Crescent Moon Spring

The Crescent Moon Spring has its name due to its crescent moon shape. Its water tastes fresh and sweet and its color is light blue. However, what makes it famous is that it has surprisingly survived in the desert for thousands of years. Year after year, it has been endangered by the sand storms but until now, it is still full of rippling water. Therefore, it is regarded as one of the wonders in China.

It is surrounded by the Mingsha Mountain, a giant sand dune, which is famous for the echoing sounds the wind makes when blowing over the dunes. Here, you may enjoy the rare view where an oasis meets the desert and you can also get the fun from sand adventure. Camel riding and dune surfing will both be your unforgettable experience.

Yanmenguan Pass

Located in Shanxi province, Yanmenguan Pass is one of the three important passes through the inner line of the Great Wall in the Shanxi section. Due to its strategic position, in ancient times, it was regarded as the principal one of the nine passes under heaven.

Can you imagine how many people I have seen?

How much courage should one have to support his endless waiting? Everything has changed, the one thing has never changed is my hope and love.

It is time to say goodbye. But could I see you again after I passed the gate?

Brides were weeping here when they were leaving their homeland and marrying off far away; heroes spilled their blood here to protect the Chinese empire from the invaders. Now, all has gone with the wind.

the Highest Toilet in the World

There is no doubt that the Potala Palace’s Changsur Toilet is the most famous toilet in China and perhaps it is also the highest toilet in the world.

Travelers with high blood pressure or heart disease were even advertised not to use the toilet. It is said that it is almost sixty meters high and one should take care of his/her personal belongings when using it as it is quite difficult to retrieve them back.

Some people even used a phrase from an ancient poem to describe the spectacular scene when using it “The torrent dashes down three thousand feet from high, as if the Silver River fell from azure sky.”

Ghost Castle Wuerhe

Nobody lives here. However, when it is getting dark, the whole castle revives in the darkness. Suddenly, the blast is breaking out, the sand is flying and the stones are rolling. Various sounds are floating in the air: neigh, tiger growls, baby’s sob, women’s sharp laughers, etc. That is the real face of the castle! It is called Sulumuhak by the native Mongolian, while the local Kazakh people name it “Shytirkrsi,” and both names have the same meaning – Ghost Castle.

The Wuerhe Ghost Castle, also known as the “Wuerhe Wind Castle”, is located 100km northeast of Karamay City, covering an area of about 30sqkm. Here, due to the function of wind, rocks are in various forms and shapes, for example, the towering stone mushrooms, stone bamboo shoots, stone pavilions, stone columns, birds, fishes and human figures, etc.

Best Time to go: August – September
Transportation:
Urumqi – Karamay: At least four direct buses run between Urumqi and Karamay daily.
Karamay – Ghost City: Tourist buses

Accommodations
Guesthouse: RMB15-20/person, on the right side of the Wuerhe bus station

Moyafengqing Shanzhuang: the best hotel in Wuerhe town, RMB80-100/person for a standard twin-bed room