Documentary of riding the Xinjiang-Tibet Line - Let’s go! Guangzhou Station—Urumqi South Station

The night before departure, I went out to have fun with my friends. I went to bed very late and couldn't fall asleep. But it was about a two-hour drive from the school to the train station, and I had to get up early to catch the train, so I felt like a dead person when I woke up at 6 in the morning. . . However, thinking that this sacred journey is about to begin, I am still excited but nervous. While my roommate was still sleeping soundly, I was already on my way quietly...

It rained last night, and the air outside was very fresh. The mountains in the school were full of scent. The editor usually likes to go hiking on rainy days. It feels good.

It took two hours to take the bus and transfer to the subway, which was quite fast. This is also the current situation of life in the city. Carrying a six-kilogram fleeing bag, people who didn’t know better thought I was a migrant worker or something. . .

Just in time, I rushed to the waiting room to take a rest. The train station is still as crowded as ever

This is my own luggage, and I’m wearing a pair of slippers. Doesn’t it look like a migrant worker wandering outside, haha

The train is on time, so I grab my luggage and get on the train. I can finally lie down for a while .

On the train, I saw a special group - an elderly group , there were 20 people, with an average age 62 years old, and they were very close to each other They are all related to elementary school classmates (in short, it is a class reunion). I am quite surprised that we can still get together and play together after decades. I am truly envious and admired! Moreover, they would cook their own meals on the train and share them with me. (In the end, I didn’t even eat much of the food I brought with me...) I really appreciate them. There is also a mother and daughter who came back from the United States and went to Xinjiang to find relatives. They are also very kind. During the long journey, we talked and laughed, talked about our experiences, and passed away the boredom of the journey. But I really feel that I can’t compare to the seniors.

It’s been a long journey from Guangdong, which is almost in the south, to Xinjiang, which is in the northwest. Traveled through most of the cities in China

On the day of departure, there were floods in Hunan and Hubei for a period of time. At that time, I was worried that the train would be delayed. Later, when I passed through Hunan and Hubei, the mountainous areas were basically flooded, but the city did not suffer much damage from the disaster. It does not affect the operation of trains. (There is no mercy in natural disasters, but there is love in the world)

In some areas that were flooded, the water almost reached the train tracks. . .

Along the way, from south to north, the changes in terrain are shocking!

After passing Lanzhou, the changes in terrain are even more obvious. It happens to be sunset, and the grassland on the high terrain looks particularly beautiful!

I actually saw beautiful snow-capped mountains! ! ! (Unnamed Snow Mountain , Visual altitude 3500 meters -4000 meters)

Beautiful sunset, maybe I was lucky enough to see such beautiful scenery on the long train, it was so beautiful.

At Xining Station, the elderly people got off the station, and I saw them off together with the mother and daughter (unfortunately, I didn’t take a few photos)

This is the mother and daughter. They got off at the same terminal as me.

It only takes half a day to reach Xining. After a good sleep, the sea and the sky will be brighter!

When I woke up in the morning, there was a desolate landscape outside the window.

The legendary Baili Wind Power Zone in Xinjiang

After three days and two nights, we finally arrived at the capital of Xinjiang—Urumqi!

Although this is my second time to Xinjiang, the changes are really not that big. What impressed me the most was the security , which was absolutely strict and made me feel panicked (perhaps it was the riots that year that forced the government to do this). There are security points everywhere on the road, there is one every few hundred meters, as well as various explosion-proof vehicles. The security here is not as good as the security in the mainland. There is a special armed police force stationed there. The armed police will stop you when they see someone "displeased" and check your ID card and mobile phone (Anyway, I I have been investigated several times...) But I am still very tolerant to the Han people. For the local minorities, it is miserable to be stopped. The purpose of the investigation is to prevent the locals from rioting. ) It is really not easy for people to live here for a long time. In short, when you go to Xinjiang, be nice, don’t get into conflicts, and be kind to others Anyway, the people in Xinjiang give me a good feeling, so don’t worry too much.

After getting off the train, I took the bus to the hotel I had booked online. There are only three stops from South Station to the hotel. The transportation here is much more developed than in previous years.

I stayed at Dandelion Youth Hostel (at first glance it seems like it should be called a family hotel.) But the environment is good, but it’s not easy to find. It’s in a community. There is wifi and you can take a shower. The surrounding conditions are very good, and it is also close to the South Railway Station. (Place a small advertisement, haha)

I met several friends here, two of whom also came to ride. It’s just that they set off a few days later than me. Meeting each other thousands of miles apart is fate!

A Quan (retired soldier) from Shanghai is in his thirties, but he still has the face of a shy child and is very good at singing and playing the piano.

Brother Dong, 46 years old, from Chengdu, Sichuan, was very generous and hospitable. He treated us to two meals. Buddies!

Since Aquan had to go to the Kashgar area that afternoon, we only met for a short while. But we kept in touch all the way and provided each other with information.

Taking advantage of the short time, everyone went out to have lunch together (finally we could have a good meal).

The surrounding conditions of the community are very convenient (the fruits here are so cheap.)

We found a time-honored noodle restaurant mentioned in "A Bite of China", which tastes good (interested friends can navigate by themselves, Ma Youbu Beef Noodle House).

After eating, because it was too hot at noon, I went back to the hotel to rest and then went out for a walk later.

Everyone sat on the floor chatting, resting, and playing on their phones. . .

