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FORGOTTEN BUDDHA's in CHINA 🇨🇳 |S8, EP122
Forgotten Buddhas in China Desert Caves and Drone Filming
In this episode, Bing and I explore centuries old caves, tucked away in a small canyon in a desert oasis.
Here I teach all my filming techniques including getting drone shots while riding!
In this episode, the rider and her companion explore centuries old caves hidden in a small canyon within a desert oasis. This trip blends travel discovery with hands-on filming tips, including how to capture drone shots while riding. It’s a compact look at landscapes, caves, and the craft behind turning a ride into a cinematic moment.
In this episode, Itchy Boots and her companion Bing push into a quieter corner of China, where centuries old Buddhas lie tucked away in caves carved into a desert canyon. The journey blends rugged riding with quiet reflection as they explore the hidden sanctuaries and the stark beauty of the landscape. Along the way, the focus shifts from destination to method as she shares practical filming techniques, including how she captures drone shots while on the move, turning the ride itself into part of the storytelling. It’s a concise merge of exploration, culture, and the nuts-and-bolts craft of adventure filmmaking, framed by the challenging terrain and the serene, sun-bleached rock formations that guard these forgotten sanctuaries.
In this episode, the rider and her companion explore centuries old caves hidden in a small canyon within a desert oasis. This trip blends travel discovery with hands-on filming tips, including how to capture drone shots while riding. It’s a compact look at landscapes, caves, and the craft behind turning a ride into a cinematic moment.
The episode begins with Itchy Boots discovering a puddle of oil under her motorcycle, Frankie, in Turpan, China. She realizes her rear shock has blown—a first for her on this bike—and she carries no spare parts. With a tight visa schedule, she can't wait for repairs and decides to keep riding, hoping to make it to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.
She then visits an ancient Uyghur village, over 2,600 years old, marveling at its wooden windows and maze-like lanes. Itchy explores the Grand Mosque of Turpan, an active 15th-century pilgrimage site for Uyghur Muslims who can't travel to Saudi Arabia.
Next, she hikes up to the Tuyugou grottos, a canyon filled with nearly 100 Buddhist caves from the 4th to 14th centuries. She explains how most frescos and statues were destroyed during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). Two caves still have intact paintings, but filming is forbidden. Standing among the ruins, she reflects on the peaceful locations monks always chose.
Over coffee, her companion Bing teaches her about Mandarin's five tones. Itchy learns that saying "tang" can mean sugar or soup depending on pitch. She also discovers Cantonese has eight tones and is spoken by 100 million people.
After a Sichuan lunch of eggplant and kung pao chicken, she finally gets Frankie washed—a long overdue task. Consulting with friends, she confirms that fixing the rear shock requires a specialist with tools unavailable in Xinjiang. She decides to continue riding carefully over tarmac and smooth dirt roads until she reaches Mongolia.
The episode ends with a quirky find in her hotel room: a vending box with condoms and a "G Dolphin" toy, unlocking via QR code.
In this episode, Itchy Boots faces a mechanical setback when her bike, Frankie, blows a rear shock in Turpan, China. Undeterred, she explores the ancient Tuyugou grottos, where centuries-old Buddhist caves were largely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. She also visits a 2,600-year-old village, samples local Sichuan cuisine, and gets Frankie a much-needed wash, all while grappling with the challenge of finding suspension specialists in remote Xinjiang.
Itchy Boots explores ancient Buddhist caves and a 2,600-year-old village in Turpan, China, while dealing with a blown rear shock on her motorcycle, blending cultural discovery with off-road adventure.
Exploring Ancient Buddhist Grottoes and Motorcycle Adventure in Turpan China
2:50 When traveling through China on a tight visa schedule, always have a backup plan for unexpected mechanical issues, as waiting for parts may not be possible.
9:06 Visit the Tuyugou grottos near Turpan for centuries-old Buddhist caves, but be aware that many frescos were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
14:04 Learn basic Mandarin tones to avoid confusion, like ordering sugar versus soup—a fun cultural tip for travelers exploring rural China.
19:19 Car washes in small Chinese towns can clean your motorcycle for you, but you might need to communicate in gestures and basic English or use translation apps.
23:52 If your rear shock blows in remote Xinjiang, keep riding carefully on smooth roads until you reach a major city like Ulaanbaatar for specialist repairs.
2:50 When traveling through China on a tight visa schedule, always have a backup plan for unexpected mechanical issues, as waiting for parts may not be possible.
9:06 Visit the Tuyugou grottos near Turpan for centuries-old Buddhist caves, but be aware that many frescos were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
14:04 Learn basic Mandarin tones to avoid confusion, like ordering sugar versus soup—a fun cultural tip for travelers exploring rural China.
19:19 Car washes in small Chinese towns can clean your motorcycle for you, but you might need to communicate in gestures and basic English or use translation apps.
23:52 If your rear shock blows in remote Xinjiang, keep riding carefully on smooth roads until you reach a major city like Ulaanbaatar for specialist repairs.
0:31 Good morning in Turpan, China
0:46 Discovering oil leak under motorcycle
4:22 Arriving at ancient Uyghur village
9:06 Exploring Tuyugou Buddhist grottos
10:20 Destroyed Buddha image in cave
14:04 Learning Mandarin tones with Bing
16:28 Riding through canyon past caves
19:19 Washing Frankie at car wash
24:59 Hotel room with QR code toys
0:31 Good morning in Turpan, China
0:46 Discovering oil leak under motorcycle
4:22 Arriving at ancient Uyghur village
9:06 Exploring Tuyugou Buddhist grottos
10:20 Destroyed Buddha image in cave
14:04 Learning Mandarin tones with Bing
16:28 Riding through canyon past caves
19:19 Washing Frankie at car wash
24:59 Hotel room with QR code toys
round the world on motorbikemotorbike travellersolo female travelleradventure rideroffroad motorcycleitchy bootsyamaha tenereyamaha xt600xt600zvintage motorcycle1987 yamaha tenerearound the worldxinjiang chinadrive china中国陆路旅行中国摩托车旅行中国精彩体验What were the Buddhist caves like at Tuyugou?
Most were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, but a few caves still have intact frescos, though you can't film them.
What happened to the motorcycle's rear shock?
It blew a seal and is leaking oil. I can't fix it here because there are no suspension specialists in Xinjiang.
How did you learn about Mandarin tones?
Bing taught me there are five tones. If you say 'tang' wrong, you might order soup instead of sugar!
What was the oldest village like?
It's been there for over 2,600 years with maze-like lanes and wooden windows. Most houses are empty now.
What strange thing did you find in the hotel room?
A vending box with condoms and a 'G Dolphin' toy that you unlock by scanning a QR code and paying.
