Xinjiang, China’s far-flung western frontier is really not around the corner. Three weeks on the way now and after driving again for 9 hours brings us from Dunhuang to Turpan in the middle of China’s Death Valley. At 154m below sea level, it’s the second lowest depression in the world and the hottest spot in China. Only a week ago we drove over mountain passes of 4800 meter and now we are hundreds of meters below sea level, how cool (or hot) is that?