It’s finally the Double Festival, and I can finally go out and play. After being stuck in a big city for a long time, I miss the taste of nature.
I went with a group with my teammates. We booked the group in early August and bought the air tickets in mid-August. One of the great benefits of joining a tour group is that it doesn’t require much thinking and worry. Facts have proved that my decision was correct~
We arrived in Xining on the evening of October 3rd. As soon as we got off the bus, we felt the cold wind in Xining. After taking a few breaths of cold air, I couldn't help but cough. On the way from the airport to the hotel, the driver chatted with us and reminded us to keep warm as they would turn on the heater after the National Day.
The subsequent trip also proved to southerners that the cold in the northwest is really cold. Regardless of the strong sun at noon, the temperature is below zero in the morning and evening. It is definitely not wrong to wear a down jacket and a jacket. Visually, we didn’t have enough long johns (one person only brought one pair, and the others were all summer and autumn trousers), so we bought two pairs of long johns before the supermarket closed that night.
(Cows seen along the way)
Early in the morning on the first day, we drove to Kumbum Monastery. Kumbum Temple first had a pagoda and then became a temple, hence the name "Tambum Temple". Since photography is not allowed in the scenic area, we learned about the Tibetan people's belief in worshiping and the three unique arts (butter flowers, murals, and embroidery) during the tour guide's explanation.
We arrived at Qinghai Lake in the afternoon. Qinghai Lake is quite big. We found an entrance and stopped. There are rapeseed flowers and poppies blooming here, which is very suitable for taking pictures.
The locals also thoughtfully led cattle and sheep in the rapeseed fields for tourists to take photos. A herdsman started "business" while holding a lamb - taking photos while holding the lamb for ten yuan a time. Unfortunately, I was busy going to see Qinghai Lake and missed the lamb. When I came back, it was already "off duty".
Walking beside Qinghai Lake, I saw that the lake and water in the distance were connected with a blue sky. The wind blew gently, and the whole person seemed to be in a blue ocean.
The next day we arrived at Chaka Salt Lake, which is known as China’s “Mirror of the Sky”.
Because we brought our own water shoes, there was no need to rent shoe covers on site, so we got into the water quickly. The water in the salt lake is not deep, just below the soles of the feet. But be careful, there are collapsed salt caves in some places, and it is very dangerous to fall into them.
Although it is not enough to drown, one gulp of highly concentrated salt water is enough to drown.
Don't be curious, go grab some salt from the lake and taste it. Not only will your tongue experience the saltiest thing in life, your fingers will also immediately feel the power of sea salt.
At this time, people can’t help but think that the Chaka Salt Lake, an Internet celebrity attraction in our eyes, is the “mirror of the sky”, but to the locals, it is a “God-given salt storehouse” that has provided human settlements in the Hehuang Valley for many years. salt. For Chaka Salt Lake, which is currently following the "industry + tourism" route, its unique beauty has brought out its aesthetic function, and its actual use has taken a backseat. But in ancient times, salt was an important strategic material that officials fought for.
I spent 140 yuan to rent a red skirt and red cloak at the scenic spot, and then started walking around in the salt lake. I took at least 140 photos before I felt I had enough to recoup my money.
Arrive at Emerald Lake in the evening.
The emerald-like lake reflects the blue sky, white clouds and snow-capped peaks, making you feel like you are in an emerald dream.
The ingenuity of nature has inlaid emeralds one after another on this piece of land.
Emerald Lake is only more than ten kilometers away from Dachaidan Town. It is said that since Emerald Lake has become an "Internet celebrity attraction", accommodation fees here have also been rising.
We stayed in a local three-star hotel that night, without air conditioning, and went out to buy hats and gloves. The radiator in the room was like a painting, but the radiator could only be turned on to a maximum of 16 degrees that night.
We arrived at Yangguan in the evening on the third day. The sun was setting when the car arrived.
In the setting sun, we felt the history of this place in the museum in Yangguan.
"I urge you to drink another glass of wine. When the sun rises in the west, there will be no old friends." The poems I once read in middle school Chinese are now recited here.
Even though it's dark, it doesn't stop us from taking pictures~ The stars twinkle in the night sky~
The fourth day. We arrived at Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes early in the morning. With the A ticket, we could see 8 caves.
Since photography is not allowed in the cave, there are no photos here. While listening to the tour guide’s explanation, I also learned some interesting things. In order to show their nobility, dignitaries from many dynasties dug caves in the Mogao Grottoes. Due to the shortage of cave resources, many people painted new murals on the basis of the original murals in the caves. But what is regrettable is that with the decline of the city, the Mogao Grottoes were not managed for five hundred years in history. Many gold foils on the murals were stolen, and some paintings and statues were damaged.
In the afternoon we bought tickets for the performance of "Meeting Dunhuang Again", which was quite expensive at 298, and I would rate it 7 points.
