Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::load_file(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 101

Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::unload_file(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 156

Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::unload_textdomain(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 201

Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::is_textdomain_loaded(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 243

Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::translate(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 263

Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::translate_plural(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 297

Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::locate_translation(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 397

Deprecated: WP_Translation_Controller::get_files(): Implicitly marking parameter $locale as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php on line 430

Deprecated: WP_Translation_File::create(): Implicitly marking parameter $filetype as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-file.php on line 84

Deprecated: wp_getimagesize(): Implicitly marking parameter $image_info as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/media.php on line 5502

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php:101) in /homepages/4/d577990729/htdocs/blog/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831
{"id":416,"date":"2016-07-22T17:01:42","date_gmt":"2016-07-22T17:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/?p=416"},"modified":"2016-07-22T17:01:42","modified_gmt":"2016-07-22T17:01:42","slug":"shiptons-arch-now-has-easier-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/shiptons-arch-now-has-easier-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Shipton’s Arch Now Has Easier Access"},"content":{"rendered":"

A special thanks to Josh Summers of Far West China<\/a> for providing this update and photos.<\/p>\n

Shipton’s Arch in China is one of the world’s giant arches and is already described in some detail on the NABS\u00a0website<\/a>. What’s\u00a0new is that a wooden walkway has been built to provide easy access to view the arch. The 3-minute video below shows the new access (note that when the video states the height of the arch is 1500 feet, that does not refer to the opening itself, which is 1200 feet high).<\/p>\n

<\/iframe><\/p>\nShipton\u2019s Arch is located in the mountains northwest of the city of Kashgar, part of China\u2019s far west province of Xinjiang.\u00a0For the first decade\u00a0following the 2000 National Geographic expedition that re-discovered the arch, foreign travelers began to request a visit to the arch with local travel agencies. Special arrangements had to be made and at first many of the agencies had no idea what the foreigners were talking about\u2014a proper name in Chinese wasn\u2019t given to the arch until the late 2000s\u00a0(the name is variously transliterated as\u00a0\u201cToshuk Tagh\u201c or \u201cTushuk Tash\u201c in the Uyghur language or \u0100t\u00fashi ti\u0101nm\u00e9n in Chinese).<\/p>\nThese pioneering travelers, including Ray Millar of NABS, talk about an arduous climb that included a 4-wheel drive vehicle,\u00a0a local guide and a number of rickety ladders.<\/p>\nAll of that\u2014for better or worse\u2014has changed.<\/p>\nA new road leads from the highway to a new visitor\u2019s center right next to the trail head. Guides are no longer necessary and the ladders have been replaced by strong staircases. The 1.8-mile trail to the arch is\u00a0still a tiring climb that requires\u00a0a certain level of fitness from those that visit. However, it\u2019s no longer the dangerous expedition it once was.<\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-423\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons5-1024x594.jpg\" alt=\"The new paved entrance to Shipton\u2019s Arch\" width=\"700\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons5-1024x594.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons5-300x174.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons5.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a> \nThe new paved entrance to Shipton\u2019s Arch<\/em><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-421\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons3-1024x616.jpg\" alt=\"Shiptons Arch approach\" width=\"700\" height=\"421\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons3-1024x616.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons3-300x181.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons3.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a>Climbing the stairs up the valley to Shipton\u2019s Arch<\/em><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-422\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons4-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Shiptons Arch approach\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons4-683x1024.jpg 683w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons4-200x300.jpg 200w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons4.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-420\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Shiptons Arch\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons1-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Shiptons1.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a>The first glimpse of the arch during the\u00a0hike.<\/em><\/p>\nTo make your own visit to Shipton\u2019s Arch, all you need to do is arrange transportation from Kashgar for the day. This can be done either through a travel agency or by hiring a taxi off the street.\u00a0For the latter, you can use the\u00a0local\u00a0Uyghur or Chinese (Mandarin) name, or bring a photo so you can point to it.<\/p>\nHired transportation, depending on the type of car and season, can cost anywhere from 500-800 Yuan per day ($75-$120), so it\u2019s best to get a group together if possible.<\/p>\nOnce you reach the visitors center, which can take 1-2 hours of driving, you will be required to purchase an entrance ticket. They point you on your way and off you go!<\/p>\nJosh recommends bringing water and snacks\u00a0since\u00a0there is no place to stop and buy this during your trip. He also suggests that\u00a0many tour companies offer the option to either arrive super early or stay late to see the sunrise\/sunset\u00a0and says it\u2019s gorgeous. The only problem is hiking in the dark, so bring good flashlights.<\/p>\n<blockquote>NABS member Josh Summers is a writer, musician and entrepreneur who currently resides in Urumqi, capital of China’s western province of Xinjiang. He has been traveling and writing about this region since 2006 and has no plans to stop in the near future. You can find his original blog on this subject <a href=\"http:\/\/www.farwestchina.com\/2016\/06\/shiptons-arch.html\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A special thanks to Josh Summers of Far West China for providing this update and photos. Shipton’s Arch in China is one of the world’s giant arches and is already described in some detail on the NABS\u00a0website. What’s\u00a0new is that a wooden walkway has been built to provide easy access to view the arch. The … <a href=\"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/shiptons-arch-now-has-easier-access\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading Shipton’s Arch Now Has Easier Access<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=416"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":426,"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416\/revisions\/426"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.naturalarches.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}