Aksu

Peregrine description: Day 8

Visit the Kuqa Great Mosque and then stop off at Subash Ancient City ruins on the drive to Aksu (approximately 2-3 hours) today. Aksu is located in a picturesque place at the Tien Shan foothills on the border with the Taklamakan Desert. The city’s suburbs are known for its developed agriculture, but Aksu is especially famous for its apple gardens. These apples are the best in China, at least in the opinion of the city folk. Melons, apricots, dates, peas, and grapes are also grown in this region. The city’s history dates back more than two thousand years, although as with most cities in China, it’s now much modernised.