August 6th, the 27th day of the trip. It’s my husband’s birthday today. I thought that this year’s birthday would be spent eating a bowl of instant noodles in a service area of ​​the expressway. The staff at the Dalongchi Epidemic Prevention Inspection Station once said that we might not be able to get off the expressway, so we had to drive all the way back. Home.

      After washing in the Kuqa service area, eat something, and drive towards Korla, which is the only way to return. The scene in front of me was no longer an oasis, it was desolate, it was all gray, the weather was dry, windy, and hot. Don't rush on the road, stop and rest when there is a service area.

       When I was driving, my husband said, how do I know if Korla allows the highway if I don’t ask? Are you allowed to stay in a hotel? I randomly searched a hotel in Korla from the Internet, called to ask if people with a history of living in Ili can stay, and informed that Korla City designated two hotels to accommodate people with a history of epidemic areas. I was very excited and decided to live in Korla City rest. Korla's approach is really heart-warming for us foreign tourists, and I like Korla. After getting off the expressway, I thought there would be an epidemic prevention checkpoint and told us what to do, but there was no result, because I didn’t know the local epidemic prevention policy, so I didn’t dare to continue driving in. I stopped at a convenient police station and wanted to ask our kind What to do in the situation does not violate the epidemic prevention regulations, and I have not figured it out. So I called one of the two designated hotels to inform us of the situation, and replied that we could check in. We drove to Ruixin Holiday Hotel and asked the front desk of the hotel what requirements we had for checking in. Check in at the hotel at 2:00 pm, you can have a good rest.

      "Korla" means "overlook" in Uighur, and is also known as "Pear City" because of its rich "Korla Fragrant Pears", which are well-known both at home and abroad. It is the capital of Bayingoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. The largest city in southern Xinjiang, there is also a saying that Korla is the second largest city in Xinjiang. 

       When I went out for dinner at night, I saw many cars outside Xinjiang parked in front of the hotel. I wanted to find a similar restaurant to eat, so I walked around the hotel, but I didn't see a suitable restaurant. Walking around, I saw a Pinguan Luhua chicken restaurant. The storefront was very clean and there were many people eating. I went in and ordered a large plate of chicken, grilled lamb chops, naan pit meat, rapeseed mushrooms, beer and noodles, and I gave it to my husband. special birthday. 

       I went back to the hotel and waited until 11 o'clock to do the nucleic acid. Plan to rest another day in Korla.

       On August 7, the 28th day of the trip, rest at the hotel in the morning.

       After having a buffet in the hotel in the morning, I asked the foreman at the front desk of the hotel, what are the requirements for epidemic prevention? The answer: It is to do nucleic acid every day. Q: We want to visit Bosten Lake, is that possible? Answer: Of course, there is no restriction on going out. The epidemic prevention policy here is still very humane, and you can travel freely when you stay in a hotel. I would like to express my gratitude again to Korla City for its approach.

      Bosten Lake means "oasis" in Uygur language. It is located in Bohu County, southeast of Yanqi Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is the largest inland freshwater huff and puff lake in China. Korla and Bosten Lake are also in the itinerary plan, but the original plan is to take the desert road from southern Xinjiang to Korla, and then visit Bosten Lake. 

      I set off to Bosten Lake at noon. I was in a good mood all the way. I felt like I made money by seeing one more scenic spot. But when I went to the Bohu County epidemic prevention checkpoint, I was persuaded to return. Those who had a history of living in Yili had to be quarantined for 7 days in Bohu County and could only return. There are still differences in the specific implementation of epidemic prevention policies.

    

      At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I took a taxi to the Bazhou Museum. I needed to make an appointment in advance, but I didn't see it. Then take a taxi to the city center, take a walk along the view of the Kongque River for a while, and then take a taxi back to the hotel.

