Qiemo – Aristocratic manor house and ancient mummy tomb
September 2nd, 2010 at 23:08
Qiemo is a pleasant oasis located south of the taklamakan desert and was a stop on Marco Polo’s travel to Mongolia. Just next to a river it is green compare to the yellow desert, and along the roads there are both flowers and trees. The vegetation around the city also protects against sand and wind. Just a few minutes outside the center it immediately becomes more windy and sandy. A few kilometers in any direction takes you into desert.
Convenient located from the center are two attractions, the Toghraklek Manor Muses and Zaghunlug Ancient Mummy Tomb. In order to visit these you must first go to the Museum located next to the airfield and opposite a governmental building. There you can look around and read about the history. There are not many artifacts and all information is in either Arabic or Chinese. A visit is though required in order to buy tickets both to Toghraklek and Zaghunlug. It is recommended to arrange a car before going to the museum so they can drive you to the other two as well. Should cost between 30 to 50 rmb. Toghraklek is about 100 years old and built in aristocrat kashgar style. There are several rooms to look at but they are all only decorated with carpets and nothing else. After the house you go to the ancient tomb some five kilometers away. Another man is living there managing a gate to the area. Getting through the gate you leave the green vegetation behind and are suddenly on a road in the desert. The tomb is quietly located all alone with desert around, not far is the very edge of the oasis visible. It is a small building with a grave holding several mummies inside. It is a strange feeling looking at them in their grave as they were initially put there to be in peace and away from people. Now they are an attraction. Worth a visit.
Just west of the airfield on the other side of an apartment complex is a large uighur area pleasant to walk around in. There I started to chat with an old man and greeting him in uighur he happily came up and grabbed my hand as common in greetings. There are many beautiful door gates and inside there are grape plants providing shadow from the strong sun.
In the evening we strolled around in the bazaar, bought tea prepared by a mix of different herbs, and had too much Chinese food for dinner. Was a good change to have some tofu instead of lamb.
