What Did Google Earth Spot In the Chinese Desert?

New submitter snooz_crash writes "An Ex-CIA analyst requests your assistance in IDing a base that he has been observing for quite a while. The base has been in existence for several years, but its shape and location do not lead to an immediate answer to the riddle of 'what the heck is it?'"

Re:Tall 'U' Shaped Structure?

[mindcandy]

Just southwest of that structure is what's obviously a pretty big electrical substation (you can see the transmission tower shadows leading to it) .. also, look further west and you see another U shaped building with no roof and what are obviously little rooms/cells .. so be it dormitories or whatever, I think you're on the right track.

That's a big substation though .. something need a lot of juice.

Re:Ummm.... maybe go there?

[Anonymous Coward]

Go there? Why not try calling a local official first? The site is right next to the city of Kashgar -- find a phone number and pick up the phone. (OK, find a native Chinese speaker first...) 60 seconds and few questions later you might have *an* answer, if not *the* answer.

Who knows, the city's website (http://www.xjks.gov.cn/) might even have news about the project. Although I think the site may be Slashdotted already.

Re:Agricultural rather...

[icebike]

Nothing here is old or defunct.

Use Google Earth. Click the clock button, and drift back in time.
Nothing was here in 2009.

Its just a mining operation of some sort.

Re:Factory

[phantomfive]

Why would you devalue your currency to print your way out of debt when you could simply not pay it back?

Historically, these two have gone hand-in-hand. That is, governments that can't pay their debts also frequently have trouble funding anything without just printing money.