      I don't know if I can get off the expressway when I go back tomorrow, so I take a taxi to a big supermarket closest to the hotel to buy something to eat on the way, and I also want to buy some Xinjiang specialties to take back. Next to the supermarket is a food stall. If you want to go in to eat, you are not allowed to enter because of the history of living in Ili. There is a dried fruit shop next to it. You buy beef jerky, raisins, and dried apricots. After shopping, you put them in the hotel and go to the restaurant where you ate yesterday .

       Go back to the hotel and discuss how to go tomorrow. At the beginning, I still thought about walking the desert kilometer, staying in Ruoqiang for one night, and then going to Mangya, Qinghai. First, I didn’t take the desert road when I went to Xinjiang this time. Second, I didn’t go to Mangya to see Aiken Spring in the northwest tour in 2020. Qinghai out of Xinjiang is also the route of our itinerary plan. I called the hotels in these two places and replied that as long as I can get here, I can stay here. The implication is that I must be able to pass the epidemic prevention checkpoint. I really didn't dare to take risks, so I decided to take the high speed out of Xinjiang tomorrow, and the worst would be the high speed.

       On August 8, the 29th day of the trip, it can be regarded as the official return trip. Do the nucleic acid test before departure, otherwise you may not be able to go out. Depart at 10 o'clock and continue to walk on dirt and high speed. The high speed basically runs through the mountains, except for the mountains, the speed limit is 80, and there are too many trucks on the road. After passing the Ushtara service area, there is no service area. There is a parking lot along the way. There are no facilities, so you can only park until Only Tucson has a service area.

       The journey is far away, and I thought it would be best to stay along the way. When resting in the service area halfway, I called the hotel I stayed in Turpan when I entered Xinjiang and asked if I could check in. The reply was that I could check in if I had a nucleic acid test within 24 hours, but I could only stay for one night. Another surprise for us, decided to live in Turpan. Once again, I experienced the heat of Turpan, the temperature reached about 45 degrees, and the evening wind was hot. There is already an epidemic in Hami, and it is planned to cross Hami directly to Guazhou, Gansu tomorrow.

       On August 9th, the 30th day of the trip and the second day of the return trip from Xinjiang. In the morning, finish the nucleic acid test near the hotel and leave at 9:30. Today's high-speed running is easier than yesterday, and the road is relatively flat, but it is also full of desolation. Most of the cars running on the road are from outside Xinjiang, and they are rushing out of Xinjiang. I also saw many large trucks pulling small cars with foreign license plates. The husband said that some tourists felt that long-distance driving was too tiring. This way of playing is also good. But the cars seen on the road may be related to the epidemic.

       

    Arrive at Xingxing Gorge at 5:30 in the afternoon, and leave Xinjiang after passing Xingxing Gorge.

      Xingxing Gorge is not a canyon, but a pass. It is the only place to pass through from the Hexi Corridor to the Eastern Xinjiang. It is known as the "first throat town" in the east gate of Xinjiang. Xingxing Gorge is a dangerous pass on the ancient Silk Road, surrounded by mountains and mountains, and an S-shaped mountain road winds through it, with dangerous rocks and cliffs on both sides, which has the tendency of "one man guards the pass, and ten thousand men cannot open it". It is not only the dividing line between Xinjiang and Gansu, but also the watershed between two different cultural styles. The reason why it is called Xingxing Gorge is that it is said that the quartz stones are produced on the Xingxing Mountain. Whenever the moon is in the sky, the quartz stones on the mountain are shining like stars.

       After entering Gansu, call the hotel in Guazhou to inquire whether it is possible to stay, and reply that people from the medium and high-risk areas are not accepted, and plan to spend the night in the Guazhou service area. We arrived at the Guazhou service area at around 6:00 pm. Seeing that there were not many cars in the service area, we decided to continue our journey and rest at the Yumen service area. I feel a little out of place when I refuel in the service area of ​​Brungi and no longer use the ID card. Arrive at the Yumen service area after 9:00 p.m. The service area was full of outbound cars. Looking at the mobile phone on the way, I knew that there were epidemics in Turpan and Korla. I felt very lucky and left one step ahead of time.

