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Backpacker Ben visits Turpan in Xinjiang during extreme summer heat, traveling from Urumqi by high-speed train. He tries street food, including the mysterious Johnny Johnny bread and fatty meat, then explores Jiaohe Ancient City, a 2,000-year-old cave city. Temperatures reach 43°C at the ruins, and Cat has to sit down while Ben continues exploring. The desert trip nearly fails when the pre-booked driver does not arrive, but three women from the hotel reception drive them to the dunes. Ben and Cat climb in 42°C heat at 9:30 PM to watch the sunset. The source describes Turpan as China's hottest place and says summer temperatures can exceed 50°C, while the trip records lower but still intense readings at specific times.
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Street food and the train to Turpan
Backpacker Ben begins in Urumqi, where the heat is already noticeable at 32°C at 8 PM. He and Cat visit a street-food bazaar and try a mysterious spicy bread, called Johnny Johnny in the source, as well as fatty meat. Ben likes the meat but says the bread is the spiciest item, and his stomach starts reacting. They then board a high-speed train to Turpan. The journey takes about an hour and costs £5 per person.
Turpan is described as China's hottest place, with summer temperatures that can exceed 50°C. On this visit, the temperature reaches 43°C as they explore. Their trip includes confusing transport arrangements and interactions with local people, while the heat shapes how long they can stay outside.
Jiaohe ruins and the desert sunset
The main historical stop is Jiaohe Ancient City, described as a 2,000-year-old cave city. The midday heat is oppressive, and Cat sits down while Ben continues to look around. He wonders how people lived there without air conditioning. The travelers find it easier to explore in cooler parts of the day, and the source advises visitors to avoid the hottest midday hours.
The desert outing also changes unexpectedly. A pre-booked taxi does not show up, but three women from the hotel reception offer to drive Ben and Cat to the sand dunes. They climb the dunes at 9:30 PM to watch the sunset, even though the temperature remains 42°C. The source recommends bringing water and sunscreen for the climb. The trip combines spicy local food, a high-speed rail journey, ancient ruins, and help from hotel staff. It also shows how intense the heat can remain late in the evening. The day's problems and detours become part of the experience, ending with a sunset over the desert after a difficult climb.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What were the mysterious bread and meat like?
- A: Ben says the Johnny Johnny bread was the spiciest item he tried, while the meat was fatty and tasted good to him. The spicy bread upset his stomach, so the food stop became a memorable part of the trip.
- Q: Was Turpan worth visiting in summer?
- A: Ben describes the heat as an unwise time to visit, but he values seeing Jiaohe Ancient City and the desert sunset. The experience includes temperatures of 43°C at the ruins and 42°C on the dunes late in the evening.
- Q: How did they reach the desert after the driver failed to arrive?
- A: The pre-booked driver did not show, so three women from the hotel reception drove Ben and Cat to the sand dunes themselves. The help let them continue to the desert and watch the sunset.
