Gansu is a place where snow leopards run wild and the mountains are dangerous and the water is beautiful, but you have never heard of it.

Since the outbreak of the new coronavirus, people have become more at ease and stay at home. However, animals have gone berserk, and footprints of various wild animals frequently appear on urban streets.

It is indeed novel for a starved weasel to run into the street and beg for food. But in China's Gansu Province, people are not surprised. In recent years, Gansu's natural environment has continued to improve. Rare wild animals such as roe deer, lynx, wolves, and argali are roaming everywhere, confirming the saying that Gansu people never go to zoos to see animals.

Look at this sika deer wandering around the streets of Diebu County, just like in his own backyard. He doesn't know whether he will be paid to eat in a restaurant.

Speaking of this, the editor reminds me of a more precious lens. In March, animal protection staff used an infrared camera to capture very heartwarming images. A female snow leopard and her three cubs walked slowly by, looking like an auspicious and happy family... This "cute" scene happened in the Qilian Mountains of Aksai County, Gansu Province.

Everyone has heard of the Qilian Mountains, but most people may not be very familiar with Aksai. Aksei Kazakh Autonomous County is located at the junction of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang, and belongs to Jiuquan, Gansu. Although the place name is a bit convoluted, everyone must be familiar with the movies filmed here, such as Zhang Yimou's "Hero", Jackie Chan's "The Lion", etc.

Since movies and snow leopards can be filmed, Aksai County must be a niche self-driving tourist destination full of treasures. Next, take a look at the good places to visit that the editor has compiled for you, I guarantee your satisfaction!

1. Sugan Lake

Sugan Lake consists of two parts: Big Sugan Lake and Little Sugan Lake. Big Sugan Lake is a saltwater lake, and Little Sugan Lake is a freshwater lake. They are only more than 20 kilometers apart. Seeing this, you may ask, why are the two lakes so close to each other but the water is different? There is a touching legend circulating here.

A long time ago, a devil came to Haizi Grassland who specialized in eating the cattle and sheep of herdsmen. There is a man named Altin who wants to fight the devil to save the herdsmen. Before the duel, two sisters named Su Gan respectively expressed their love for Altin. Both of them expressed their intention to meet him after Altin returns victoriously. Get married.

Later, Altyn killed the devil, but he also sacrificed himself and turned into a mountain to suppress the devil. This mountain is now the Altyn Mountain. After the devil was killed, the two Sugan sisters waited hard for Altin's return. The elder sister knew that Altin would not come back, so she shed tears sadly. The tears turned into the Great Sugan Lake. Since the Great Sugan Lake was formed from tears, so The lake water is salt water; but the younger sister only thought that Altin would come back to marry her, and her heart was filled with sweet hope. Later, the younger sister turned into a small Sugan Lake, and the lake water was sweet.

Nowadays, when you travel to Aksai, you can still see the Altun Mountain standing on the Haizi Grassland, guarding the Haizi Grassland like a patron saint. The large and small Sugan Lakes are embedded in the Haizi Grassland, seeming to be telling people That distant story.

The Big and Little Sugan Lakes are currently free scenic spots. The editor recommends driving there. Be careful when driving as there are many swamps on both sides of the road. In addition, you can see many flying birds on this road. Remember to drive carefully while watching birds ~

2. Dang Jinshan

Not long after leaving Sugan Lake, you can enter Dangjin Mountain, which borders the Altyn Mountains to the west, the Qilian Mountains to the north, and faces the Kunlun Mountains. The majestic mountains are the only way to enter the Qaidam Basin. After crossing the 3800-meter Dangjin Pass, you will enter Qinghai.

