Passing of an Unsung Hero

When I received the news of Ho Chee Seong's passing on 5 July 2025, a flood of memories came rushing back. I first came to know Chee Seong in the 1980s, during my involvement with the School Management Board of SM Lok Yuk, SRK Lok Yuk, and SRK (C) Lok Yuk. I was then in my thirties, and he was in his forties, serving as the principal of SRK (C) Lok Yuk.

Despite our professional responsibilities, we found a common ground - table tennis. Before I eventually switched to playing badminton, we would often gather to play table tennis together, joined by another teacher, the late Lu Kah Hin. Our games took place in a simple old wooden store erected on a plot beside Jalan Penampang, not far from where the current Merdeka Supermarket now stands.

The wooden store was generously offered by its owner for use by BCCM Kota Kinabalu (BCCM KK), and it held special significance - it served as the initial premises for BCCM Penampang’s regular Sunday worship services. In time, BCCM Penampang acquired a nearby plot of land and built a proper church building, which stands today as the current church premises.

Sadly, Chee Seong and I had not seen each other since the days we stopped playing table tennis. Life took us on different paths, and time slipped quietly by. It was only at the funeral parlour on 6 July 2025, where I came to pay my final respects to the late Chee Seong, that I learned more about his later years. His son, William, shared with me that Chee Seong had been living alone since the passing of his wife in 2016 - nine long years of solitude. He passed away at a remarkable age of 90.

When I mentioned to William that his father, Kah Hin, and I used to play table tennis together back in the 1980s, he was very surprised. He hadn’t known that his father had once been active in this game. Curious, he turned to his sister-in-law - who worships in the same church as his father at BCCM Penampang - and she confirmed that, indeed, Chee Seong had played table tennis in his younger days.

Chee Seong’s quiet strength, dedication to education, and his appreciation for life’s simple pleasures - like a friendly game of table tennis - left a deep and lasting impression on me. His passing is a poignant reminder of the many unsung heroes who devoted their lives to shaping our schools, churches, and communities - not through grand gestures, but through quiet service, steady presence, and enduring commitment.

At the funeral parlour with William - a friend and a brother-in-Christ in BCCM KK (E). William is an Architect and an Elder of BCCM KK (E).

Exploring Urumqi

After visiting Wuerhe Ghost City, our bus then traveled approximately 10Km to our accommodation for the night, Begonia Hotel in Karamay. With that final excursion, our guided tour of Xian and Northern Xinjiang effectively came to an end.

The next morning on 04.06.2025 (Day 13), we checked out from the hotel and embarked on a 410Km drive to Urumqi. We arrived in the late afternoon and checked into Hoi Tak Hotel, marking the start of the free-and-easy segment of our trip. From that point onward, we were free to explore Urumqi at our own pace, until our scheduled departure for home on 06.06.2025.

Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a sprawling and modern metropolis with a population of around 4 million - accounting for a significant portion of Xinjiang’s total population of 25 million. Approximately 75% of Urumqi’s residents are Han Chinese, while Uygurs make up about 12 - 15%. The remainder comprises various minority ethnic groups, including Kazakhs, Hui, Kyrgyz, and Mongols.

Directly in front of our hotel, lies the expansive People’s Square - an energetic and bustling public space at the heart of the city. We passed through the square a couple of times during our stay, but it was in the evenings that the place truly came alive. Locals gathered in large numbers to take part in synchronized group dancing, their graceful and coordinated movements creating a lively, festive atmosphere. It was a display of community spirit and a vivid reflection of Urumqi’s dynamic urban culture.

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We had a full day on Day 14 (05.06.2025) to explore Urumqi at our own leisure. We began the day by visiting several nearby shopping malls, accompanying the ladies in browsing through the ladies' casual wear sections. 

After that, we wandered through the city streets in search of local eateries eager to sample some of Urumqi's culinary specialties.

Trying out the tandoor oven baked bum.

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Hand-pulled noodle.

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But the real highlight of our evening outings was a visit to the famous Urumqi International Grand Bazaar (乌鲁木齐国际大巴扎). Known as one of the largest bazaars in the world, the Urumqi Grand Bazaar is a major cultural and commercial landmark in Xinjiang. Located in the heart of the city, it is a vibrant showcase of the region’s ethnic diversity - especially the rich cultural heritage of the Uygur people. The bazaar features Islamic-style architecture, with intricately designed facades, domes, and minarets.

Inside the bazaar, we were greeted by a dizzying variety of goods - a vibrant showcase of local culture and craftsmanship. Traditional Uyghur handicrafts filled the stalls: hand-forged knives, intricately painted pottery, souvenirs and richly woven carpets. The air was thick with the aroma of exotic spices, while tables overflowed with dried fruits like raisins, apricots, and walnuts. Vivid textiles and beautifully embroidered fabrics added splashes of color to every corner.

