Four years ago, I took a trip with my friends along Xining-Qinghai Lake-Qilian-Zhangye-Menyuan (see travel notes "Hexi Corridor Free Tour (Part 1)"), lingering and thinking about it many times Going to Hexi again, it has been delayed until now due to various reasons. Seeing the hot scene of National Day tourism in 2020, the epidemic should be under control, so I embarked on this journey.
Considering that this year's epidemic is not over yet, everyone feels that the train is safer than the plane. The last time I flew from Lukou Airport to Lanzhou, this time I took the train to Zhangye, and then flew from Lanzhou to Lukou when I returned. Since I was traveling during the Golden Week in October (October 9), it was difficult to buy tickets. What was surprising was that I managed to get a sleeper berth on the train through Ctrip's ticket reservation system.
DAY1: Go to Zhangye
Departed on the evening of October 9th, after more than 20 hours of trains, arrived in Zhangye in the early morning of October 10th, and booked the Xiyu Hotel in Zhangye Colorful Danxia one month in advance with Ctrip. The main reason why I still go to Colorful Danxia (I have been to Colorful Danxia in "Free Travel in the Hexi Corridor (Part 1)") is that most of my colleagues have never been there, and Xiyu Hotel is the most cost-effective in Zhangye. .
DAY2: Zhangye to Ejina
In the early morning of October 10th, my companions who had never been to the colorful Danxia went to visit the colorful Danxia. We came to the hillside next to the Danxia scenic spot and looked at Danxia in the distance. Compared with 4 years ago, the gate square of Danxia Scenic Area has become bigger. The Danxia Town next to it feels a bit overdeveloped. For some reason, most of the businesses have not opened. Fortunately, there is a hill beside the town where you can see Danxia. The interior and partial landscape of Xia Scenic Area.
When my companion came back, I drove along Danxia Avenue to Ejina, and encountered a sea of lavender flowers on the way (Danxiakou gatehouse is newly built and feels that it has not yet been completed).
Going forward is full of vast Gobi. On the way, we pass the Jiuquan Launch Center. Because it is a military secret, we can only look at it from a distance...
Arrive near Ejina Banner (Strange Forest) in the evening, first take a look at the poplar trees in the evening, and then check into the hotel.
Tips:
1. From Zhangye to Ejina, the driving time is basically 7-8 hours on the National Highway (Hangzhou Road), and most of them are in the vast Gobi. There are few service facilities on the roadside, and it is difficult to drink water and go to the toilet, so it is necessary to prepare adequately.
2. During the viewing period of Populus euphratica forest every year (late September to mid-October), it is hard to find a house in Ejina, the price/performance ratio is very low, and it needs to be booked in advance.
3. Pass by Populus euphratica forest on the way, and you can watch it if you have time.
DAY3: Visit Ejina Populus euphratica Forest
Populus euphratica forest: Uighurs call Populus euphratica Toklak, which means the most beautiful tree. Because of its amazing ability to resist drought, wind and sand, and salt and alkali, and can survive and reproduce tenaciously in the desert, it is praised as the "desert hero tree". People praise the great vitality of Populus euphratica: it will not die after living for three thousand years, it will not fall for three thousand years after death, and it will be immortal for three thousand years after falling.
Populus euphratica forest in Ejina is now divided into two scenic spots, Populus euphratica forest in Ejina and Populus euphratica forest in Heicheng Ruoshui (formerly known as the strange forest). Tickets purchased through Ctrip are 240 and 190 yuan respectively. Generally, you can go to Ejina Populus euphratica forest in the morning to watch the sunrise, and in the evening to Heicheng Ruoshui Populus euphratica forest to watch the sunset.
1. Ejina Populus euphratica Forest Scenic Area from Erdaoqiao to Badaoqiao. One bridge is called Taolai Forest, Erdaoqiao Reflection Forest, Sandaoqiao Red Willow Sea, Sidaoqiao Hero Forest, Wudaoqiao Turhut Manor, Liudaoqiao is not yet open, Qidaoqiao Dreamland Forest, and Badaoqiao Sand Sea. The most worthwhile places to visit are Erdao, Sidao, Qidao and Badao bridges, and there are tour buses between the scenic spots.
Enter the gate and visit Erdao Bridge first and walk through the end of Erdao District Scenic Area to take a tour bus. Erdao Bridge can take pictures of the sunrise, which is so beautiful.
In order to go to Badao Bridge to photograph the sea of sand and avoid the crowd of tour buses, take a tour bus directly to Badao Bridge.
The tour time of Badaoqiao is about 1 hour. Going back by car, it is said that you should visit Qidaoqiao scenic spot first. Since the return car stops at Sidaoqiao first, you can only get off at Sidaoqiao, and return to Qidaoqiao after the tour. It is a bit Turn back, but there is no way, the tour bus is like this.
