The first in a series of posts showing some of the highlights from my 3-month trip way back in 2005 through China and Pakistan. From Beijing to Xi’an and then travelling west along the old Silk Road to Kashgar where I joined the Karakorum Highway into Pakistan and down the Hunza valley. From Islamabad I then went east to Lahore on the India border and then west to Peshawar and the famous Khyber pass on the Afghanistan frontier.

This was in my backpacking days of travelling by public transport, hitching and walking. As with any journey there are many tales to tell, but for now I’ll just show some snapshots…

Walking the Great Wall of China
Walking the Great Wall of China
Temple in Beijing
Temple in Beijing
The famous Terracotta Warriors at Xian
The famous Terracotta Warriors at Xian
Buddha Shrine - Buddhism together with Taoism are the main religions in China
Buddha Shrine - Buddhism together with Taoism are the main religions in China
The Yungang caves (5th/6th century) contain 51,000 Buddha statues!
The Yungang caves (5th/6th century) contain 51,000 Buddha statues!
Intricate carvings inside the Datong caves
Intricate carvings inside the Datong caves
Beautiful blue flower beside the river near Xiahe
Beautiful blue flower beside the river near Xiahe
Buddhist Monks from Labrang monastry, the largest outside of Tibet
Buddhist Monks from Labrang monastry, the largest outside of Tibet
Entrance to a cave revered by the monks, near Xiahe
Entrance to a cave revered by the monks, near Xiahe
Desert dunes of Dunhuang
Desert dunes of Dunhuang
Dust Storm at Jiohe ruins
Dust Storm at Jiohe ruins
In Xianjiang province in Western China, Muslim is the main religion of the ethnic minority Uighurs
In Xianjiang province in Western China, Muslim is the main religion of the ethnic minority Uighurs
Chess is a popular activity for the men in town - I played too, but lost badly!
Chess is a popular activity for the men in town - I played too, but lost badly!
Typical night food market in town
Typical night food market in town

All photos were taken on my Canon Ixus 4Mp compact camera, in the days when 4 megapixels was a lot! Oh, how times change.