Journey to the West | From the Salt Lake Desert Grotto to the Sweet Rice Ramen

Due to well-known reasons, the originally planned flight east to Alaska has been cancelled. One day in early June, Mimi suddenly asked if anyone wanted to go to the northwest together. I immediately agreed because I was idle every day. She threw two links from Youxiake, one with 3k+ and the other with 5k+. At that time, I couldn’t figure out Qinghai. Being from Gansu, I hit it off immediately and always choose the more expensive one. So blindly, we actually took a journey to the West, which has become suddenly popular now.

Old rule: I don’t include photos in my travel notes, so everyone can have their own surprises when they go there. This travel diary is not particularly detailed, because I did not do any homework during the first half of the trip with the group. I can only tell you how I felt about the scenic spots I visited, whether they are recommended, and what should I pay attention to.

Speaking of group tours, I haven’t been on a group tour in almost 20 years, so this time I had a new experience.

Advantages of traveling with a group

1. You don’t need to do your own homework for the itinerary; 2. If one or two people are not familiar with the road conditions on the Northwest Route, in case of an accident, there is not even a signal to call for help; 3. Some routes, such as Oboliang, do not have a team to challenge on their own.

Disadvantages of group tours

1. You have to get up early; 2. You don’t have a free schedule; 3. You will be pissed off if you encounter a tour leader with poor organizational skills who has no plan, no sense of discipline, and no introduction to scenic spots.

I would like to remind everyone that I was very dissatisfied with the Yangxiake tour this time, and their comments were blocked. I advise you to think twice if you want to choose a tour group in the future. Scarecrow also has a similar itinerary. I took a look and found that the price is about the same, but the accommodation is better, so I recommend it.

Preparation

1. Air tickets are very cheap recently. It costs about 600 from Shanghai to Xining, 350 from Dunhuang to Lanzhou, and 800 from Lanzhou to Shanghai. If you buy Xpress and are not in a hurry, it will be even more cost-effective.

2. Bring a short-sleeved T-shirt and a thick jacket, because it will freeze to death when it is windy and rainy, and it will be too hot when the sun comes out.

3. Bring a lot of sunscreen and be sure to refill it on time. If you just put it on when you go out every day, you will see a black nose far away when you come back.

4. If you are not feeling well, take some high-reaction medicine in advance.

Approximate itinerary

D1 Fly to Xining, visit the night market, and stay in Xining

D2 One-day self-guided tour of Xining

D3 Join the group and set off, pass by Qinghai Lake, visit Chaka Salt Lake, and stay in Chaka Town

D4 Visit Chaka Salt Lake, Dachaidan Emerald Lake, stay in Dachaidan Town

D5 Tour Dongtai Jinair Lake, Yadan on the Water, pass by Xitai Jinair Lake, Suhuatugou

D6 Visit Thousand Buddha Cliff, Mangya Emerald Lake, Aiken Spring, Suhuatugou

D7 Travel through Oboliang, Mars Camp, Sulenghu Town

D8 Visit Lenghu Oil Town, Boluo Zhuanjing Oil Town, arrive in Dunhuang and disband, stay in Dunhuang

D9 Visit Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring, Mogao Grottoes, stay in Dunhuang

D10 Dunhuang Museum, Dunhuang Villa, Dunhuang

D11 Fly to Lanzhou, visit the night market, and stay in Lanzhou

D12 Visit Liujiaxia Reservoir, Bingling Temple, stay in Lanzhou

D13-15 Wandering around Lanzhou

D16 Return to the center of the universe

The above is a diagram of the tour route: the starting point is Xining, 1 is Qinghai Lake, 2 is Mangya, the scenic spots are almost along the 315 National Highway, and the end point is Dunhuang

The following is an introduction to each place

Xining

Eat: Xining Xinqian Tourist Night Market is good, all kinds of noodles, fish noodles, cold skin and glutinous rice are delicious; De Xiao Kang Meat Shop is good, the beef tripe Kang Meat Pot is very delicious and the portion is quite large.