After a while, Aquan felt that it was almost time, so he went to the train station. After Brother Dong and I saw him off, we went to a mountain bike shop in the city to buy some equipment. Professional stores such as Giant, Merida and Xide Sheng are all opened in one place , which can be found through convenient and navigation.

It's a long walk from the hotel to the mountain bike shop, but you can also take a look around the city.

Since Brother Dong has tattoos on his body, it is inevitable that the armed police patrolling the streets will feel a little "strange". From the time he came out to the time he came back, his ID card was checked several times, and his mobile phone was also checked It just happened that Dong and I were They all had the same new-model cell phones, and they didn’t have dedicated data cables. Besides, the armed police were very polite to the Han people, so they let us go.

I returned to the hotel, put down the equipment I just bought, and asked the girl I lived with to go visit the famous Grand Bazaar in Xinjiang.

The hotel is only a few stops away from the Grand Bazaar, which is very convenient.

Arriving near the Grand Bazaar

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, many conspicuous words

There is a security check before entering the Grand Bazaar, and those who smoke may have their lighters confiscated.

"Bazaar" is a Uyghur language, meaning bazaar or farmer's market. In fact, bazaars are located in various cities and rural areas in Xinjiang, especially in areas where Uyghurs inhabit in southern Xinjiang. There are bazaars at almost every traffic intersection in towns and villages. . This is an important place where local people have been engaged in business activities for a long time.

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar has a rich Islamic architectural style. On the basis of covering the functionality and sense of the times, it reproduces the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road and embodies the rich ethnic characteristics and regional culture of the Western Regions.

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is a symbol of the prosperity of Xinjiang's business and tourism. It is also a landscape architecture of Urumqi as a city of ethnic minorities, and it is also a landmark building.

In recent years, the Grand Bazaar has successfully received a large number of important party and state leaders, foreign heads of state, and international friends, and has successfully held several international public welfare and business activities. It has won a good reputation for the Grand Bazaar and continuously demonstrated its corporate culture. At the same time, the Grand Bazaar tourism industry is gradually maturing.

Most of them mainly sell local specialties.

The Islamic architectural style is particularly beautiful in my opinion.

Not only in the scenic spots, but also on the streets, there are peaceful slogans such as "Harmony and Friendly" everywhere. It shows that the government has done a very thorough job on the ideological work of the local people, but it is indeed worth promoting.

There is a sightseeing tower, but it is not allowed to go up due to special periods, which is a pity.

When you enter the Grand Bazaar, most of them are shops selling specialties, handicrafts, etc. They are all quite distinctive.

These dried fruits are quite delicious, but a bit expensive (especially raisins)

Xinjiang is a land of singing and dancing brought together by many ethnic groups. Because of the blending of multi-ethnic history and culture, Xinjiang, this mysterious land, has produced a variety of ethnic musical instruments. Especially the Uighurs are a nation that is good at singing and dancing. Musical instruments are indispensable companions in their lives. There are more than a dozen kinds of musical instruments alone (unfortunately, I am a music-deaf person and don’t know how to appreciate them......)

Therefore, there are many people selling musical instruments.

There are a variety of ethnic musical instruments, mostly Uyghur.

Silk Road Handicraft Pedestrian Street

After shopping around, I didn’t find anything to buy, so I went out to the Big Bazaar (it’s easy to get sunburned, but those who are intolerant to the sun must take sun protection measures.)

You still have to go through security checks when entering, and it’s really strict.

I feel that shopping in the Big Bazaar is more authentic, but I didn’t actually do it because I am a poor traveler, haha.

A Uyghur man sitting at the door could not understand anything he said.

The buildings near the Grand Bazaar all have a certain cultural history.

Nan Da Mosque is a mosque located near the southern end of Jiefang South Road in Urumqi. 1919 The main building of the Nan Da Temple, the worship hall, is in the shape of a convex character. The front part of the roof is a double-eaved hip roof, covered with glazed tiles. The eaves are decorated with two dragons playing with pearls, and the five-layer painting boards under the eaves are painted with colorful patterns such as curling grass and flowers. The ridge purlins are carved with twenty two The back of the hall is built with brick walls, and the front is equipped with wooden lattice doors. On the walls on both sides of the corridor, there are four painting screens of orchid, plum, bamboo and lotus. The main hall is divided into two halls, the outer hall is deep and 15 Meter, width twenty two meters, the inner hall is deep and wide 15 The temple is 1,000 square meters in area and can accommodate thousands of people for worship. The temple also has a preaching building, shower pool, imam's residence and a reception room for foreign guests.

It's a pity that it is not open due to special periods. Didn't get to visit.

I can't understand Uyghur at all. . .

Most of the ethnic minorities coming and going on the road are religious.

Take the bus back. (Taking the bus here is also very boring. If you hold a bottle of drink you just bought, the driver will ask you to take a sip before getting on the bus. You are worried about liquid bombs or something...)

Back at the hotel, Brother Dong invited me to dinner again. Thank you so much!

The time difference in Xinjiang is two hours behind that of the mainland. At ten o'clock in the evening, it starts to get dark.

Around twelve o'clock in the evening, it was completely dark, and everyone went out to eat barbecue and skewers. Unfortunately, my phone ran out of battery and I didn't take any pictures. When you come to Xinjiang, you must eat skewers ! I eat them until two or three in the morning. Then go back to the hotel to rest, and have to catch the train to Yecheng at dawn...

(To be continued...)