31/07/14 – 20/08/14: Shihezi, Xinjiang, China to Baoji, Shaanxi, China

Leaving Shihezi after our rest day. Apparently the Chinese twins were very sad. Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
Wind farms stretching as far as the eye can see. Cycling through some of the largest wind farms in the world. Luckily today the wind was going with us. It’s the difference between averaging 15kph and 35kph… East of Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
…and then we turned a corner and it became gale force cross-winds. Almost impossible to stay on the road. We both got blown off more than once. East of Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
The Turpan depression. At -154m elevation, it’s the second lowest place in the world after Death Valley, USA where we’ll be in a couple of months. Midday in August is not the coolest time to visit…
Climbing out of the Turpan depression. The wind died and it became deadly hot. Turpan, Xinjiang, China.
Some excited Chinese cycle tourers on mountain bikes. How they survive in long clothing in 40C we’ll never know. Crossing the desert gap heading for Kumul, Xinjiang, China.
There really is nothing out here. Except for a brand new high-speed railway line they’ve decided to build in a straight line right across China. It goes straight through mountains, cities and over gorges. Incredible. Northern edge of Taklaman Desert, Xinjiang, China
The petrol station promised by the signs turned out to be closed. Over 100km without water in the desert heat. Not ideal. Heading for Kumul, Xinjiang, China.
We found a building! And the guy sold us water! Desert, Xinjiang, China
Charging for the next petrol station to find sustenance. Desert, Xinjiang, China.
We found it! A little restaurant provided some very tasty noodles and recharged us. Off to find somewhere to camp. Somewhere in the desert, Xinjiang, China.
Just wow. Will going for the “Zebra” look.
Hot and dry but stunning mountains and even more delightful roads to keep us upbeat. Desert heading for Kumul, Xinjiang, China.
Camping on the surface of the moon. Somewhere in the desert, Xinjiang, China.
The lunar Landscape of NE Xinjaing. Near Kumul, Xinjiang, China
After lunch the headwind changed to a tail-storm… In 3 hours we covered 110km! The G30 has been good to us. Smooth tarmac and our own cycling lane (hard shoulder). Thanks road.
The dust out in the desert produces some incredible colours at sunset. We found this little restaurant in the middle of nowhere to give us some noodles. East of Kumul, Xinjiang, China
Crossing into Gansu province – they’ve started putting “English” on the signage, so we finally know where we are… The signpost describes what’s going on very well. Xinjiang/Gansu Provincial border near Kumul, China.
Reading and sleeping on a tarpaulin under the desert stars. The moon was so bright we almost had no need for torches. NW Gansu Province, China.
Doing Tourism! The end point of thousands of kms of the Great Wall of China. This fort is the gateway to the west. Jiayuguan, Gansu, China.
Looking along the end section of the Great Wall of China before it ends abruptly at a cliff and then the mountains take over as a natural barrier. Jiayuguan, Gansu, China
Someone obviously thinks motorists will find it believable that a lone policeman is standing in the middle of a dual carriageway out in the desert, miles from anything. It certainly caused me to slow down I suppose. SE of Jiuquan, Gansu, China.
Industry everywhere alongside this beautiful mountain range. NE of Zhange, Gansu, China
The moon emerging for the night. So bright it was like a second sun. Heading for Zhange, Gansu, China
Camping 100m off the highway. Light from road, moon and torch.
What a stunning place to wake up. A man from the truck stop had brought us a flask of boiling water and a bucket of warm water to wash. So kind. Heading for Zhange, Gansu, China.
Having breakfast with the Party Secretary of the Gansu Expressway and then drinking tea in his office. On the phone to his nephew in Canada to help with some translation.
One of the oldest original wooden structures in China, housing a 35m sleeping Buddha! Zhange, Gansu, China.
Endless fields of Sunflowers as the desert slowly turns back to green. SE of Zhange, Gansu, China.
Agriculture has started appearing everywhere as we’re escaping the desert. SE of Zhange, Gansu, China.
This kind family took us in to their home. Not much communication going on here, just bad charades. Somewhere on the side of the road SE of Zhange, Gansu, China.
Breakfast with the family. Lovely soup of some sort and some slightly frozen bread. The “original” aga in the background.
The family home where we slept for the night. SE of Zhange, Gansu, China.
The outskirts of Lanzhou. All we could find was this railway bridge to sleep under. At least there were bricks for a breakfast table in the morning. Outside Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Lanzhou. Ranked one of the 30 most polluted cities on the planet. Best to keep moving and get out the other side. Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
The landscape suddenly changes dramatically to incredible rugged and wet mountainous terrain. SE of Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Stunning views from the bridges the Chinese have built straight through these valleys. Near Dingxi, Gansu, China.
One of the many small mountain villages up in the hills. East of Tianshui, Gansu, China.
This university student on his holidays brought us some breakfast pears from his family’s orchard. Near Tianshui, Gansu, China.
Sleeping on one of the many terraces which seem to be everywhere you look on these mountains. A nice flat place to sleep. Near Tianshui, Gansu, China.
Building right on the side of a cliff! Near Tianshui, Gansu, China.
Emerging from our overnight stay in a greenhouse. A very misty morning. South of Dingxi, Gansu, China.
This is one of the most incredible sections of road we’ve seen. The whole way through these mountains is either bridge across a valley or tunnel through a mountain. East of Tianshui, Gansu, China.
It’s impossible to count the number of times we’ve been asked for our picture. The Chinese have all been so incredibly friendly. Service station restaurant East of Tianshui.
The police stopped us and wouldn’t let us cycle though one of the tunnels. They put us on one of the empty lorries coming past. An unavoidable 22km of no cycling. Crossing into Shaanxi Province, China.
More mountain scenes. Border of Gansu/Shaanxi Provinces, China.
The last of the mountains before we drop out into the flatlands of Eastern China and the next challenge of our journey… West of Baoji, Shaanxi, China.