Toyuq VillageTurpan, Xinjiang
Toyuq, an Islamic pilgrimage center, nestles at the base of the Flaming Mountains (Huoyan Shan) about 25km (15mi) east of Gaochang. Shrines in the locality honor the first Uighur ruler to convert to Islam, as well as a local version of the legendary Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. The village's main mosque (green roof and dome) is seen in the photo left background. In the foreground, photo right, is a building with pierced walls that is used for drying grapes to make raisins. Such buildings can be seen practically everywhere here, as raisins are one of the major products of the region. "Tuyuk" is a spelling variant for this location. |