Xinjiang Feast: A Self-Guided Journey Through the Heart of Asia

Author: Shen Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: The road was born for your steps and dreams. / In this book, I am happy to be a "guide" to take you to Xinjiang, this land that is one-sixth of the country and historically known as the "Western Regions." In your mind, Xinjiang may represent the geographical "far," yet with the of modern transportation, it has become a destination that more and more travelers can reach. The magnificent scenery, the magical landforms, the fusion of the four great civilizations, the cohabitation of multiple ethnic groups, and the distant echoes of the Silk Road, and so on, can largely outline its mixed, abundant, and magnificent characteristics. This golden heart of Asia is undoubtedly a feast, a feast of diverse civilizations, natural landscapes, and ethnic flavors. Its overwhelming beauty is a shock, often making your eyes wide open, and the journey becomes a refreshing experience for the soul. Of course, the charm of Xinjiang is not just the common folk-style display represented by visual means; it does not just satisfy your exotic dreams. When you set off after a long journey, in fact, you have already moved from the surface of the style to its hidden inner self. The journey is long, the scenery is boundless, and your backpack will be filled with various experiences, feelings, and vivid details. You will gain more than you imagine and highly personalized treasures. In the early 20th century, Xinjiang once became a world-class adventure paradise, and the treasures unearthed from this "graveyard of civilizations" are now collected in museums in more than 13 countries around the world. Since then, the "Western Regions fever" and the "Silk Road fever" that have lasted for a hundred years have attracted more and more explorers, followed by ordinary travelers who also have an exotic yearning and their own legs. Compared to "exploration," I prefer the term "travel." To some extent, the world has no more dangers to explore. "Travel" exudes simplicity and intimacy, giving a sense of a connection between people and the earth. Travel brings you new experiences, doubled sensitivity, and extraordinary rewards—it is almost like driving you toward a new life. I also agree with the idea that travel needs stillness. Only when you are still can the world move, and only then can the wonderful moments and details be easily found. The result of running wild is often a fleeting glimpse, panting, and returning in confusion. Traveling is beautiful. Travelers are rewarded by their yearning for the distant and their arrival. It's that simple—just pack your bags, make the necessary psychological and material preparations, and you can reach any place shown in the book. Following the 7 routes designed in this book, you will find: as long as you set off, you can meet beauty at any time. This book has gone through too many changes, from the draft papers and photos to the final form of the computer screen, with bricks and mortar. In the end, it became a basic form with a crescent pattern guiding 8 chapters and a silk fabric cut as an edge, striving for diverse changes on every page, with a strong "cumin flavor." Originally, I wanted to include a travel map printed on silk in the book and pair it with a leather bag, so that when walking on the ancient Silk Road under the dazzling sunlight of the west, tracing the ancient ruins, and visiting friends from ethnic minorities, it would be perfectly matched.