This is a large-scale situational experience drama that you can watch while walking, and it is indeed a creative audio-visual feast. As for the shortcomings, there were too many people and it was not very clear when watching. The viewing time was too short. Due to copyright reasons, there were no photos taken on site.
After watching "Meeting Dunhuang Again" and learning more about the history of Dunhuang, I can't help but admire all the famous and unknown people who have devoted their efforts to Dunhuang in the long history.
Come to Mingsha Mountain in the evening. The first project is camel riding. I heard from the tour guide that the more than a thousand camels in the scenic spot are all borrowed from farmers.
They no longer do farm work, they are basically the mascots of the scenic spot, taking a walk in Mingsha Mountain.
Camels have big feet and are very stable when walking in the sand~
Somehow, the butt still got a bump.
"Haha, when the camel runs, you won't know where it's going."
It turns out camels really can run!
After the camel ride, we started climbing again. But climbing into the desert was really tiring. Halfway up the mountain, I lay down tiredly and said, "I'm so tired. Why should I torture myself like this?"
The boy next to him encouraged the girl and said: You have come, how many times can you experience this in your life? Well, it tastes like chicken soup.
There were a few children rolling around in the desert, laughing and jumping, and they didn't seem to think "tiring" was a big deal.
What's behind the mountain? I set off on the road with such curiosity. It’s really difficult to dig your foot in and pull it out again, walking on the sloping sand. After climbing for half an hour, you are exhausted. When you reach the top of a small mountain, you will find that there are mountains outside the mountains. There is nothing but mountains...
When it gets dark, small lights light up on the edge of Crescent Moon Spring, outlining its original shape.
" I lie drunk beside the moonlit spring with the sound of sand, thousands of sands and thousands of springs colorless." After memorizing a poem, hurry down the mountain.
The ancients were too difficult. The Silk Road was not easy. Walking in the vast desert requires not only hunger and thirst, but also the harsh weather. Walking in the desert itself is more strenuous than walking on flat ground. Even riding a camel, bumps along the way are unavoidable.
Not to mention, as an important means of transportation at that time, camels had to first meet the demand for carrying cargo. Along the way, we must be on guard against bandits and robbers, and worry about conflicts with residents along the way caused by differences in language and customs...
Arrive at the fortress of the ancient Silk Road, Jiayuguan Pass, known as "the most majestic pass in the world". The Ming Dynasty also built an open-air Great Wall according to local conditions. There are nearly 20 types of Great Wall here, including forts, walls, trenches, and natural dangers. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they continued to resist invasion and "conquered the world with one pass."
On the fifth day, we arrived in Zhangye to see the colorful Danxia.
It was already evening when we arrived at the scenic spot, and we only had one hour to play. The scenic spots at Gate 2 and Gate 4 are must-sees. After getting on the scenic bus and arriving at Gate 4, I was shocked by the dense crowd of people in front of me.
There are too many people and there is no way to go up the mountain to watch. Even if you take pictures at the bottom of the mountain, you have to queue up and wait for the uncle and aunt to finish taking pictures before you can "fuck and pose" for five minutes.
On the last day, return to Xining. Take photos, eat melons (cantaloupe) and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
The six-day travel schedule is still very tight. But with the two days of flying back and forth, there is no eight days of leave.
If you have time, it would be better to spend 2-3 more days, walk slowly and appreciate it slowly.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this trip~
In terms of scenery, the scenery along the Qinghai Lake Loop will cure all your unhappiness. Sometimes when I look at the flowers and plants beside Qinghai Lake, I actually have the urge to cry.
In the face of nature, I realized that the fame and fortune I pursued was far less than the happiness that a gust of wind and rain brought me; the troubles that I had to worry about solving were not something that could not be suspended. There are so many kinds of happiness for people, so why stick to the correct answers written by others.
In terms of diet, there are good things and bad things. I can only eat some snacks in the car during the day and just cope with it. Dinner is only served at nine or ten o'clock in the evening, and the dishes are all very hard and delicious.
In terms of accommodation, in Xining, Dunhuang, Zhangye and other urban areas, you can stay in four-star or five-star hotels with good accommodation conditions; in areas such as Dachaidan, there are no villages in front and no shops in the back, and there is no man's land in the middle, so you have to Just stay in a small hotel. In fact, what’s more difficult is that I leave early and come back late every day. I get up at 7 a.m. and can’t fall asleep until after 12 p.m., plus traveling all the time, it’s almost more tiring than working.
In terms of partners, the group I went with was so no-brainer. The friends sang and played games in the car. Time passed very quickly. Everyone was very friendly and warm. There were people who were responsible for planning the itinerary, providing medicine, and taking drone videos. , organize card games, maintain discipline...
This trip also taught me that going out for fun requires physical strength. If your body is not strong enough, it will be difficult to go anywhere.
Go out for a walk while you're young. The world is so big and Qinghai Lake is so beautiful.
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