       On August 10th, the 31st day of travel and the third day of return. Depart at 8:00 am and continue on our way. In the Jiuquan service area, I called the hotel in Jiuquan to ask if I could stay. The answer was no, because there was an epidemic in Jiayuguan at that time. Afraid that the nucleic acid will exceed 48 hours, ask the staff in the service area, and they say that there is a nucleic acid test when you get off the expressway. Do the nucleic acid first, and after leaving the expressway, give the ID card and driver's license to the on-duty personnel, and get back the certificate when the nucleic acid is completed and then get on the expressway. Today, I take Lianhuo Expressway to Pingwu Expressway. There are fewer cars outside Xinjiang than yesterday. There are a lot of trucks on Lianhuo Expressway, and they keep overtaking. It is very dangerous. Turning to Pingwu Expressway is much better. I arrived at the Jingtai service area at 6:00 p.m., and I dared not go any further. The next service area was still 170 kilometers away, and I couldn’t make it before dark. There are not many cars staying overnight in the Jingtai service area.

  

      There is also a restaurant open in the Jingtai service area, and I went in to have some hot meals. It is still 1,300 kilometers away from home, and it is expected to arrive home the day after tomorrow. It's hot at night, and it's hot in the car, so I can't rest well.

       On August 11th, the 32nd day of travel and the fourth day of return, continue on the road. Depart at 7:00 am and arrive at the Zhongwei service area at 8:50. There is no service area in the middle of this section of the road, and there is a parking lot on the side of the road. Crossed Ningxia at 11:08 in the morning, entered Dingbian, Shaanxi, had a buffet in the Dingbian service area, and arrived at the Zizhou service area at 2:40 in the afternoon (I stayed in Zizhou County for one night when traveling northwest in 2020 ), when I arrived at Luliang City at 4:50 p.m., the road construction on the expressway caused a traffic jam, which was directly blocked for an hour. Hei, asked the staff and learned that the next service area was the Pingyao South service area, so we decided to rush to where to rest. Arrive at Pingyao South service area at 8:15 in the evening. It had just rained here, and the weather was hot and stuffy, and we were the only ones with a small car to spend the night here. I drove more than 800 kilometers that day, across Ningxia and Shaanxi, and got closer to home. The epidemic situation in Xinjiang is getting worse and worse. Fortunately, I have no illusions, otherwise it is really hard to say what the situation is now.

     After entering Shaanxi, it may have just rained. On the high loess slopes on both sides of the expressway, the vegetation is lush and beautiful.

       August 12th, the 33rd day of travel and the fifth day of return. Continue on the road, and I will be home in one day. The Yili in the itinerary code is gone, I am very happy.    

       Depart at 6 in the morning, first go through a 10-kilometer-long tunnel, and then walk into Taihang Mountain again. After exiting the tunnel, there will be heavy fog, sometimes big and sometimes small. Some. Not long after passing the Zuoquan service area, I entered Xingtai, Hebei. When I was resting in the service area, I obviously felt hot and stuffy, like a sauna day, and I was sweating when I got out of the car. Arrived at the Linxi service area at 11:18 in the morning, passed through this service area and entered Shandong, getting closer and closer to home.

      Arrive at the Jinan East service area at 1:30 p.m., and buy a hamburger here as a reward. Go east along the two-way eight-lane Qingyin Expressway. Get off the expressway at Weifangkou at 3:30 p.m. and undergo epidemic prevention inspections. We have reported 3 days in advance. First do the registration, and then be accompanied by the staff to do the nucleic acid (we requested it ourselves), and then the staff will send us home. The 33-day trip to Xinjiang came to an end.  

      After returning home, I followed the epidemic prevention regulations, checked twice in three days, and consciously quarantined at home for seven days.

