Visiting Tarim Basin/Urumchi/Taklamakan/Xinjiang

[Hando]

Has anyone been to the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang? I am planning a trip there, because I would like to visit the places where the Indo-European Tocharians were found, such as Loulan and Lop Nur etc. But, I hear that many of these places are off limits. Like Lop Bur for instance, because they are nuclear or military places.
I don't mind not being able to go to Lop Nur, but I sure would like to visit some of the other places where these Tocaharians lived. I dont just want to go to Urumchi. I want to visit the countryside far from the madding crowd and try to soak in the kind of environment that the ancient Tocharians saw and lived in....So any advice?
Cheers

[Eki]

You could watch "Silk Road" to get in the mood:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/silk_road_dvd_collection/

It has a great soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5n57OSe8tw

[Hando]

Thanks for that, I've actually seen that one. In fact, I think it originally aired in the early 80's when I first saw it. In fact its the major reason why I have always wanted to go there all these years.

[PDHOTLEN]

consider probable climate change

That interior Asian region may have dried up, compared to when the Tocharians were there. During the Ice Age (LGM) there was a water connection to the Arctic Ocean from the Caspian/Arral Seas. That connection stretch probaly slowly dried up thru a wetland/marshland stage. Also wetlands in Singkiang, that still have remnants.

R1a1 & U5b2

[Hando]

Has anyone been there? I ask this because I want to know if the places where the mummies were found are accessible or off limits. Like Loulan, Lop Nor etc.
Cheers

[PDHOTLEN]

indirect comment

On my old National Geographic map, Lop Nor is a lake; apparently receding and salty. The drainage system is internal and doesn't flow into out-going rivers. My sparse and intermittent interest in the interior of Asia has more to do with bird watching than ancient history, e.g. rare cranes. But the Silk Road probably went within range. And haplogroup "B" may have passed that way also (from "R").

R1a1 & U5b2