Accommodation: Yaduo is good, but a bit out of the way, but it’s not too far to take a taxi to the night market. The altitude is about 2000.

OK: It’s a bit far from the airport to Xining. It costs around 100 without using the meter.

Tour: There is nothing to visit, the provincial museum is under construction, the big mosque is not open due to the epidemic, the wildlife park is too bad, the Tibetan Culture Museum is good to see, if you are not timid, the lights can be controlled by voice, and the lights will not turn on when no one is around, there are several museums It was so eerie that I was so frightened that I ran away and waited for Mimi in the corridor.

Qinghai Lake

Eat: There is a pai restaurant by the lake. The scrambled eggs with Qinghai wild vegetables are very delicious. In fact, the whole Qinghai eggs and chickens are very delicious, but they are very expensive.

Accommodation: No accommodation, but there are many accommodations by the lake. If you like it, you can search it yourself. The altitude starts to get higher, the highest pass is 3800.

OK: The road condition is very good.

Travel: There are rapeseed flowers by the lake in July. If the weather is clear, the blue sky and white clouds will be reflected in the lake, which should be very beautiful. I don’t want to take another look at it on a rainy day. There is a viewing point on the mountain next to it, you can pass by.

Chaka Salt Lake

Eat: There is Yi Xinyuan in Chaka Town, which is cheap and delicious. It is highly recommended.

Accommodation: Just average. Don’t think too much about accommodation in scenic spots. It is said that the price in peak seasons in previous years was 2,000 to 3,000 yuan, but now it is cheaper.

OK: The road condition is very good. There is a small train in the scenic area.

You: Stop looking at online photos and scams! Currently, Chaka Salt Lake has developed two scenic spots, the old Sky Land and the new Sky One. The first third of the old scenic spot is very polluted. In the future, the two scenic spots will be opened for maintenance in turns. With all of them currently open, I actually recommend the new Sky One, as there are very few people. And if you are not joining a group, it is recommended not to go in if the weather is bad. It is freezing cold and there is nothing interesting to see. The Great Salt Lake is quite beautiful if the weather is good. It depends on your tolerance. If you want to go in and take pictures, you have to either rent shoe covers, which are not good-looking, or prepare your own rain boots, waterproof shoes, plastic slippers, or go barefoot. The water depth is about three to four centimeters, you can decide by yourself.

Dachaidan Lake

Eat: There is a family banquet restaurant in Dachaidan Town, which is so delicious. Firewood Turkey is the best on this trip to the west, and the price is not expensive.

Accommodation: Just average. Don’t think too much about accommodation in scenic spots . It is said that the price in peak season in previous years was two to three thousand, it is cheap now.

OK: The road condition is very good. There are some gravel and dirt roads in the scenic area, but they are okay.

Tour: The beautiful salt lake is very salty. Don’t try it. It’s salty and bitter, but not poisonous . Suitable for taking small planes to find small salt water puddles of various shapes.

Dongtai Jinair Lake

Eat: Didn’t eat.

Live: Not live.

OK: There is a dirt road 200 meters into the scenic area.

You: It’s super clean and beautiful. I feel like I don’t need to see Chaka Salt Lake after watching this. You can go deep and close, but the precautions are the same as Chaka Salt Lake.

Yadan on the water

Eat: The restaurants in the scenic area are okay, there is a halal restaurant, and the noodles are average.

Live: Not live.

OK: The road condition is very good. There is a small train in the scenic area.

Tour: The scenic area is very large. On one side is the desert and on the other side is the Yadan landform on the water. It is not bad and quite special.

xitaijinel lake

Eat: Didn’t eat.

Live: Not live.

OK: In fact, it is the only way to pass the G315 national highway, passing through the lake. The road conditions on this section are not very good, so an SUV is recommended because the salt water will corrode the road surface.

