Essay7: Along the Hotan-Aksu Desert Highway

WONDERMENT encapsulated us as we cruised along the road from Hotan to Aksu through the desert. This ”Taklamakan Desert” has cursed people and submerged cities, according to Uyghur folklore. Some even described it “going in and not coming out.” So why can we now race across this legendary sea of death?

On both sides, an endless expanse of vast desert, the gentle ridges of sand extended to the horizon. Under the blue sky, sparse poplar trees, saxaul, and tamarisk, like ancient border defenders, still resisted drought and sand. It’s autumn, yet you could still feel the scorching heat on the car windows and our friends urging for more air conditioning. Compared to these vegetations, who live their lives in the sun without respite, how fragile we are!

Nature has its territorial strategy, generating plants to protect against shifting sands; humans also have their strategies to maintain safety and interests, building this dragon that meanders through the vast sea of sand. If you were riding a camel in the endless desert, your mood would surely be anxious and fearful with the undulating sand dunes. But today, you can calmly move forward with a peaceful heart, singing praises all the way, “We came in, and we’re also going out.” 

Photo / 摄影 :  Nathalie

沿着和田到阿克苏的沙漠公路

那是怎样的一种心情？奔驰在和田到阿拉尔沙漠公路上……

“塔克拉玛干沙漠”，维吾尔传说中被诅咒的、淹没在沙漠之下的城市；又说它是“进去出不来”的，而为什么此刻，我们能够驰骋在这传说的死亡之海上？

两旁是一望无垠的大沙漠，柔美的沙脊线条一直延伸到天际，蓝蓝天空下疏疏落落的小胡杨、梭梭和沙柳依旧如千年来戍边的战将在努力抗旱固沙。已经入秋了，却仍然可以感受到车窗玻璃上炙肤的炽热直嚷着开空调，相对它们无日无夜把生命交给烈阳，我们何其娇弱！

路是穿越的，沙是流动的，但只感觉到车速的平稳，未感觉到沙的轻浮。是啊，路两旁建成的芦苇草方格，让躁动的沙丘安静下来，不让它阻塞这条大动脉，也让我们轻盈行进。

大自然有它的区域战略，生成植物防护流沙；人类也有维护自己安全和利益的方策，顺着起伏的沙丘筑成这条游弋于茫茫沙海中的长龙。如果你是骑着骆驼走在不见尽头的沙漠，心情肯定是随着高低的沙丘而忐忑而惴惴而惶恐；但今天，你能以宁静的心随着车速表上呈现的数字悠然前进，一路高歌赞叹 “我们进来了，我们也出去了”。