Xiaolan in Daban and Turpan

The wind power plant is halfway between downtown Urumqi and Daban town, a great backdrop for picture buffs. But bear in mind, even trucks can be blown off wheels when the wind gets on full speed; and according to local people, the wind only blows once a year here - from winter to summer.

Water is a luxury item in Xinjiang, so the advantage of the location near Tian shan is obvious - you get lakes. The salt lake at Chaiwopu Basin twenty kilometers north of Daban town is dubbed the Dead Sea of China. Word is, it's impossible to get drowned here.

"Well, I'm still a little bit worried, do you think this can really hold me up?"

"I'm floating!"

So it's a dream come true for people who cannot swim. And the lake, rich in salt and other minerals, and supposedly good for health and skin, is gaining popularity as a convenient and economic weekend getaway.

Were it not for the famous song, Daban would probably just be another one-horse town in enormous Xinjiang, a mere lunch stopover by travelers on their way from Urumqi to South Xin Jiang. Then again, it's not that the town is not attractive on its own merit.

Over eighty percent of the local population belongs to Hui Ethic group, which shares similar customs with Uigur people.

"Can you smell it? So great! This bustling market is a food bazaar today at Daban city. And what's cooking here?"

Food stand owners:

"mutton stew with soy sauce."

"Shouzhua mutton" (mutton to be eaten with hand)

"stir fry lamb rib"

Xiaolan:

"Lamb rib, fresh out of the oven!"

Besides mutton cooked in every possible way, Daban is known for plenty of mouth-watering Hui specialty foods, such as yogurt, dumplings, fried noodle etc.