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   Tuyugou, a small village lying at the south foot of Mt. Flames in the Turpan Depression, is a de facto labyrinth with winding rows of Uygur-style houses interconnected by a web of corridors and overhead bridges. After setting foot at one end of the village, a stranger may eventually emerge at the other end after passing through numerous houses. "These were built a long, long time ago, and they are so old that even my grandparents - may Allah bless their souls - may have had no idea of exactly when they were built," a village elder told us.
    The locals are all Uygurs, who are distinguished by those beautifully embroidered small caps on their heads. The village, virtually cut off from the rest of the world, is shrouded in peace. However, for well over 1,000 years from China's West Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) to the Song (960-1279), the area was a hive of activity as the Oriental and Occidental civilizations met.