Travel Notes | Commemorating an extraordinary trip to the Northwest (Part 2)

aspect of play

Most people come to the Northwest to enjoy the magnificent natural scenery. Here you can see it during the day Gobi , oasis, snow-capped mountains, grasslands. here has The world-famous Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the unique colorful Danxia landform in Zhangye, the Chaka Salt Lake known as the "Mirror of the Sky", and the Qinghai Lake known as the "Haizi" by the people of Qinghai. There is also the Emerald Salt Lake which has just been discovered and has not yet been fully developed. The quiet Qilian Mountain grassland, the beautiful Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake... In fact, if conditions permit, it is more fun to drive to the Northwest. The Northwest is vast, and the distances between scenic spots are very far. The scenery along the highway is beautiful, and it is no worse than that in the scenic area. I met many people who drove RVs (ah! I want to have an RV too! There are many activities in Mingsha Mountain, such as sand sliding, helicopter viewing, camel riding, etc. If you are in Chaka, you can arrange a travel photo shoot. These photographers are really good. They know where to take the best reflections and where to take the best photos.

(Mingsha Mountain)

(Emerald Lake)

(Chaka Salt Lake)

(Sunrise over Qinghai Lake)

some advices

In the previous article , it was mentioned [ before departure, you need to prepare ]. In addition - Sunhats and sunglasses are necessary for visiting Chaka, and you also need to go into the water. Knee-length shoe covers . The water in some parts of the lake is very deep, and the salt blocks at the bottom of the lake are very harsh on your feet, so bare feet are not recommended. There is a place to rent shoe covers in Chaka, but there are many people, so it is recommended to prepare them in advance. There are many selling these things at the entrance of the scenic spot ~ Hats and masks are necessary when going to Mingsha Mountain. Girls who are afraid of tanning are fully armed. Get up, there are several fixed spots that are suitable for taking pictures while riding a camel. At this time, you can tip the camel team leader 10-20 yuan to take a photo, and they will be happy to help you take the photo. There are so many photos, just like Chaka’s travel photographers. They are very knowledgeable about where to take photos, but the quality of the photos varies from person to person... What if you go to Mogao Grottoes? This is an independent trip, so remember to book tickets in advance! Book in advance! Otherwise, it would be easy to find that you can’t go there when you get there. Tickets for Mogao Grottoes are divided into Category A, B, and C . Category A tickets need to be reserved on the Mogao Grottoes visit reservation website. They are limited daily and have the most caves to see. Category B tickets can be purchased on site. , there are very few caves to see, but they are still limited per day. As for Category C, you can only watch digital movies. The opening hours are divided into off-season and peak season, so be sure to confirm on the official website before going. As a world cultural heritage and the epitome of thousands of years of Chinese cultural history, I strongly recommend that everyone visit the Mogao Grottoes in your lifetime. After all, due to the serious damage, there is no telling when the Mogao Grottoes will not be open to the public. If you want to see it again Can't see it either. Finally, I would like to remind you: Since the pigments in the cave are mineral pigments, which are particularly sensitive to light and temperature, do not use your mobile phone when entering the cave! Don't turn on the flash! Don’t even take photos! Don’t touch around! Every group has people who won’t listen no matter what you say, and every group has disobedient naughty kids who run around. As ordinary people, since we can’t contribute to the repair work, All you can do is pay respects, and don't do any more damage. There are also medicines that I think are very important (including cold, digestion, gastrointestinal, diarrhea), change, etc. Next, I will focus on the most memorable destination that I want to visit during my trip to the northwest, Dunhuang.

(Qilian Mountain Grassland)

(Colorful Danxia and Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring)

The Pearl in the Desert—Dunhuang

Dunhuang is also known as "Shazhou". (We always thought that there are two night markets in Dunhuang, one is "Shazhou Night Market" and the other is "Dunhuang Night Market". Later, when we asked for directions, we found out that these two are actually one.

) is located at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor and is also the location of Yumen Pass and Yang Pass. It is an important hub in the ancient Silk Road. "The spring breeze does not pass through Yumen Pass", "There are no old friends when leaving Yangguan in the west" and other familiar poems. It was only in Dunhuang that we understood the deeper meaning: The Silk Road is dangerous and unpredictable, with ruthless wind and sand, and ruthless bandits blocking the road. , there are enemy countries that are watching eagerly. Starting from the Central Plains and leaving Dunhuang is probably equivalent to leaving the country in modern times. The road ahead is unclear, and it is very likely that there will be no return. Returning from abroad to Dunhuang means arriving in the Central Plains and a safe home.

Dunhuang has played an important role in economy, trade, culture, transportation, and military affairs in history, and its status is no less than that of modern first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Due to the Silk Road, the exquisite silks, spices, gems from the Middle East, and Buddhism from India have been able to Introduced to the Central Plains, the porcelain, culture, and advanced technology of the time were transmitted to the world. With the colonial invasion by foreign powers at the end of China's feudal dynasty, coastal ports gradually flourished. After the founding of New China, reform and opening up, and rapid economic development, Dunhuang also completed its historical mission and gradually declined in the long river of world civilization history, like a mouthful of The dusty treasure chest is quietly waiting for future generations to discover it.

We are all familiar with the story of the Mogao Grottoes. The two most well-known people who have made great contributions to the repair and protection of the caves are Chang Shuhong and Fan Jinshi, respectively the Dunhuang Art Research Institute—later renamed He is the first and second president of the Dunhuang Academy.

Chang Shuhong devoted his entire life to the research and protection of the grottoes and was called the "Guardian of Dunhuang". When I visited Wuzhen a few years ago, I passed by the Chang Shuhong Memorial Hall and learned about the story of Chang Shuhong and Mogao Grottoes for the first time. This time, we saw the preserved former residence and office of Chang Shuhong in the scenic area. Seeing everything, I was really moved. It's hard to imagine a person How did they persist in such a difficult environment for decades? Regarding Dunhuang, Chang Shuhong and Mogao Grottoes, Sanlian once sent a push, which was very well written (click the link below to jump to browse):

"National Day" Dunhuang Guide | Go to the Hexi Corridor to see the Millennium Grottoes

(Chang Shuhong’s former residence and office)

Dunhuang City is not very big. Perhaps because of its geographical location, police patrols are common on the streets, and "flying" figures are often seen on street signs and on both sides of the road. The "Night Market" and "Majiazongpi" in the urban area are well worth a visit. Time is short, and I feel that I have only experienced a small part of the beauty of the Northwest. I hope I will have the opportunity to come again. I hope I will have a RV by then, have achieved financial freedom, and have enough time to take a good stroll.