - unbelievable, they offered him money to sit on his bike! We will have to ask him if he took it ...

Done! Claudia in front of a Bishkek Patrol (not kidding) gas station right after the border crossing.

The first Kyrgyzian Edelweiss-Rider!

Tian Shan mountains in the back! We are coming ...

Approaching the hotel area

There was some time left for a hike uphill - Josef took the advantage of the moment and continued following the tour guides

View from the top - our hotel!

... and Bishkek area at the horizon!

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If you are interested to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and the riding segment leading to Almaty then have a look at:

AROUND THE WORLD 2014 (Part 1): Mieming > Moscow > Almaty