You: One side is light and the other is salty. The water colors are different, which is quite beautiful.

Thousand Buddha Cliff

Eat: Didn’t eat.

Live: Not live.

OK: Don't even think about it personally. If you're not allowed in, go in in a military vehicle.

You: This can be considered a highlight of this tour. The scenic spot is in the oil area, and you need to report to the leader for permission. You can enter by taking a military vehicle from the oil area at the entrance of the scenic area. Any oil equipment photographed must not be uploaded online. I originally thought it was a grotto, but it is actually a special Yadan landform, with wind-eroded rocks resembling a thousand Buddhas.

Mangya Emerald Lake

Eat: Eat whatever you want in Huatugou. Fruits are very cheap and the honeydew melons bought on the street are super sweet.

Accommodation: The conditions in Huatugou are average and acceptable.

OK: There are gravel and dirt roads in the scenic area, so an SUV is recommended.

Travel: The Emerald Lake is slightly different from the Dachaidan Lake. It is very big and has snow-capped mountains behind it. It is quite beautiful. Bring a small plane to take pictures.

mangyaiken spring

Eat: Huatugou Same as above.

Residence: Huatugou Same as above.

Travel: 30 kilometers of very poor dirt roads, an SUV is required.

Tour: The best-advertised attractions but the least worthwhile in reality. It is the very popular Kunlun Eye and Devil's Eye. Then drive 30 kilometers on a dirt road, and then walk 1.5 kilometers. In this way, there is a spring on the ground, surrounded by a height, and the wool can be seen with the naked eye. There are so many small planes in the sky that they are about to collide. But there is a big difference between you and I taking pictures of small airplanes. I don’t recommend it, please consider it yourself.

Oboliang, Mars Camp

Eat: Lenghu Town is too deserted and there is nothing delicious.

Accommodation: average.

OK: It must be an SUV, it must be a fleet. Even with the convoy, there were several times when the official road was cut off, so we had to turn back and find another road, or use small planes to find the way. Don't go there yourself. The car I was riding in had its battery rack knocked apart. Fortunately, it was a convoy, so I was able to get out of the car, but we still had to stop eating the next day.

Travel: The desert scenery is quite worthwhile. The Mars camp is a bit cool, you can rent astronaut clothes and take photos.

Lenghu Oil Town, Boluo Zhuanjing Town Oil Town

Eat: Didn’t eat.

Live: Not live.

OK: The road condition is very good.

Travel: Personally, I prefer the abandoned oil town in Cold Lake. There are many stories in those ruins. The oil town of Boluo Zhuanjing has become a film and television base.

Dunhuang

Eat: We recommend the five-flavored donkey meat yellow noodle restaurant, please be sure to try the donkey meat yellow noodles, Yuqian scrambled eggs, desert sand chicken, apricot skin water; don't put summer sweet embryo milk tea; if you like mutton, we recommend Fan Ji Jingyuan Lamb Braised Mutton Cake .

Accommodation: Pick the one you like, no matter the distance, because Dunhuang is too small and taking a taxi is too cheap and convenient. It’s usually only 6 yuan in the city, and you can go sideways for 10 yuan. It only costs about 36 yuan to get to the airport.

OK: Take a taxi, it’s so cheap. Of course it's very close to the night market, you can also walk there.

Tour: We signed up for a one-day trip to Mingsha Mountain and Mogao Grottoes. However, I recommend that you don’t sign up for a group tour.

Mingsha Mountain can be reached by taxi for only 10 yuan. If you buy the ticket yourself, it can be used for three days. If you like to watch the sunrise and sunset, you can come at any time. If you can't climb sand, please choose to ride a camel, which is only 100 yuan, otherwise you won't be able to see the Crescent Moon Spring.