The bazaar is also a paradise for food lovers, offering a tantalizing array of authentic Uyghur and Central Asian dishes. We saw stalls selling grilled lamb kebabs, freshly baked naan from tandoor ovens, fragrant rice pilaf with lamb and carrots, and hand-pulled noodles served with sauces.

As is common in traditional markets, bargaining is part of the shopping ritual - though, for me, it was more of a nuisance than a novelty!

While strolling further, we discovered a hidden basement level within the bazaar. The number of stalls there was significantly fewer. Most visitors, it seemed, never ventured that far down. Interestingly, we found that the stall owners on this lower level were more straightforward, often offering noticeably lower prices without much need for bargaining. It felt like an overlooked corner of the bazaar - quieter, less chaotic, and refreshingly honest.

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As I passed this station, my attention was immediately drawn to two soldiers standing perfectly still inside a box. At first glance, I assumed they were simply sculptures on display. However, Jenny insisted they were real people. I was skeptical - until, after what seemed like an eternity of absolute stillness, both suddenly moved, proving her right. Their discipline and composure were truly impressive.

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Barbequed fish and chicken for lunch.

The Urumqi Grand Bazaar is far more than just a marketplace; it is a living, breathing cultural mosaic that offers a window into the lives, traditions, and artistry of Xinjiang’s ethnic communities. For visitors to Urumqi, it is an unforgettable experience - and a must-see destination.

Wuerhe Ghost City, Xinjiang

Day 12,  03.06.2025, we checked out from our hotel in Jiadengyu and began our journey southward, traveling toward our next destination - Wuerhe Ghost City. Along the way, we stopped in Burqin for lunch, a river town nestled near the Irtysh River.

Hotel where we stayed in Jiadengyu.

Burqin turned out to be the westernmost point we had reached on this entire journey from Xian, having traveled roughly 3,500Km by road. That realization alone was striking. Even more surprising, however, was the discovery that the coffee I ordered at a quaint outlet named Jeremiah after lunch had been imported from Malaysia - a small, unexpected connection to home in such a far-flung place.

After our break in Burqin, we continued southeast for another 320Km, arriving at Wuerhe Ghost City (乌尔禾魔鬼城) around 4:45pm. This vast desert landscape is famous for its haunting Yardang landforms - strange, wind-eroded shapes sculpted over millions of years.

These rock formations rise like natural sculptures from the barren earth, some resembling ancient fortresses, beasts, or abandoned vessels stranded in an ocean of sand. With the afternoon sun casting long shadows over the rippling terrain, the place felt like a set from a science fiction epic - utterly surreal.

The man-shaped stone perched atop a massive rock outcrop
 is said to resemble Xuanzang, the Buddhist monk who
journeyed to India.

This is said to resemble "The Great Sphinx of Giza".

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For the more adventurous - and those undeterred by the searing desert heat - camel rides are readily available, offering another way to explore the unusual landscape.

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The site owes its name, “Ghost City” (鬼城), to the howling winds that sweep through the valleys and formations, producing eerie, unearthly sounds. These ghostly acoustics have inspired not only folklore but also filmmakers, with several Chinese movies and TV series choosing this dramatic location as their backdrop.

Beyond its haunting beauty, the Ghost City is also a paleontological site of global interest. Numerous dinosaur fossils have been excavated in the region, with protected fossil zones marking the area's rich prehistoric history. It’s a place where natural history and myth converge.

We boarded the sightseeing shuttle, which followed a designated route through the park, stopping at major vantage points. The terrain was harsh and exposed, and the afternoon heat was intense, radiating off the desert floor and adding to the otherworldly feel of the environment.

If there’s one lasting impression of Wuerhe Ghost City, it’s the sense of being transported to a forgotten world - a place shaped by wind, time, and legend, offering a dramatic and unforgettable contrast to the alpine lakes of Kanas and Tianchi and the verdant grasslands of Hemu.

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We were originally scheduled to stop at the final station, known as "Dinosaur Valley" (恐龙谷) or "Dinosaur Park" (恐龙园). Unfortunately, due to a mix of possible tour fatigue and general disinterest from some members of the group, the tour leader was persuaded to skip the stop and continue on. For me, it was a moment of genuine regret.

This particular site features numerous life-sized dinosaur sculptures dramatically placed among the Yardang formations, along with informative displays that shed light on the area's rich prehistoric significance. A visit there would have offered a more vivid and tangible glimpse into the region’s dinosaur-era past - a fitting finale to this ancient landscape of Wuerhe Ghost City.