Ride through fire on you way to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, 35 miles northeast of Turpan in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. As tomb complexes go, the Bereklik Thousand Buddha Caves—carved deep into the cliffs of the Mutougou Valley—can't compare with Xian or the Mogao Caves. Many of the paintings have been destroyed by the area's locals who don't see the value in Buddhist shrines, but for this site, getting there is more than half the fun.

Hire a car and enjoy the scenery as it goes by, or tempt fate by tackling the path on two wheels.

Trip Facts
Difficulty rating: Moderate
When to go: April to June; September through October