"Minfeng - Niya" Minfeng by l_joo

The Taklimakan Desert
Tarim Pendi is another name for this desert while some spelled it as Takla Makan, anyway, I knew it from the map, just a name. The location Minfeng is just a small town where tourists can easily take a short drive approximately 20kms out of town to enjoy the huge dry basin. We came here by hiring a local taxi cost 80 yuan for 2 hours of drive from our hotel. The desert is so huge, beyond anybody's ability to walk across it. Both of us merely able to walk on those sands for less than 200 meters to snap some photos, its too much, too tough and beyond.

Death on the Taklimakan

Nothing but sand
Taklimakan Desert has nothing except a desert. The Chinese built a long tar road acrossing it from Minfeng to Korla approximately 500 kms with only a stop in between to refill, to drink, to eat and also for truck drivers to spend some money on girls, beautiful girls in cabins full of air-conditioning. Tourists can enjoy the road from north to south or vice versa by bus or private cars, I would prefer to hire a car, if not you don't have many stops to take photos or to walk into the desert. Hitchhike is possible but maybe not in summer time.

Roads full of sands

The main street
Here in Minfeng is so much of fun for me especialy the first time tourist to experience the size of desert. I was fascinated by the grand view of that immense boundless work of nature. To enjoy myself, I grab a bedsheet to wrap up my head as if I'm a desert dweller that lived here for a long time. Whatever it is, desert is a must, and make sure to bring enough water.