Staggering the huge crowds during the National Day holiday in 2019, I wanted to find a suitable place to play: few people, beautiful scenery, pleasant climate, and low cost... Various searches finally locked in southern Xinjiang, The first reason is that October is the best season to see the Populus euphratica forest in Luntai, and the temperature in the places along the way is higher than that of Xi'an, and it is not cold; the second is my unreal dream of Xinjiang: "The desert is solitary, the long river is full of sun" and the majestic Magnificent scenes come to mind from time to time; the purity and unyieldingness of towering snow-capped mountains and tall poplars always make people awe-inspiring; the inaccessible and mysterious Lop Nur and the ancient nation make people more fearful and extremely want to uncover Her mystery. So my husband and I set off.
The route we chose this time is: Xi'an-Korla-Kuqa-Aksu-Kashgar-Tashkurgan-Xi'an, mainly using public transportation, plus adding groups and chartered cars locally. Since it is a supplementary write-up of last year's travel notes, the expenses are not clearly recorded, and only the routes and travel methods are provided for the reference of independent travelers.
Day 1: Xi'an-Korla, the flight time is 3 hours and 30 minutes. The first time I set foot on the hot land of southern Xinjiang, I was nervous and excited. Because the itinerary did not go back, I hurriedly took photos at the airport to commemorate it. When I first arrived, I felt that everything was so mysterious. Even the voice of talking and asking for directions was whispered and trembling. There is a bus from the airport to the city, which seems to be 10 yuan per person. We booked Tianyuan Hotel, get off at the post office, across the road, very close to the Bazhou Museum and the railway station. I put down my luggage and asked the front desk where to eat barbecue. I found a small shop with naan pit meat, 4 yuan a skewer, and the meat is super big. If you go for the first time, you must first order 3-5 skewers, or you can’t finish it. There are not many people on the street, and the lights are not as bright as those in the mainland, so I have been walking and talking carefully, for fear of disturbing the mystery.
Day 2: Participate in a one-day tour of Rob people village + Taklamakan Desert + Tarim River. I walked around the hotel for a while and didn’t find too many tourist services, so I hurriedly booked a one-day tour on Ctrip one night (it was dark in Xinjiang, it seemed to be before 22:00), 136 yuan/person. The village of the Luobu people is 85 kilometers south of Korla. It is said that the Luobu people do not grow grains or herd livestock. They only feed on fishing in small boats. They are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Xinjiang. There are more than 20 original residents. It is a national 4A-level ecological sightseeing tour sights. The scenic spot is very large, not many tourists, so we have enough angles to enjoy the Tarim River and the Taklamakan Desert. There are shuttle buses and carriages driven by Uighur elderly people in the scenic spot. Personally, I suggest that there is no need to sit, stop and go, and then get in close contact. Going down the clear stream of the longest inland river and the heat of the largest desert, you can also see rows of camel caravans when you climb to the heights of the desert, which is very spectacular.
Day 3: Bazhou Museum, Korla-Kuqa
One of the original plans was to take a tourist bus to Bosten Lake. After some inquiries, they said that there is no car in the off-season. The second original plan was to go from Korla to Luntai Populus euphratica Forest, and then go to Kuqa, but the tour guide who joined the group yesterday said that the Luntai Populus euphratica forest should not be yellow, and it should be similar to the scenery seen in the Luobu village. I called the scenic spot for consultation and said Indeed, so I gave up decisively. Today's itinerary is to participate in the Bazhou Museum in the morning. The visit time is 0.5 days and it is free to open. It mainly includes the Bazhou Exhibition Hall, the Loulan Exhibition Hall and the Donggui History Exhibition Hall. She is not very fluent, but it is still very touching to see her working hard. I'm not interested in history, so I bought two silk scarves "Five Stars Out of the East and Benefiting China". This cultural relic is of great significance, and you can pay attention to it. At the end of the visit, walk to the hotel, then pull the suitcase and still choose to walk to the train station, it will only take 30 minutes, and visit while walking. It takes two and a half hours to Kuqa, and the fare is 43.5 yuan. There are many taxis out of the train station, just find the one you think is good for you. We happened to carpool with a young policeman from Hanzhong who aided Xinjiang. It costs 10 yuan to go to the Kuqa Hotel. garden. I usually choose a hotel named after the local place name when the cost performance is similar. I feel that it can better represent the local cultural characteristics. Go out of the hotel and turn left and walk for ten minutes to find Xinjiang cuisine, 'Axim'. The name is the same as the surrounding dishes, and it is very exotic.
Day 4: Kuqa Grand Canyon - Kizil Grottoes, Kuqa - Aksu.