Sidaoqiao Scenic Area, known as the Hero Forest, is the filming location of the movie "Hero". The Populus euphratica here is tall and dense, and looks heroic.
Sidao tour for about 2 hours, then take a car and go back to visit Qidao Bridge.
Qidaoqiao is called Dreamland Forest. It is the first place where Populus euphratica leaves turn yellow. At the turn of spring and summer, they are the first to feel the spring and stretch out green branches. Therefore, this is also the beginning of awakening the life of Populus euphratica for thousands of years. place.
Visit Qidaoqiao, then take a bus to Badao and change to return to Erdaoqiao (it feels a bit devious, and there is indeed a problem with the arrangement of vehicles in the scenic spot).
2. Heicheng Ruoshui Populus euphratica Forest
After having lunch outside the scenic spot, go to Heicheng Ruoshui Populus euphratica Forest at about 15:00. The scenic spot was originally called the strange forest. It is 28 kilometers southwest of Dalaihubu Town, Ejina Banner. tickets. Now a black city is added, and the ticket is 200 yuan (190 yuan on Ctrip), which is the best place to shoot the sunset. It is said that Heicheng is the most complete existing ancient city on the "Silk Road". It was built by tamping (it feels like it has just been repaired), but now the city is too commercial.
In order to take care of the business in Heicheng, you have to take a scenic car to the west gate of Heicheng first, and then go through the Heicheng to the east gate to take the car to see the sunset in the strange forest. However, you can also choose not to go to Heicheng, and go directly to the strange forest on foot.
Tips:
1. If you have enough time, it is best to visit these two scenic spots in two days. It is too hard to finish the tour in one day.
2. After visiting the strange forest, it is usually dark, and its exit is far from the visitor center. If you are an individual tourist, you need to take the traffic car arranged by the scenic spot after going out, otherwise you will not be able to go there.
3. It is not recommended to go to Heicheng, because the commercial smell inside is too strong, you can only see nothing if you are tired.
DAY4: Ejina Banner ~ Aerospace City ~ Jiayuguan
On the way from Ejina to Jiayuguan, we passed the Aerospace City. Due to the reasons of military secrecy, we can only look at the gate. This section of the journey is longer.
Stay in Jiayuguan in the evening.
DAY:5 Jiayuguan～Dunhuang
Jiayuguan was built in the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372), nine years earlier than Shanhaiguan. It is surrounded by the snow-capped Qilian Mountains in the south and the rolling Black Mountains in the north. The distance between the two mountains is only 30 kilometers. It is the narrowest part of the Hexi Corridor. "The first pass in Hexi".
Tickets are 110 yuan (Ctrip 108 yuan), divided into three attractions, Jiayuguan Pass City, Cantilever Great Wall, and the first pier of the Great Wall. You need to solve the traffic between the attractions. I feel that the first two attractions are better.
Jiayuguan Chaozong Gate Tower
Leaving Jiayuguan Pass City, drive to the Suspended Great Wall, which is located on the northern slope of Heishan Mountain, 8 kilometers north of Jiayuguan Pass City. It is to strengthen the defense of Jiayuguan Pass. A 15-kilometer-long wall with rocks and soil is built like the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing. "Wanli Pass of the Great Wall, Overlapping barriers, black mountains and dark walls hanging."
Had lunch at the entrance of the Suspended Great Wall, and drove to visit the first pier of the Great Wall, which is the southernmost pier of the West Great Wall in Jiayuguan and the westernmost pier of the Great Wall in Ming Dynasty.
In the evening, stay in Dunhuang and visit the Dunhuang Night Market.
DAY6: Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area
In the morning, visit Mogao Grottoes. Mogao Grottoes, commonly known as the Thousand-Buddha Grottoes, were excavated on the cliff at the eastern foot of Mingsha Mountain, 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City. There are 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 2,415 clay colored sculptures. The Buddhist art site with the richest content is one of the three major grottoes in China. There are two main ways to visit. The first one is 8 caves + digital movie + transportation vehicle at 238 yuan; the second one is 4 caves + tickets are 100 yuan. No matter how many caves you look at, you can’t enjoy yourself to the fullest. The main reason is that there are many people, crowded, dark light, etc., and photography is not allowed in the caves.
In the afternoon, visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Spot. The scenic spot is located at the northern foot of Mingsha Mountain, 5 kilometers southwest of Dunhuang City. It is known as "the first spring in the desert". spectacular. It has been one of the "Eight Views of Dunhuang" since the Han Dynasty.
Tickets are 110 yuan, and camel riding is 100 yuan. It feels great to ride a camel!
