The beauty of Qinghai and Dunhuang has long admired their names, and finally completed this wonderful trip this summer.
(This trip is planned and organized by the excellent team of Boda House, and I am only responsible for part of the photography)
Summary of the itinerary (this is the route of Qinghai Lake Grand Ring Road):
Day 1: Chengdu-Xining Railway Station
Day 2: Xining Railway Station - Qinghai Lake
Day 3: Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Delingha
Day 4: Delingha - Dunhuang
Day 5: Dunhuang - Yadan Devil City - Yumen Pass - Dunhuang
Day 6: Dunhuang - Crescent Lake - Mogao Grottoes
Day 7: Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Zhangye
Day 8: Zhangye-Danxia-Qilian Prairie-Xining Railway Station
Day 9: Xining Railway Station - Chengdu
Day 2-Day 8 is self-driving by renting a car, with a total of about 2,500 kilometers in 7 days.
Considering the limited time, but do not want to miss the beautiful scenery, so the following itinerary will be slightly compact. I will note below the places worth staying more, and give a relatively easy itinerary at the end for your reference.
Precautions:
1. The itinerary spans two provinces and many places, and passes through many high-altitude areas, such as Qinghai Lake 3300 and Qilian Mountain 3800. Those who are forbidden to enter the plateau should be cautious. Others who are worried about high-altitude reactions should take high-altitude drugs in advance. Try not to take a bath, drink alcohol, or exercise vigorously on the first day on the plateau.
2. The temperature difference between day and night in the itinerary area is large. It can reach up to 38 degrees during the day (actually more than that), and it can reach about 20 degrees at night. Prepare sunscreen and warm clothes. It is best to avoid the exposure period of 11:00-18:00 when playing in the desert.
3. Due to the large changes in altitude and temperature and dietary changes, it is recommended to bring medicines such as diarrhea, cold and fever, and high-reverse reactions.
Day 1: Chengdu---(about 16 hours)---Xining
The train departs in the evening and arrives in the morning, which can make good use of time, but it is easy to be delayed or canceled due to rain in the summer rainy season, so if the time requirement is very strict, it is recommended to transfer to the high-speed rail: Chengdu-Xi'an-Xining.
Day 2: Xining Railway Station (2300 above sea level) --- (about 170 kilometers, 3.5 hours) --- Qinghai Lake (3300 above sea level)
The road conditions are very good, and traffic jams are easy to occur during peak hours, so reserve a good time.
Day 3: Qinghai Lake --- (about 150 kilometers, 2.5 hours) --- Chaka Salt Lake --- (about 200 kilometers, 2.5 hours) --- Delingha (altitude 3000)
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake is named "Cuowenbu" (meaning "blue sea") in Tibetan. The most beautiful lake in China, it was selected as the first of the five most beautiful lakes in the country by "China National Geography".
If the time is loose, it is recommended to visit Qinghai Lake for at least 1 day, the scenery along the lake is beautiful.
Jeep and motorcycle go well with this place
Arrive at Qinghai Lake Erlangjian Scenic Area.
There are a lot of people in the peak season. Because of the time, I left in a hurry after checking in. I may have missed some scenery and experiences. You can check more information on the Internet.
Chaka Salt Lake
Watch the beautiful scenery of clouds, mountains and rivers reflected in the white salt lake, like a mirror of the sky.
The Chaka Salt Lake scenic spot is not big, and it usually takes 2-3 hours to play. It is most suitable for visiting on sunny days, and it is best to come after several consecutive days of sunny days. At this time, the crystallinity of the lake is very high, and you will see a thin layer of brine covering the white salt lake. The scenery and reflections are the clearest pure. If it is cloudy and rainy for several days, the salt layer in the lake may be diluted and dissolved, and the mud underneath will be exposed, making it impossible to go down to the lake to play, and the scenery is very ordinary.
Take a small train to the depths of the salt lake for sightseeing.
Although the weather is not particularly good, it does not have a taste.
The red skirt is standard here. Before going out, I bought an online celebrity Zhuangshan skirt on a certain treasure. Although it is really easy to hit the shirt, but each has its own taste, I am me, different fireworks, haha
Go to Deling and go to Delingha, blue sky and white clouds all the way
Go on and reach Delingha, a very clean and beautiful city.
When I woke up in the morning, I realized that it was a Ferris wheel surrounded by mountains and rivers.
I have persisted in long-distance running training for 5 months and cannot slack off because of travel.
I tried to slow down the pace by 2 minutes/km on the plateau and swayed 2 kilometers slower than usual. It feels similar to usual, and it seems to be more adaptable.
