We make it a point to visit most touristy areas early or late in the day. Otherwise they are invaded in mass by bus loads of cloned Chinese tourists which follow their leaders who wield cutesie pennants and over amplified megaphones. Lucky for us, this was they only group that arrived and departed in short order.

The group shot. Perhaps someone who reads Chinese will clue me in. An Elks club convention perhaps?

Sunset over Urumqi. With a population of almost 4 million it is the largest city in Central Asia. It also serves as a major transportation hub for the entire Xinjiang region.