I booked my tickets online for the Mogao Grottoes , which is next to the airport. It cost more than 30 yuan to take a taxi there, so I could watch it slowly and peacefully. Category A tickets see 8 caves. I regretted not seeing the special cave, but I thought about it and took a training class later. By the way: If you have similar interests, please date me.

Dunhuang Villa , because I didn’t go to Mingsha Mountain to watch the sunset, I chose to have dinner at the terrace cafe of Dunhuang Villa in the evening to watch the sunset. It's pretty good, I'm talking about the view, the food is just fine. Oh, the yogurt is good.

You can take a look at the Dunhuang Museum , which has a replica of the Mogao Grottoes, but I have seen some exhibitions before, and I have seen this cave in detail.

Lanzhou

eat:

Popular science 1. There is no Lanzhou Ramen in Lanzhou, so people call it beef noodles; 2. Beef noodles do not have beef, so you must order it separately. I don’t have a recommended restaurant because the food is generally quite delicious, but there are no poached eggs, all are braised eggs.

Night Market The busiest one is Zhengning Road Night Market. In fact, Nanguan Nationality Street is also quite good, with not many people. Zhangye Road Night Market has many people selling groceries. So I recommend the first two, they are actually not far apart. The food at the night market is nothing more than: kebabs, bagels, potato cakes, fermented glutinous rice, sweet embryo tea, apricot peel tea, grilled chicken wings, grilled squid, and meat buns. Zhengning Road Night Market recommends Nusi, barbecue, and roasted pears, which are full of varieties and taste good. I recommend No. 44 and No. 68 for milk fermented glutinous rice. No. 44 has the best reviews and No. 68 is said to be the most authentic. In my personal test, the taste is almost the same. The sweet egg milk tea is recommended, there are many varieties, sufficient quantity, and clean.

Accommodation: I stayed at the New Victory Hotel in the city center. It is generally on the upper side. It is located in the city center and is convenient to go everywhere. It is very close to the night market and there is an airport bus downstairs.

OK: The airport is too far away. It is recommended to take the airport bus or train. It costs 220 yuan on Didi. You can take the subway or take a taxi to get around, but be careful when walking. There is an overpass and an underpass at every three intersections, all of which are steps.

Tour:

Bingling Temple is good. For transportation, you can either charter a car or sign up for a group tour to Liujiaxia Reservoir. I recommend not taking a big boat. Spend an extra 80 on a speedboat and you can gain half an hour of visiting time. The open grotto is relatively dark and it is difficult to see the murals inside. I spent three hundred to see Special Cave No. 169, special! Don't! value! 169 is a natural cave, 45 meters above the ground, with 24 niches inside, most of them. You can see the statues and murals of the Western Qin Dynasty and the Gandhara style. After returning, you will have endless aftertaste combined with the information you read before. I feel like I can explain it in more detail than the cave guide. However, both the tour guides and the speedboat captains in the scenic area lack service awareness and are easily offended. It’s also nice to take a look at the Liujiaxia Reservoir on the way.

You can check out the Provincial Museum, the Municipal Museum, and the Dunhuang Academy. If you don’t have enough time, I recommend the first two.

Baita ParkGo in before 7:30. It closes at 8:00, so you can stay inside and climb up to see the night view. Then I followed the locals to find a path out. I didn’t watch it because I can’t climb high and the night view of Lanzhou is not very good.

You can have afternoon tea and enjoy the view on the 16th floor of Park LizYunjing Hotel, but don’t expect too much, as the waiters may not want to serve you. It is said that you can also view the Yellow River from the eighth floor terrace of Atour Hotel, but with the low price of 400 per table, I would be at a loss by myself, so I didn’t go.

Deyi Brothers Crosstalk, I went to listen to it at the Baiyin Road store, the 50 yuan ticket price was well worth it, it made me laugh to death. The fried noodles and side dishes I ordered were also delicious. It starts at 8 o'clock, go early to get a seat, it's almost full. There were three tables at 6:30.

Okay, all the attractions have been introduced. You can choose your own plan. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.