Our adventure continued as our tour bus made its way to the Nalati Alpine Grasslands in Yiling, Zinjiang. The breathtaking landscape combines rolling grasslands, lush forests, crystal-clear streams, and snow-capped mountains. For centuries, nomadic tribes such as the Kazakhs and the Mongols have used these fertile grasslands to pasture their cattle.
According to a Mongolian legend, the great warrior Genghis Khan passed through these grasslands after a grueling battle. When the skies cleared, golden sunlight bathed the vast land, making Genghis Khan exclaim ‘Nalati!’, meaning ‘sunshine.’ And that’s how the place got its name.
Tourists come here to enjoy the stunning scenery and the rolling meadows. There is horseback riding and hiking for the sports-minded and adventurous visitors. During the winter, people go skiing, sledding, and snowboarding.
The Yurt Experience
Pretty Yurts- circular Mongolian tents that are the traditional homes of the Kazakhs dot the grasslands. Some have been converted into tourist lounges. We entered one of the yurts, curious to see how it looked inside.
Warm air greeted us as we entered. Colorful carpets covered the floor. A low, long table was laden with an enticing array of Kazakh snacks and sweets. For a fee of 30 yuan per person (around P240), we were invited to sit, enjoy the snacks, and take photos. We readily agreed. Soon, we were served steaming cups of warm, fresh cow’s milk lightly infused with tea, along with an assortment of nuts, dates, milk candy, and cookies. We had fun trying on the Mongolian headgear and happily snapped photos.
Through our unofficial interpreter, Tsinoy journalist Wilson Lee Flores, we chatted with the Kazakh woman who served our snacks. She and her husband owned 50 cows and two horses, and their two children attended school in the city. In winter, their family moves with their herd to a warmer area. Life, she said, is very peaceful in their community, and tourism provides extra income for their family. Their dream is for their two children to pursue university education after high school.
Duku Highway
Because of the heavy snowfall, we were told that our plan to pass through the Duku Highway would have to be cancelled. This high altitude route is open only for four months in a year, as the unpredictable weather often makes it impassible. But at the last minute, we received news that the high altitude highway had reopened. We were excited because the 560-kilometer Duku Highway is said to be one of China’s most epic road trips, a destination rather than just a route between two points.
The highway is also called Hero Road in honor of the 168 soldiers who perished while building the highway from 1973 to 1983.
Our group had to be divided into smaller groups to fit into mini-vans as our bus was too big for the narrow, cliff-hugging sections of the Duku Highway. It was an eight-hour drive from Nalati to the so-called Celestial Mountains or Tianshan Mountain peaks.
We hardly noticed the time as we were amazed by the panoramic view of the canyons, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and the leaves of the trees that were turning golden yellow. We had to avoid herds of cows, sheep, and horses that would block our vehicle every now and then. I can only imagine how silk and spice traders braved this difficult route during ancient times.
At two-hour intervals, we would stop for a toilet break and do a bit of shopping in the makeshift outdoor markets that sold local food, fruits, snacks, and souvenirs.
Because of the varying altitudes along the highway, travelers usually experience dramatic changes in weather and scenery all within a single journey. We layered our clothing as we climbed to a higher altitude. It was a freezing negative 2 degrees when we reached our destination. The Tianshan mountain range, a world heritage site, was truly breathtaking and worth the long drive.
Futuristic Airport
After eight days of traversing the Silk Road, we boarded a four-hour flight from Urumqi back to Beijing. Although our plane landed at the old Beijing Capital Airport, we dropped by the new Beijing Daxing International Airport-the largest airport in the world and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful.
Designed by the late world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, Daxing Airport is a stunning example of modern architecture, with flowing curves and muted colors. Its terminals radiate out from a central hub, making passenger movement remarkably efficient. It can accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually, with four runways currently in use and plans to expand to seven, underscoring China’s ambitious vision for global connectivity.
The Future is Upon Us
On our second day in Beijing, we visited the Robot Mall. At the entrance, a lady in a black suit greeted us. She was slim, pretty, and had flawless, milky white skin. I asked her if she was a robot. She laughed and replied, ‘No, I am human’. She brought us to another lady who was speaking, and whose skin and hair looked human. But this time I could tell the difference: This was a humanoid. I couldn’t help but laugh at how convincing she looked.
I knew we would be seeing some hi-tech gadgets, but what I saw exceeded my expectations. There was a dog that could teach languages; mechanoid doctors and dentists who can perform high precision surgery remotely, and robots that can dance, play basketball, and soccer. The highlight for me was the handsome robotic butler who could mix drinks and serve food. If he could clean my house, I would have bought him on the spot.
These were just a few of the most advanced products on display at Beijing’s Robot Mall, also known as the Humanoid 4S Store. The mall sells about 50 kinds of robot products from over 40 domestic manufacturers. It felt like we were catching a glimpse of the future, and our group couldn’t help but be impressed.
Many of these robots are already being used in warehousing, logistics, delivery and even in restaurants as chefs. In fact, in one of the hotels we stayed in, we were surprised when a robot rolled up to our door to deliver our order, a reminder that the future is no longer distant; it is already here.
Beijing Landmarks
One of the awesome man-made wonders that no visitor to China should miss is the Great Wall. Built over 2,000 years ago as a defense against invasions, the monumental brick structure still stands tall and proud, an enduring symbol of history and culture.
We met a woman dressed in a traditional Chinese costume. I asked if we could borrow her costume for some photos, and to our delight, she agreed. We learned that she was a nurse from Wuhan who would love to visit the Philippines someday. We exchanged numbers and invited her to come and visit our beautiful country.
We visited another iconic landmark, the Royal Summer Palace in Beijing, originally developed in the 12th century as a retreat for emperors. Much of it has been preserved but tourists are no longer allowed to enter the palace itself after some of its valuable antiques were stolen a few years ago.
Even so, visitors can still get a glimpse of life in the olden days. We rode the dragon boat and imagined ourselves as royal guests, enjoying the serene lake and cool air. Along the walkways of the palace grounds, souvenir shops and food stores added to the lively atmosphere.
Diplomacy and Friendship
One of the highlights of our tour was a special dinner with the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz, his wife Ana, and several Embassy officials. In his brief remarks, Ambassador FlorCruz expressed hopes that despite current maritime issues between the Philippines and China, both nations can continue to improve our people-to-people cooperation, which he described as ‘a foundation that can withstand storms.’ He explained that our maritime issues with China is not the sum total of our relations’, and underscored the importance of expanding economic collaboration, educational exchanges, and enhanced trade and tourism.
Former Senator Nikki Coseteng expressed her appreciation that Ambassador FlorCruz was chosen as the Philippines’ envoy to China during this time of uncertainty. ‘We can’t discount the possibility of our country sinking to the bottom of the sea if we choose to go to war with China’, she candidly remarked. She said that ‘What we started as our people-to-people relations will hopefully make our government realize that both countries desire peace and a meaningful relationship.’
She added, ‘Although Xinjiang was a no-go place in the past, this trip opened our eyes to many things. We enjoyed ourselves, and it was a very safe trip.’