Since the age of 25, and because of work, I have been to many countries, cities, small towns, and villages one after another. One person, two people, a group of people. But I never settled down to finish writing a travel note, even later, I became lazy, and even omitted the strategy before departure, traveling casually and calmly, at this time, I laughed and felt a little embarrassed.


In the morning, I joked with my best friend that if I didn’t have a 9-to-5 job, I might be a backpacker. So, for this little dream that may be unrealistic, let’s write the first travel note. After all, you have to save some popularity and travel expenses for backpackers, hahaha~



Many years ago, I saw my friends posting self-driving photos of Qinghai in Moments, and I was envious! So there has always been a plan but no action. Although I often travel around alone, I have also driven by myself in the west of the United States and New Zealand around the island, etc., but the self-driving experience is limited to surrounding tours in China, but the whole journey of Daqinggan is more than 3,000 kilometers. The driving habits of Chinese people, to be honest, are still Some worried. I don’t know when I chatted with my best friend and wanted to go to Daqinggan for a self-drive, so it hit it off.

(Photographed in Zhangye Colorful Danxia, ​​best friend of 20+ years)


Colleagues said that Daqinggan is more beautiful in July and August, but it is famous for its high temperature in the west. It is not because I am afraid of the dark, but I really don’t want to stay in the desert or outdoors when the temperature is 40 degrees. It is dry and dry. I can't stand it. Isn’t the crisp and crisp October fragrant? Although it will be a bit cold in “Golden Autumn” October, the golden Populus euphratica forests will also be beautiful.

(Photographed in Populus euphratica Park, Jinta County)


I made a rough itinerary after referring to other people’s travel notes and strategies. Oops, it’s probably not an itinerary. I just decided on the route and the hotel. I also considered that the National Day hotel is relatively tight and expensive, so I made a reservation first. Really will go one stop and book one stop. In fact, I prefer the latter, and I can stay longer in places I like.

(The picture above is a reference picture that I saw inadvertently)


October 4th - October 12th

Originally scheduled for 11 days, it was shortened to 9 days due to the price of National Day air tickets.

Outbound: 9:20-12:30, 9C6833, Shanghai Hongqiao T1-Xining Caojiabao T2

Return: 11:30-14:30, HO1280, Xining Caojiabao T2-Shanghai Pudong T2

10.4 Shanghai-Xining

10.5 Xining-Zhangye

10.6 Zhangye-Dunhuang

10.7 Dunhuang

10.8 Dunhuang-Dachaidan

10.9 Dachaidan-Delingha

10.10 Delingha-Qinghai Lake

10.11 Qinghai Lake - Xining

10.12 Xining-Shanghai

At the beginning of September, I just booked the above daily accommodation and rented a car on Ctrip

But I don't know where it will go, let's talk about it when everything is here...

(Taken at Shanghai Hongqiao T1, there were not many people on National Day)


October 4th Day 1

Shanghai - Xining

I made an appointment with my best friend to meet at the airport around 7:30 in the morning. Considering the severity of the epidemic, it was relatively early to be safe. The good thing about an early flight is that it is not easy to be delayed, unless it is in an extremely bad situation, so it took off on time at 9.20 and landed on time, which is great. It was about 1 pm after picking up the itinerary luggage, and lunch was settled at the airport. I have to say , Northwest's pasta is delicious, even in airport restaurants.

(Taken at the Caojiabao T2 airport restaurant in Xining, the landing was cloudy and the temperature dropped)


It is very convenient to pick up the car at the airport parking lot. The procedures for picking up the car are also very simple. You have to show your driver's license and keep the file. The car rental company will give you a driving license and keys. After explaining some precautions, you can take the car with full fuel and return the car with full fuel. The only dissatisfaction is that we originally ordered a Volkswagen Lavida, but it turned out to be a Toyota Ralink, which is so small. The staff explained that the car we ordered had an accident the day before, and the Toyota is a new car and is very fuel-efficient. , the price/performance ratio is really high. In desperation, we can only accept it. Fortunately, there are only two of us and we don't have much luggage.


Considering the problem of time, we only stayed in Xining for half a day, and went to the place that two people are interested in at the same time: Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum!


For the detailed introduction of the Tibetan Culture Museum, interested friends can ask Du Niang, who is definitely more professional than me.

It is divided into two museums in total, one goes to the Tibetan Culture Museum after me, and the other is the Tibetan Medicine Culture Museum (too late to see it). If you look carefully and slowly, it is estimated that it will take at least half a day.


Let’s talk about the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum. From the 27-year-old 618-meter-high painting of Tibetan Buddhism, to the full library of scriptures, to the watering skills of the Buddha, many exhibits are indeed shocking. I don't know much about Tibetan Buddhism, so I can only look at it superficially, which is a bit embarrassing.


(For some reason, the photo of the 600+ meter Tibetan Buddhist Painted Grand View can’t be uploaded. Alas, give up. Friends who really want to see the photo can go to DP to see it, and many friends have shared it)


(Sutra Pavilion)

(Pouring Buddha image)

(The rubbing mold at that time)

(crafts)

(metal craft)

(Tibetan clothes, there are many types, this set is what I like, so remember it)


First night stay: Mehood Hotel (Xining Haihu New District)

It was already evening when we came out of the Tibetan Culture Museum. My best friend and I chose to go directly to the hotel to check in. Mehood Hotel (Xining Haihu New District) is located in the city center and there are many shopping malls around, such as Wanda Plaza, Tangdao 637 and Various restaurants, this is very friendly for us who are in Xining for the first time. In particular, I would like to praise the hotel staff. The temperature just dropped when we landed in Xining, and we were too hungry, so our stomach hurt for a long time. The hotel staff immediately prepared ginger tea for us to drive away the cold. It really warmed our hearts, and it was especially special at night. Stewed pears and other fruits prepared with rock sugar make me feel at home.


I learned a lot of local delicacies from colleagues in Xining. For example, the familiar hand-caught mutton can be eaten in Qinghai and Gansu; another example is lamb chops in kang pot and Qinghai local hot pot. I am particularly interested in Qinghai local hot pot, and I have heard it mentioned by others. So I found a small restaurant near the hotel.

(Qinghai local hot pot)

In the earliest days, this was the hot pot that ordinary people ate at home. The pure beef soup base contained meatballs, beef, pork belly, quail eggs, radishes, Chinese cabbage, old tofu, bean curd, black fungus, mushrooms, etc. Pure taste! And it's really affordable. We ordered a set meal, a pot, a pancake, and two gaiwan tea, and the total was only 118 yuan.


(Local specialty dim sum, dog burning urine, delicious both hot and cold)


(Gaiwancha, the locals seem to like to drink this, hot pot with Gaiwancha, absolutely!)