Tips:
1. The Mogao Grottoes scenic spot is famous, but the experience after the tour is not very good, and the intention is still unfinished.
2. The Crescent Lake Scenic Area has a good experience, and you have to experience camel riding in the desert.
3. Be sure to do a good job of wind, sand and sun protection, otherwise it will be a very sad day.
DAY7: Dunhuang - Emerald Lake - Dachaidan
On the way from Dunhuang to Dachaidan along the G215 in the Gobi desert, about 30 kilometers west of Dunhuang City, you will encounter the "Reclining Buddha" mountain. On the vast Gobi, it looks like a giant Buddha lying on his back. According to legend, an eminent monk in ancient Dunhuang went to the West to learn Buddhist scriptures and passed away here, gradually turning into a Sleeping Buddha.
Continuing on, we came across Aksai National Desert Park. According to reports, there are strange snow-covered peaks, Danxia landforms, populus euphratica forests that have survived for thousands of years, and vast deserts. Because it was not in the plan, we did not enter the tour and left a few photos.
Arrive at Dachaidan Emerald Lake in the afternoon. The lake is located in Dachaidan Town, Dachaidan Administrative District, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is a unique salt lake style in Dachaidan. It is a magnesium sulfate subtype salt lake with an area of 15 square kilometers.
Dachaidan Emerald Lake's salt ponds with different shapes and different depths are like pieces of crystal clear "emeralds". It was the mining area of the salt lake mining team of the former Dachaidan Chemical Plant. After years of mining, it formed a pit and became the beautiful Emerald Lake today.
Tips:
1. Emerald Lake is now free to watch, and there are more than ten viewing spots in it that are far apart, and you need to drive there.
2. Compared with Chaka Salt Lake, Emerald Lake is more abundant, and it is more charming when it is backed by snow-capped mountains.
DAY8: Dachaidan - Delingha
From Dachaidan to Delingha, visit Dongtai Jinel Lake and Water Yadan along the way. Depart from Dachaidan in the morning and go to Jinel Lake in Dongtai. On the way, we pass the U-shaped highway (G315) where the Internet celebrity checks in. The two sides are basically deserts, which gradually have the characteristics of Yadan landform.
Arrive at Dongtai Jinalhu at noon. Dongtai Jinel Lake is known as the Chinese version of the Maldives. It is located in Golmud City and belongs to the magnesium sulfate subtype salt lake. The lake is free to see this pure green.
After visiting Jinel Lake, go to Shuishang Yadan, also known as Wusu Te Yadan Geological Park, located in the Xitai area of Dachaidan Administrative Committee, Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province, 340 kilometers east of Delingha, the capital of Haixi Prefecture, close to National Highway 315 Line, located in the Xining - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Water Yardang - Dunhuang - Jiayuguan - Zhangye ring tourism important node position.
"Yadan" is a Uighur language, meaning "a small hill with steep walls", also known as "wind-eroded forest". There was no water in Wusu Te Yadan, but one year a mountain torrent broke out, and the Nalengele River, which originated in the Kunlun Mountains, was diverted and flooded this area, forming the water Yadan landform. The scenic spot is very large. Due to seasonal reasons, when we arrived, no tickets were charged, the vehicles in the scenic spot were out of service, and distant scenic spots could not be visited.
Tips:
1. Lake Jinel is now free to visit.
2. Water Yadan belongs to a standard address park. According to the introduction of "National Geographic", there is also a water Yadan, which can be driven through by yourself. I believe it is more beautiful, but unfortunately I didn't go there due to time constraints.
DAY9: Delingha ~ Qinghai Lake ~ Xining
Departing from Delingha back to Xining, I saw Qinghai Lake on the way. "Hexi Corridor Free Tour (Part 1)" once visited Qinghai Lake. This time, I visited Qinghai Lake again. I feel that the "green water and green mountains concept" has been implemented. In the minds of the people, it turns out that there are private scenic spots by the lake, and the facilities, tents, and yurts opened by individuals have all disappeared. In the past, it is not allowed to stop and take pictures at random, and to collect money at will. The scenic spot is clean and standardized. Qinghai Lake is cleaner and bluer.
DAY10: Return from Xining-Lanzhou Airport
After visiting Qinghai Lake, I booked Xi’an·Qingya Hotel (Xining Xinqian Wangfujing Square Branch) through Ctrip in Xining. That night, I tasted the halal delicacy at Ma Yonghua’s mutton shop next to the hotel. Early the next morning, return to Lanzhou Airport.
The free tour of the Hexi Corridor has come to a successful conclusion. The Hexi Corridor is not only a geographical term, but also a kind of history, culture and spirit - the embodiment of the endless Chinese history, splendid Chinese culture and "Silk Road Spirit". Because of these, our experiences and stories, with sufficient reasons, will become eternal.