DAY 4: Delingha---(about 545 kilometers, 6.5 hours)---Dunhuang
On this day, we have to cross the Qaidam Basin. There are few people on the road and there are limited places to provide supplies. It is recommended to prepare dry food and water in advance the day before.
This road sign appeared about 50 kilometers away from Delingha. Are there really aliens?
Pass by in a hurry, and those who are interested can search on Ctrip.
We will pass Xiaochaidamu Lake (also called Xiaochaidan Lake) on the way, and we don’t have time to go there. The lake doesn't look too small on the map. After reading other people's guides, it is undeveloped, natural and free. You only need to give the local herdsmen 20 yuan/car. There are few tourists, so you should be able to have fun, and you can go and see if you have plenty of time. (I stole a picture from the Internet to give you a sneak peek)
The car crosses the Qaidam Basin, the Xite Mountains, the desert, the Gobi Desert, and the feeling of a large area in the western United States
camels on the road
First time seeing a white camel
The vast Gobi desert
Arrive at Dunhuang (1100 meters above sea level), the only place on the Silk Road.
There are many desert camping spots in Dunhuang, where you can have fun in the desert and enjoy the sunrise and sunset.
It is free to play sandboarding at the camping site, which is much cheaper than in the Crescent Spring Scenic Area.
sunset
Sand is a toy for children to play with
Sand motorcycles, sand cross-country, sand boarding, free yourself.
Let’s have another desert party, accompanied by the starry sky~
You can take pictures of the starry sky and the Milky Way at night, but you need the equipment in place, and those who like photography should prepare in advance.
DAY 5: Dunhuang Crescent Lake - Mogao Grottoes
The camp at sunrise can still feel the beauty of last night.
Meet a little milk dog, cute
Day 5: Dunhuang --- (about 160 kilometers, 2.5 hours) --- Yadan National Geological Park --- (about 70 kilometers, 1 hour) --- Yumen Pass --- (about 90 kilometers, 1.5 hours) --- -Dunhuang
If the time is limited, you can cancel the one-day tour on the west line in summer. It is exposed to the sun without shelter, and it is not convenient to visit at close range during the day.
Yadan National Geological Park
The park is dominated by a large area of unique Yardang landforms, which looks fantastic and spectacular above the Gobi, and every evening when the sun shines in the west, it is an excellent place to shoot large-scale photography.
Let's take a look at our equipment first.
Dunhuang Yadan Geopark is also known as Dunhuang Devil City, you can imagine the climate here. Therefore, it is recommended to visit early in the morning and evening in summer, it is really sunny.
The shuttle bus in the scenic spot is equipped with a tour guide. After entering the scenic spot, tourists need to take the shuttle bus to play. The shuttle bus will stop at 4 scenic spots on the northern line of the park, namely the Golden Lion Welcome, Pyramid, Peacock and West Sea Fleet. Each scenic spot Staying for 10 minutes, I thought it was too short at first, but when I got out of the car, I realized that after staying for 2 minutes and punching a card, I wanted to come up---it was too hot, haha.
Tourists can take the shuttle bus to play the northern line and then end the tour, about 1.5-2 hours for the whole journey. You can also take an off-road vehicle after visiting the northern line and then play the southern line. This kind of loop tour takes about 3-4 hours in total.
Visit Yumen Pass on the way back
Built in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Yumen Pass, also known as the Small Fangpan City, prospered with the prosperity of the Silk Road. It used to be the only place where merchants from the Western Regions and people from the Central Plains came and went. Because Hetian beautiful jade has been imported into the Central Plains from here since ancient times, it is called Yumen Pass.
The Yellow River is far above the white clouds,
An isolated city, Wanren Mountain.
Why should the Qiang flute blame the willows?
The spring breeze does not pass Yumen Pass.
Having been here, I have personally experienced the tragic and desolate Northwest desert, as if I can understand the hardships of being dispatched to the frontier, and cherish the present life.
The camels were resting on their stomachs with their limbs buried under their bodies. They seemed to know that I was taking pictures, and they all looked at my camera
Day 6: Crescent Lake + Mogao Grottoes
I spent the whole day in the urban area of Dunhuang today, so I have relatively plenty of time.
Mogao Grottoes are basically indoor visits, so arrange your time and leave the morning or evening for Crescent Lake, because there are many outdoor projects there.
Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area
Sand mountains and springs coexist, and have always been known as the "desert spectacle" in the world, which is one of Dunhuang's business cards.
