Desert sands working magic on aches, pains

Desert hikers in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who come across mummies from ancient civilizations are being confronted by another obstacle - human heads sticking out of the sand.

People from across China flock to the region to bury themselves in the sand between June and August for one good reason.

Turpan's hot desert sands contain minerals that are believed to provide a cure for rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis.