I used to always ask: Where is the distance?
In the past, I always said: the distance is poetry and ideal.
But now I feel that the distance is mutton skewers, highland barley wine, beautiful scenery, and heart-wrenching people~
Although there are countless beautiful scenery in Qinghai Province, the scenic spots are far apart, so the only way to choose chartered car/carpool/self-driving. In order to ensure the quality and safety of the trip, we chose to charter a car instead of driving by ourselves. After all, the road conditions are complicated and the distance is long, so the locals are naturally familiar with it.
May to October is the best month to travel to Qinghai, but July and August are peak seasons. Although the scenery is the best, there are the most people and the most expensive.
travel itinerary
D1 Xining (Tar Temple) - Laji Mountain - Riyue Mountain - Daotang River - Qinghai Lake (151 Scenic Spot - Black Horse River [Su Black Horse River]
D2 Heima River (watching the sunrise) - Chaka Salt Lake - Delingha (car tour of Keluke Lake) - Emerald Lake - Dachaidan [Sudadachaidan]
D3 Dachaidan - Southern Eight Immortals Yadan Devil City - Dangjin Mountain - Dunhuang [Dunhuang]
D4 Dunhuang (Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake) Shazhou Night Market [Dunhuang]
D5 Dunhuang—Guazhou—Jiayuguan—Zhangye (Colorful Danxia)【Suzhou in Zhangye】
D6 Zhangye - Qilian Mountains - Qilian Prairie - Daban Mountain - Xining
Preparation
Travel date September 9th - September 14th, 2018
Clothes: You will experience four seasons along the way, so you must bring a thick coat, long-sleeved trousers, brightly colored skirts, sneakers, sandals (for deserts), and shawls (it’s a sunscreen, windproof, and sandproof artifact for taking pictures!!)
Food: We didn't worry about eating along the way, and asked the chartered driver what was delicious and what was delicious. All kinds of noodles, big plate chicken, mutton skewers, sweet grains, kang lamb chops, euphratica stewed cakes... eat all the specialties.
Living: September is the off-season, so house prices are not expensive, generally around 1-200. Because we are lazy, except the hotel in Xining the day before was booked by ourselves, the rest of the 5-day accommodation was all booked with the help of the driver. There is no need to worry about it. If the driver comes forward, there may be a discount?
Must-Haves: Sunscreen of sorts! ! ! Hats, masks, sunglasses, lipstick, moisturizing spray, moisturizing mask (really dry), umbrella, thermos cup, power bank, various medicines (do not rush to buy high-reaction medicines, the highest altitude of the whole journey is about 4000 meters, we are completely fine) )
1,000 yuan in cash, various preferential certificates
Facts have proved that having a good guide and driver will really make travel a hundred times easier, help us save money and effort, answer questions and solve doubts, it is simply a living map + walking encyclopedia, especially the mutton skewers grilled by the master are really super super super tasty! ! !
cost:
Chartered car: 5500/car, (SUV) 1-3 people per car, the fare can be shared equally.
Tickets: 800/person cap, some places can be visited according to personal preference.
Meals: about 600/person, the more people, the more cost-effective.
Accommodation: around 500/person, off-season price.
D1 Wuhan - Xining
Accommodation is recommended near Mojia Street and Shuijing Lane, which is a must-have snack street in every city~ We stayed at the Elton Hotel near Mojia Street, more than 400 per night, and there are many other hotels nearby, you can take a look. We just chose randomly because we were too lazy
The main street of Shuijing Lane sells special products, and the side street sells snacks. Most of them are pasta, skewers, and lamb beef. We just found a store to eat lamb skewers and I couldn’t stop. Fat, so that my daily mantra is mutton skewers, and there is a business district nearby, so I can go shopping if I have more time.
Xining in September is only a few degrees at night, remember to wear more, or you will freeze into a dog
The most famous restaurant in Mojia Street is Ma Zhong Restaurant, but people say that the most worth tasting is the stuffed skin (10 yuan).
For dinner, "Yixin hand-caught lamb" is recommended! ! 88/jin cooked mutton, half a catty is enough for 2 people, order bowl noodles (you can choose whatever you want), handmade yogurt, sweet grains (made from highland barley is similar to rice wine) are delicious! A meal is less than 100 yuan.
D2 Xining - Kumbum Monastery - Laji Mountain - Riyue Mountain - Daotang River - Qinghai Lake - Black Horse River
The first stop of the trip: Kumbum Monastery, which is the holy place of Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to countless temples and Buddha statues, there are devout worship of Buddhist believers. It is really shocking to worship again and again. Many people's pilgrimage starts from Kumbum Monastery and ends at the Potala Palace in Lhasa.
Dajinwa Temple, the gold and silver used for the roof of the temple, and the colored glaze used for the walls are simply not too noble.
Turning the prayer wheel, each turn is equivalent to reading the scriptures once
Laji Mountain, passing through Laji Mountain, the most sacred palace at the 4188-meter pass of Laji Mountain. Tickets were not required before, but now 20/person.
After freezing in Laji Mountain for a while, we continued to Qinghai Lake. The weather gradually improved, and the scenery along the road was simply beautiful.
I really like the emptiness of being on the road
Qinghai Lake
Anyway, it's really beautiful~
After that, go to the Black Horse River for accommodation. For dinner, you can eat Kang lamb chops, braised noodles, drink highland barley wine, cordyceps wine, and Qinghai Lake beer.
D3 Chaka Salt Lake - Delingha - Shuicui Lake - Dachaidan
watch the sunrise.
On the way to Chaka Salt Lake, the scenery is still beautiful
Chaka Salt Lake
I was afraid that it would be too cold in the morning, so I set off for Chaka Salt Lake at 9 o'clock. Tickets are 70/person, and the one-way train ride is 50/person. It only takes 2 kilometers to walk in. We walked back and forth, and it took about 3 hours to finish.
After lunch, we set off to Dachaidan Emerald Lake. The whole journey is full of Gobi style and infinite openness. Open the window and feel the air is full of comfort.
Emerald Lake! ! ! The most beautiful scenery on this trip~
The Emerald Lake at the end of October is even more breathtakingly beautiful!
D4 Dachaidan - Southern Eight Immortals Yadan - Dangjin Mountain - Dunhuang
Southern Eight Immortals, a typical Yadan landform in Qaidam. Standing on the top, you can really see the openness of the small mountains, and it feels so good to see that there are no people in the eyes ( ??? )
The red dress and the yellow earth are a perfect match! ! !
Shooting blockbuster movies on unmanned roads~
In the afternoon, depart for Dunhuang, pass through the Gobi Desert, and cross Dangjin Mountain.
In the evening, we participated in desert camping for 200/person. The atmosphere was super good~ (food and drink included, free sandboarding, desert motorcycle, bonfire party, camping) Because it was too cold, we didn’t choose to camp, but stayed in an inn.
D5 Mogao Grottoes - Mingsha Mountain (Crescent Spring)
Tickets for Mogao Grottoes are bought online at least half a month in advance (200/person)
The thousands of years of murals are so well preserved and the colors are bright, this historical precipitation is really amazing!
There is a tour guide on the scene. We wear simultaneous headphones and visit 8 caves in total. No. 96 (nine floors) and No. 148 must be seen.
Dunhuang is rich in grapes and wine~ When you return to the inn, you can go to the market to buy lamb kebabs, which are delicious without any seasoning!
Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake
Tickets are 120/person, valid within 3 days, if you need to enter the park for the second time, take fingerprints before leaving; from the foot of the mountain to Crescent Spring, 20/person for round trip by battery car, 100/person for camel riding, 15/person for renting shoe covers.
I finally saw the legendary Crescent Lake, and it really has a little left??? You can climb to the top of the sand mountain to see the night view. After 9 o’clock in the evening, you can also go to the Shazhou Night Market (the price is slightly more expensive). We are going back to the inn to have a meal, drink and party with our friends~
D6 Dunhuang - Guazhou - Jiayuguan - Zhangye (Colorful Danxia)
We set off for Jiayuguan early in the morning, passed by Guazhou, and ate all kinds of melons. Tickets for Jiayuguan are 100/person, because we have at least 20,000 steps to go in, so we rushed directly to Zhangye without going in. The No. 1 Xiongguan Pass in the world is still very spectacular.
Passing through Linze, you can also buy some dates as special products.
Colorful Danxia
This is the colorful Danxia at the end of October, the same place, different seasons, different beauty~
Tickets are 75 yuan per person, and ticket sales will stop at 7 pm. After buying a ticket, take the bus directly to the scenic spot, there are 4 viewing platforms, and follow the bus line to watch the scenery. Tickets are valid within 3 days. If you need to enter the park again, take your fingerprints before leaving.
Danxia is even more beautiful when it clears up after the rain~
D7 Zhangye - Qilian Prairie - Menyuan Flower Sea - Daban Mountain - Xining
On the last day of the return journey, we have to take National Highway 227, which is known as the most beautiful national highway. Passing by countless flowers, it costs 10 yuan to take a photo. We always joke that we can earn money on this kind of flowers.
Crossing Qilian Mountain at an altitude of 3,700 meters and Daban Mountain at an altitude of 3,600 meters, the outdoor temperature in September is only a few degrees, and I dare not get out of the car without wearing a down jacket.
This journey has experienced spring, summer, autumn and winter, four seasons of cold and warm, and seen mountains, rivers, lakes, plateau basins, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, seas of flowers and blue skies. All the good things are reflected in the eyes and engraved in the heart.
The pace of travel will not stop, we are always on the road~