There are rich entertainment items in the scenic area, such as camel riding, sand skiing, grass skiing, desert motorcycles, archery, and helicopter tours
Exotic desert camel natural painting
Crescent Lake --- the mirror of the sky, the eye of the desert.
Although water and fire have always been incompatible, Crescent Moon Spring is located in a sand mountain. This is because Crescent Moon Spring is located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain and surrounded by sand dunes. Because of the terrain, when the wind blows, the sand does not go down the mountain, but It flows up the mountain, so Crescent Lake will never be buried by sand.
Mogao Grottoes
Also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, it continues the oldest and largest treasure house of Buddhist art. It is famous for its exquisite murals and statues, and is a world-renowned Buddhist art resort.
In order to protect the cultural treasures, it is not allowed to use mobile phones, take pictures, or drink water in Mogao Grottoes. The torches used by the lecturers are all special cold light lamps, otherwise they will affect the murals, and the camera flash will greatly damage the murals.
I hope that each of us will consciously abide by it, so that this great art treasure house can be preserved from generation to generation~
I told classmate Guo that if we don’t run away tonight, we will only come to occupy Dunhuang later... So, we occupied another city, hahahaha
DAY 7: Dunhuang --- (about 375 kilometers, about 4 hours) --- Jiayuguan (1700 meters above sea level) --- (225 kilometers, 2.5 hours) --- Zhangye (1850 meters above sea level)
Let’s start with an awesome one. The temperature displayed on the car when you come out of Jiayuguan. Therefore, when you come here in summer, it is recommended to wear long trousers and long sleeves, and do a good job of sun protection. It’s really hot.
Jiayuguan
"There is Shanhaiguan in the east, and Jiayuguan in the west." Feel the vicissitudes of history of the first pass in the world.
The weather was good, and I saw the snow-covered Qilian Mountains dozens of kilometers away.
After a few days of rushing, I failed to appreciate the sunset. When I checked into the hotel tonight, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the sunset was just outside the window, and I recorded this beautiful moment.
DAY 8: Zhangye --- (about 42 kilometers, 1 hour) --- Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park --- (about 195 kilometers, 4 hours) --- Qilian Prairie --- (about 190 kilometers, 4 hours) hours)---Xining Railway Station
Departure at 6 o'clock, catching up with the sunrise of colorful Danxia.
Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park:
It is the only complex area of Danxia landform and colorful hilly landscape in China, and was rated as one of the seven most beautiful Danxia landforms in China by Chinese National Geographic magazine. This is a paradise for scenic photography lovers. The Danxia color is more intense when it clears up after the rain. The best time to shoot every day is in the afternoon, when Danxia has the most layers. There are many viewing platforms in the scenic area, and viewing platform No. 4 is the best for shooting sunsets and sunrises, and viewing platform No. 2 is best for shooting panoramas. There are many farmhouses outside the scenic area. If you want to take pictures of the sunrise, you can stay here and enter early the next morning.
The Danxia landform under the sun is colorful, forming a natural painting with the blue sky and white clouds.
(Because I was on my way, I only visited the No. 1 viewing platform and then left, and I will come back to enjoy it later)
Continue to move forward and head towards the Qilian Prairie.
If you have enough time here, it is recommended to arrange a day to walk and play.
Arrive at the top of Qilian Prairie, about 3800 meters.
The sky is gray, the wild is vast, and the wind blows the grass and the cattle and sheep are low.
In addition to the beautiful scenery along the way, there are all kinds of joy. As the director of life, toss the day into the way you want~
Here are two more difficult ones, haha
There were 20+ people in the same group. During the period, some people experienced some discomfort due to altitude, diet, etc., but none of them (including 2 aunts in their 70s), we ended the trip smoothly and happily.
This line is really beautiful. If you have enough time, the suggested itinerary is as follows
Day 1: Chengdu-Xining Railway Station (or plane, self-driving)
Day 2: Xining Railway Station - Qinghai Lake
Day 3: Qinghai Lake (at least 1 day)
Day 4: Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake - Delingha
Day 5: Delingha - Dunhuang
Day 6: Dunhuang - Yadan Devil City - Yumen Pass - Dunhuang
Day 7: Dunhuang Crescent Lake - Mogao Grottoes
Day 8: Dunhuang-Jiayuguan
Day 9: Jiayuguan-Zhangye-Danxia
Day 10: Danxia-Qilian Prairie
Day 11: Qilian Prairie - Xining Railway Station
Day 12: Xining Railway Station - Chengdu (or plane, self-driving)
We will be back~
