Lest those of you living outside of Xinjiang forget, this province is not just one big, barren desert. The locals here all know it, which is why you'll find more outdoor stores in Urumqi than KFC's, China's biggest fast food chain. Tis the season for hiking and camping and I can't wait to be a part of it. This picture was taken by a friend on their camping trip into the mountains 3 weeks ago.
The Tian Shan mountains (天山), which split Xinjiang into a northern and southern half, provide ample area for solitary backpacking with gorgeous scenery for entertainment. "Tian Shan" is translated into English as "Heavenly Mountains", a name which I believe was first coined by the Uyghurs, although I can't verify that.
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If you are interested in contributing a photo to FarWestChina's Picture of the Week series, please contact me and send in your Xinjiang-related photo. All photos must be originals and will be credited to you and/or your personal website.