Had a good chat with the taxi guy who took us from the train station to the hotel yesterday, so I asked for a phone. I learned about it at the hotel last night, and felt that chartered car is the best choice, so I quickly contacted him. It happened that there was a person who carpooled with us, so we charged us 460 yuan. There are two scenic spots: Kuqa (Tianshan) Grand Canyon and Kizil Grottoes. The guy who drove us today is the cousin of the guy from yesterday, and he is also a very polite, quiet but enthusiastic little guy. He first took us to the ancient city of Kucha to take pictures, and then bought a naan that was as big as a straw hat for 4 yuan, which is so cheap that people can't bear it. Then go straight to the Grand Canyon, passing through the end of the Duku Highway to take pictures as souvenirs. There are red rock masses everywhere on the road. Before arriving at the Grand Canyon, I have already seen the uncanny craftsmanship of nature. It takes 2-3 hours to visit the Grand Canyon. There is no shuttle bus and you have to walk. The scenic roads are not very easy to walk. There are a few sections where you have to wade in the water. Walking at the bottom of the valley and looking up at the sky, you can’t help but sigh that God is really fair. He gave Xinjiang The desert, the Gobi, but compensated for such a spectacular view. It is strongly recommended that you do not go to the Kizil Grottoes. Although the chartered car master mentioned that there is nothing to see there, I read good reviews from the Internet and decided to go. The drive will take more than an hour. There were a lot of people lined up at the entrance of the scenic spot, and it took an hour or two to line up, draw numbers, register, and enter the cave in sections. As a result, there was nothing in the grotto. The Buddha statue was either stolen or destroyed, leaving only a hole. I was witty and didn’t go in. After getting on the bus, I asked him why he said that it must be hypocritical to delay the time. Thinking about it, it is not as strict as visiting the famous Mogao Grottoes and Maiji Mountain. Fortunately, I saw poplar trees that I particularly liked in the scenic area, and it was a worthwhile trip. In fact, I prefer the vast road scenery in the Northwest.
Take the train to Aksu in the evening, the journey takes 2 hours and costs 40.5 yuan.
Day 5: Downtown Aksu, Aksu-Kashgar
My good friend of more than 30 years was born in Aksu. She has fair skin and is good at singing and dancing. Therefore, Aksu has pinned my infinite yearning, so I decided to take a temporary route. It may be that the economy of Aksu City is relatively developed, so there are mostly Han Chinese, which is similar to that of inland cities. We live in the Taibai Branch of the Yangtze River City Chain Hotel, which is in the city center (try to choose a city center hotel for independent travel). Although the hotel facilities are old, there is breakfast , When you arrive at the store in the evening, an aunt will bring you free hot water to soak your feet. The train to Kashgar is in the afternoon today, so after breakfast we checked out and took our suitcases and walked along the relatively bustling streets in the urban area. We had a meal at Tianshan Department Store at noon, and then took the bus directly to the train station. 6 hours to Kashgar, 69 yuan. There are many taxis after leaving the station. It is best not to take the kind that actively solicits customers.
Day 6: Kashgar Ancient City, Xiangfei Tomb
The remote Kashgar is actually very safe. There are police cars patrolling the streets at any time. The compatriots of all ethnic groups are very friendly. The sink in the hotel where we stayed was leaking. The maintenance staff is a young man from a minority with big eyes. The appearance is really impressive. Our goal today is to wander around the ancient city of Kashgar and the Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine. There is no specific route planned, and we can walk as we please, eat and drink as we please. The full name of the ancient city of Kashgar is the ancient city of Kashgar, a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, without tickets, the main attractions are the Id Kah Mosque, the Xiangfei Tomb, Gaotai folk houses, etc. There are dance performances such as entering the city at the main entrance of the ancient city every day. At that time, you can inquire about the specific time to watch. The mosque is the core of the ancient city and is a building with a long history. The alleys in the ancient city extend in all directions. It feels like you will never end but you will never get lost. You can see children playing and kind old people everywhere in the alleys. There are high khaki walls and flowers of various colors outside the windows on the corners of the streets. The old woman in the apron, I can't help but feel hot in my eyes, and I have a feeling of time stagnation, maybe this is nostalgia. Gaotai folk houses are places where Uighurs have lived for generations. They have become dilapidated houses and are now unoccupied. They are closed for renovation. There is a small kiosk at the main entrance of the ancient city where you can buy tickets for the Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine. There is a free bus to send it there but you have to wait (in fact, there are also buses), and there are buses on the return journey.
Seventh - eighth day: Pamirs - Taxkorgan two-day tour
If you plan to go to Taxian County (remember not Tacheng), you must get a border defense certificate at the Hongqirab port. It is best to get it at the police station where your household registration is located before leaving. It is free, and it seems that you can also get it in Kashgar. The original plan was to have an in-depth experience of taking public transportation or hitchhiking. After learning about the inconvenience of public transportation, hitchhiking is a matter of luck, so in the end we chose to participate in a local two-day tour. Facts have proved that playing with a group is the most time-saving, labor-saving and money-saving. The group fee is about 450 yuan, without meals, and you can visit every scenic spot. There is plenty of time and there are no shopping spots. The round-trip fare is 300 yuan, and the accommodation costs 200-300 yuan. Some scenic spots are far from the main road, and you can’t go there without a car. The attractions of this itinerary include Karakoram Pass, Baisha Mountain, Baisha Lake, the Pearl of the Pamirs - Karakul Lake, Muztagh Peak, Gongger Peak, Stone City Ruins and Golden Grass Beach, Taheman wetlands etc. The Pamirs are high in altitude, so don’t exercise too much if you have altitude sickness occasionally. You can prepare some snacks before departure. There is basically no place to eat on the road. The place where we passed Baisha Lake on the first day was clear and clear, but the second day when we passed by it was snowy. , It is particularly dazzling in the sun. If you are lucky, you can see the wonderful performances of Tajik boys and girls in Stone City Ruins Park. There are not many places to eat in Taxian County. The tour guide took us to eat together. The shop is not big. It’s too cold. We all eat noodles. I don't want to buy more. The Khunjerab port was not open, but it was not possible to go, but thinking about being able to actually set foot on the Pamirs and Kunlun Mountains~~~Thinking about it makes my blood boil, and it is worth it.
Day 9: Successfully complete the trip to southern Xinjiang, Kashgar-Xi'an, 4 hours flight.
