We arrived in Kuqa just before sunset. I took this photo from the bridge that connects New Kuqa to Old Kuqa.

Walking through the small alleyways of Kuqa's Old City, we spotted the city's main mosque in the distance.

Taken inside a small Uyghur restaurant in Kuqa while we ate a dinner of laghman (or bamian if you prefer).

Mordor! Just kidding... we passed through the forboding landscape of Kuqa' Salt-Water Gully on the way to the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves.

And he we are, climbing up into the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves.

The Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves from afar, with a statue of the guy who founded the caves' monastery in the foreground. (I forget his name, and my guidebook is not at my side.)

On the road to the Mystical Grand Canyon of Xinjiang, in Kuqa.

Camilla snaps a photo beneath the read peaks of Kuqa's Mystical Grand Canyon.

More canyon rocks.

Self-portrait in front of the Mystical Grand Canyon of Kuqa.

The Kizilgish Beacon Tower... an ancient military outpost standing high over the bed of the Kuqa River.

Some remaining walls at the ancient city of Subashi (also know as Chauhuli).

Looking toward East Subashi through a window in West Subashi.

Subashi's ancient Buddhist temple.

The sun sets over the ruins of Subashi.