In ancient times when camels were ringing, Jinshan Mountain was once an important mountain pass on the Silk Road leading to Qinghai-Tibet. Some people say that only those who have walked through Dangjin Mountain are qualified to say that they have been to the roof of the world - the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Because only by crossing such a pass can we truly feel the charm of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The editor reminds all friends that the winding road in Jinshan has very big curves, especially the large continuous S-bend at the top of the mountain. The curve is sharp and steep, and there are high slope protections on both sides. It is like an underground magnified many times. The entrance to the garage is a bit dangerous but also a bit exciting. Self-driving friends should pay attention to safety ~ Of course, the most anticipated activity when passing by here is taking photos. It is really interesting to take photos on the road. There are few people and cars here, so you can go there If you have a concave shape, the photographer will suffer~

As a friendly reminder, when driving in Dangjin Mountain, you will see many wild camels on the road, which is also a sight on the road, but be careful not to disturb them to avoid unnecessary trouble and danger.

3. Kazakh Ethnic Customs Park

Aksai is the only ethnic minority autonomous county in Gansu that is dominated by Kazakhs, with a population of more than 10,000, of which Kazakhs account for 36% of the total population. You don’t have to go to Xinjiang, you can experience the rich Kazakh characteristics in the Kazakh Ethnic Customs Park.

The style garden here is equivalent to a park, and the yurt with Kazakh characteristics is worth learning more about. The yurt is commonly known locally as the "Prairie White House" and is famous for being easy to build and dismantle, and adapting to the nomadic life during transition. People who don’t know will think that this is a yurt. In fact, there is a difference between a yurt and a yurt. The one with a spherical top is a yurt, while the one with a conical top is a Kazakh yurt.

yurt

yurt

There is also a racecourse here, and locals often hold competitions such as horse racing, camel racing, horse picking, wrestling, girl chasing, and yurt demolition and construction. In addition, you can also taste their ethnic specialties, such as milk tea, kumiss, yogurt, etc.

Visiting the Fengqing Garden can not only experience the fun of traveling, traveling, and entertainment, but you can also harvest various unique tourist souvenirs here, so that you can return home with a full load. They mainly include Kazakh folk handicrafts and local specialties. The handicrafts include Kazakh embroidered bags, sheep bone flutes, etc.; The local specialties include some Chinese herbal medicines such as snow lotus and Cynomorium cynomorium. In the Fengqing Garden, you can also take a look at the Kazakh Museum of Ethnology. Playing will not delay your knowledge, and it is very comfortable.

Kazakh embroidered bag

snow lotus

Kazakh Ethnographic Museum

4. Boluo Zhuanjing Town

This place was the original county seat of Aksai, and is now an abandoned town. The history of Boluo Zhuanjing is as confusing as the origin of its name. According to folklore, a Mongolian general named Bao Luo once stationed here, and Boluo Zhuanjing is the homophone of General Bao Luo.

It was very prosperous when it was first built in the 1980s, and all kinds of public facilities in the county were complete. However, just 20 years later, the town was abandoned and the entire county was relocated. The reason for the relocation was that the metal content in the local water source exceeded the legal limit.

former department store

The abandoned gas station is a landmark building here

Former grain station

Ruins and Jeeps

In 2015, the film "Nine-Storey Demon Tower" directed by Lu Chuan brought this abandoned town back into people's sight again. Here, you can also deeply feel the original Chinese urban style in the 1980s.

The famous filming location in "Nine-Story Demon Tower", the upside-down bus was built by the crew

Stills from "Nine-Storey Demon Tower"

This place used to be a theater, but later the theater was changed to the "Petroleum Club"

It is only 25 kilometers from Boluo Zhuanjing Town to Aksai, suitable for self-driving or chartering a car. Although Boluo Zhuanjing Town has been abandoned, tickets are still required to visit, and the ticket price is 20 yuan per person.

How about it? After reading so many introductions, have you already put Aksai on your next self-driving trip list? The lovely snow leopards, the stretching Qilian Mountains, the magnificent plateau lakes, the vast Gobi desert - this place is rich in natural resources and has a unique charm. I believe that everyone who comes here will gain a different story.