goddessjoy's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Qujing, China

Canola Flower Fields

This quiet area of Yunnan Province annually transforms into an unbelievable sea of yellow flowers.
Kunming, China

Shilin Stone Forest

270 million year-old forest of stone.
Kharkhorin, Mongolia

Erdene Zuu

The oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia has survived centuries of invasions, political shifts, and religious purges.
Bulgan, Mongolia

Flaming Cliffs

Dinosaur eggs were first discovered at these fiery red cliffs.
At-Bashi District, Kyrgyzstan

Tash Rabat

Extremely isolated Silk Road caravanserai in the middle of nowhere.
Almaty, Kazakhstan

Medeu

This Soviet-era athletic and recreation facility is the highest ice skating rink in the world.
Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Last Wild Apple Forests

Granny Smiths and Fujis can both be traced back to Kazakhstan, where apples still grow wild.
Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Dungan Mosque

Built entirely of interlocking pieces, construction of this Chinese Muslim house of worship required zero nails.
Kashi Diqu, China

Kashgar Livestock Market

Be careful not to get trampled at this lively two thousand-year-old market.
Xining Shi, China

The Great Thangka

Stretching almost 2,000 feet, this painting is one of the longest pieces of Buddhist artwork in the world.
Jiuquan, China

Mogao Caves

Hundreds of caves filled with thousands of centuries-old statues and murals.
Jiayuguan, China

Jiayuguan Fortress

The western-most fortress on the Great Wall of China has gone from a strategic stronghold to a kitschy tourist carnival.
Zhangye Shi, China

Zhangye National Geopark

These layered sandstone mountains in China look like they are made of pressed crayons.