Men’s Group—Journey to the West

On July 2, the first company tour group of the City Surveyor Company in 2020 started. For the 10 group members who are all male compatriots, this is how we understand it: First of all, most of the 6-day and 5-night trip in Northwest China was spent driving on the road. The so-called "scenery is all on the road". Men are more attractive. Secondly, from Xining to Dunhuang, the highest altitude is 3850 meters and the lowest altitude is 1200 meters. Constant climbing and downhill, and frequent altitude changes are extremely challenging for the body (practice has proven that even men have not experienced frequent changes in high altitudes and high drops) , the body cannot bear it).

In addition to the saltwater lakes and freshwater lakes with different scenery, the diverse landforms of Qinghai and Gansu are also fascinating. Mountains, hills, Gobi, Yadan, desert, and desert all show the masculine beauty, and complement the feminine beauty of the salt lake system, forming the unique scenery of the Northwest. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go and see it together!

Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

Internet celebrity place - those surprises inside and outside the list

After landing in Xining, got on two GL8s and drove to our first destination - Qinghai Lake. Seeing large swaths of rapeseed flowers from a distance made us yearn for this 5A-level scenic spot even more. However, after entering the scenic spot, except for a few artificial wedding photo shooting sets, there is nothing else to show. Perhaps the so-called 5A-level scenic spot in Qinghai Lake is the five big rocks scattered everywhere for people to take pictures.

Fortunately, the Chaka Salt Lake on the second day satisfied all our imaginations about the lake. At 6:30 in the morning, facing the rising sun and cold wind, riding on a small train with real railway tracks, we headed towards the center of the lake lightly packed (actually, we felt light and hungry as we had not eaten breakfast).

As the first guests of the scenic spot, we not only enjoyed the special train treatment of the small train, but also truly experienced what the "mirror of the sky" is. Wearing shoe covers like big water boots, we carefully stepped into the lake and walked towards the center of the lake. Stand quietly and feel the integration of sky, earth, people and shadows. Of course, don’t forget to ask your friends on the shore to take more photos.

If Chaka Salt Lake gives us the beauty of a mirror that reflects the heaven and earth, then Dongtai Jinai Lake, the internet celebrity check-in spot on the third day, conquered us with the pure color of the lake. Due to the extremely high salt content of the lake water, it presents a charming green color - the life-green color of the lake water without any life makes everyone have the urge to jump in. Of course, years of wise and calm professionalism has allowed our rationality to control our impulses. Let’s use a drone to record these beautiful scenery from high altitude!

Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

The Northwest not only has fantastic and alluring natural scenery, but also has a long history of humanities. Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, as the last stop of this trip, allowed us to once again experience the profound heritage of Chinese civilization. In 4 hours, from watching the digital movie at 8:50 to the end of the Mogao Grottoes tour guide introduction at 12:50, we were amazed by the rich and colorful cultural content displayed in the clay sculpture murals that have been preserved for thousands of years. A hundred years ago, the foreign powers wantonly plundered the treasures of scriptures and were angry. Facing the knowledgeable explainer, I instantly became a hundred thousand children who knew why, from the origin of the sutra-changing images of the Mogao Grottoes to why aluminum alloy doors and windows should be installed, from the strategies for restoration and protection of cultural relics to the discovery of the Sutra Pavilion. The merits and demerits of the person. Through questions and answers, a more colorful history of Mogao Grottoes is revealed in front of us.

Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

Heart is flying - speed and passion in the Gobi

If you've seen "The Fast and the Furious," then you know how I'm feeling right now. What? Are you a fan of the "Fast and Furious" series, so what are you waiting for? In the endless desert and on a straight highway with no end in sight, a fleet of cars was running and running. When you press the accelerator pedal with your foot, you won't want to lift it up anymore. It's not just the adrenaline hormones that are soaring, but also ..., yes, what you are seeing is the scene from "Fast and Furious " , which is also our real experience on the Great Northwest Road.

Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

Driving on the road, you can see geothermal heat gushing out from the ground. The huge pressure pushes water vapor high into the sky, forming water mist dozens of meters high. Driving along the road, you will see cheerful lambs, calm camels, herds of yaks and lone hares. Driving on the road, you will encounter small sandstorms that quickly shrink your field of vision from 10 kilometers away to less than 5 meters. Speeding on the road, you will chase clouds, dodge thunder and lightning, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of sunrise in the east and rain in the west on both sides of the road. Driving on the road is the right way to start traveling in the Northwest...

Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

Buds of Taste - Wandering in the main theme of beef and mutton

Food is the most important thing for the people. This sentence is very appropriate to describe the hunger after a long journey. It doesn’t require too many combinations, just a bowl of steamed buns in yak soup can soothe the tiredness along the way. Of course, as a 5-star store rated by Dianping, garlic is indispensable. When I sprinkled a large handful of garlic on the table, several members of the tour group showed disdain in their eyes, as if to say, "I won't touch garlic." Well, let's go with the colleagues who eat garlic. Peel the garlic. After a while, more than half a bowl of garlic was peeled, and the colleague next to me kindly reminded, "Whoever eats it will peel it, don't waste it." However, when the steaming hot beef soup was served, and when the roasted buns were broken into pieces and put into the soup, within five minutes, the bottom of the bowl with peeled garlic had already reached the bottom. It was indeed a men's group, and they were all real men!
Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

Beef soup obviously cannot satisfy the readers' desire for delicious food. Their eyes returned to Xining - the first meal after landing. The group members followed the group leader through the streets and alleys, looking for a restaurant. Not only does this hotel top the list of Dianping reviews, but it has also been in the head’s mind for a long time. That was a memory from 17 years ago, and that familiar taste guided us in our search. After walking for a long time, I finally found this old store. As the first meal (and the most sumptuous meal) of our trip to the Northwest, we were not disappointed. We had hand-caught mutton, braised mutton, yak steak, beef kneecap, beef scalp beef ..., all delicious food Stimulates our taste buds. As the leader of the group revisiting his hometown, he nodded frequently. Well, it is still a familiar recipe and a familiar taste.

Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

In addition to meals, fruits and desserts are also indispensable. Xining's yogurt is very famous, and it is still an old store that the group leader found. Boxes of semi-solid yogurt with butter on top appeared in front of him. After taking a spoonful of it, the rich milk flavor fills the mouth, and the sour and sweet silky feeling flows down the esophagus directly to the stomach, making the body and mind feel like bathing in the fresh morning light.

Li Guangxing from Dunhuang has more selling points. The plump fruit, whether green or yellow, is sweet and sour. Take a bite and the juice and pulp will spurt out, stimulating your taste buds and satisfying all your imagination of fruits. When you spit out the core, the apricot's contribution has not yet ended. Use a walnut clip to pinch it gently, and the core will burst, revealing the complete almond. Put it in your mouth, the hard and slightly bitter feeling is a new experience. Eat two apricots and live up to its reputation.

Brotherhood - we protect you with all our hearts

How can we see a rainbow without going through wind and rain? This is our experience of bitterness and sweetness. How to see the true feelings without sharing the hardships is our understanding of the warmth and warmth of human relationships. On July 4, a colleague traveling with him suddenly suffered from altitude sickness. After discussion, the tour group members decided to send a car to take the colleague to Dunhuang Municipal Hospital, which has strong experience in treating altitude sickness. On July 5, accompanied by two colleagues, the patient entered the hospital for medical treatment. As one of the caregivers, my heart twitched when I heard that my colleague had a fever as high as 38.2 degrees. Subsequently, the three people, together with the two accompanying people, conducted temperature checks and information registration, and those with fevers were screened for the new coronavirus. After several hours of examination, the possibility of COVID-19 was basically ruled out. However, due to the serious condition, the patient needed to be hospitalized for treatment. In order to ensure the safety of the sick colleague, we decided to leave a colleague to accompany him. After doing all this, it was already close to one o'clock in the morning when I returned to the hotel. Thinking that I would discuss patient arrangements with my colleagues tomorrow, I set the alarm clock for 6 o'clock.

 

The next day, after discussion with several colleagues, it was decided to be on duty 24 hours a day to accompany the patient colleagues, with shifts changing every 6 hours. The attendants were responsible for the patient's condition records, medication records, collection of inspection documents, and dietary coordination (the patient needs to be bedridden). .

From July 5th to July 7th, 9 team members worked together to protect the recovery of the patient colleagues. Many of these colleagues were not familiar with the patients and had not even said hello. However, in this emergency moment, every colleague did their best. He does his best to take care of the patient's life and treatment, is considerate and meticulous, and comforts the patient's emotions with words, so that he can recover as soon as possible. During the writing of this article, under the arrangement of the company, the team leader stayed with the patient who was gradually recovering locally for many days, and then accompanied the patient back to Shanghai smoothly.

Travel Notes (8) Embracing the Northwest - Free travel across provinces in Qinghai and Gansu

Finally, I borrowed the words of the group leader to summarize this trip: "This trip is rich and exciting. Although some episodes occurred, everyone worked together, helped each other, and had a strong friendship, which made this trip more meaningful and impressive."

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