       This self-driving tour lasted 33 days and traveled through 7 provinces including Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi. The journey was about 13,000 kilometers and the cost was about 24,800 yuan. Among them, the accommodation fee was 6,000 yuan (the accommodation fee before Urumqi) Paid by friends), gasoline fee 8,000 yuan, road and bridge toll 3,300 yuan (of which Xinjiang road and bridge toll is about 900 yuan), scenic spot fee 3,650 yuan (wing card and half-ticket for the elderly save part of the fee), eating and shopping 3,850 yuan. On the way to Xinjiang, we visited the Dajingmen Section of the Great Wall National Cultural Park and Grassland Tianlu in Zhangjiakou, Dazhao Temple and Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, Meidaizhao in Baotou, and Ejina Banner in Alxa League. After entering Xinjiang, the scenic spots in northern Xinjiang are basically gone, Hami melon garden, museum, King Hami Hui's tomb, Hami Prince's Mansion in Hami City, Huoyan Mountain, Grape Valley, Karez Folk Garden in Turpan City, Tianshan Grand Canyon in Urumqi City, Red Mountain Park, International Grand Bazaar, Xinjiang People's Theater, Tianshan Tianchi in Fukang City, Keketuohai (No. 3 Mine, Irtysh Grand Canyon) in Fuyun County, Altay Prefecture, Colorful Beach in Burqin County, Russian Style Street , Kanas, Hemu, Urho World Devil City, Heiyou Mountain, Dushanzi Grand Canyon in Karamay City, Anjihai Grand Canyon in Wusu City, Tacheng Prefecture, and Saiyan City in Bole City, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. Limu Lake, Horgos Port in Horgos City, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Huiyuan Ancient City in Huocheng County, Kazanqi Folk Village in Yining City, Liuxing Street, Impression Lighthouse in Zhaosu County - Red Small Town, Xiata, Qiongkushitai, Kalajun, Taijitan in Tekes County, Baili Gallery in Tangbula Grassland in Nileke County, Nalati in Xinyuan County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture and Bayinbulak in Jingxian County took the Duku Highway three times, basically walking the entire distance.

       If you don't go to Xinjiang, you don't know the beauty of Xinjiang; if you don't go to Xinjiang, you don't know the size of Xinjiang. For those who go to Xinjiang from the mainland, Xinjiang is full of beautiful scenery, but the tourist attractions are far apart, and it often takes hundreds of kilometers to go to one place. The beauty of Xinjiang is a magnificent beauty, the vast Gobi, vast grasslands, high mountains and canyons, snow-capped mountains and lakes, rough and warm. Xinjiang also has an idyllic beauty and unique style, with green grass, winding rivers, herds of cattle and sheep, and smoke from wooden houses, making it peaceful and warm. The photos in the travel notes are taken from mobile phones, sports cameras, and driving recorders. Except for a few photos that have been retouched to adjust the angle, the others have not been retouched.

       For this self-driving trip, the preparations were quite sufficient, and I bought a roof luggage specially. Our perception of the weather in Xinjiang is greatly influenced by the phrase "wear leather jackets in the morning and gauze in the afternoon, and eat watermelon by the stove". The travel guides on the Internet also remind Xinjiang that the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so we should bring thick clothes. So I prepared a lot of clothes, and I brought all the winter coats. In fact, only Altay has a lower temperature, and it is a bit cold to wear unlined clothes at night. The other places we went to were very hot, and a long-sleeved summer dress was enough (the long sleeves are mainly for sun protection), so the autumn and winter clothes we prepared were basically unchanged.

         The distance is long, and it is not easy to go to Xinjiang. Because of the rain, the Yizhao Kilometer, known as the "Little Duku" in Yili, was not completed; because of the epidemic, the trip to southern Xinjiang came to an abrupt end, leaving some regrets. But we are lucky. When I finished my travel notes in November, there were still some people who failed to get out of Xinjiang. Just because of regret, it also gave us a reason to go to Xinjiang again, looking forward to the next trip to Xinjiang.