Hami: Home of Hami Melon

    Hami is where the sweetest melons in Xinjiang grow. Hami, as the eastern gate of Xinjiang, was an important town on the northern route of the Old Silk Road. Within its territory are many beacon towers, ancient cities, tombs, stone tablets and rock carvings.

    The purpose of beacon towers along the Old Silk Road was to form, together with the Great Wall, a complete defense system. At times of threat, beacons were lit to sound the alarm. Beacon towers still stand along the northern and central routes of the Old Silk Road, north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, 51 of them in Hami.

    The Karlik Glacier in Hami, at 4,888 meters above sea level, is still an unclimbed "virgin" peak. The Ice and Snow Tour in Hami is a popular winter holiday. Hami can be reached by highway and railway.

    Changji Prefecture: Earliest Recipient of Han Culture

    The northern route of the Old Silk Road traverses the entire territory of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture. It is one of the areas earliest influenced by the Han culture and therefore has a rich cultural heritage. The murals in Changji's Jimsar Grottoes are in obvious Tang Dynasty (618-907) style.

    Changji rock carvings are notable for their large number, diverse content and exquisite workmanship. There are 19 rock-carving sites bearing a total 20,000 pictures in the southern mountainous areas of Changji, and the huge rock carvings depicting primitive reproduction in Shimenzi are a world treasure.

    Changji's Five Color City is famous for its bright colors, and its Demon City emits an eerie whistle when the wind blows. Bogda Mountain in western Changji is considered sacred by followers of Tibetan Buddhism, and Tianchi Lake at its foot is a natural wonder.

    In Changji tourists can observe the folk customs of the Hui, Kazak and Uygur ethnic minorities in events such as the Kazak Aken singing and sports competitions, Maixilaifu song and dance performances and the Hui hua'er songfest. There is also opportunity to try delicious ethnic minority dishes.

    Changji has convenient transportation facilities, and can be reached by highway, railway and air.

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