A record of riding the Xinjiang-Tibet Line - arriving at the starting point, Yecheng!

I got up very early the next day, and it was getting late outside. Although I slept too late last night, I still had to travel on the train all day, so it didn’t matter. (It’s still a long way to the starting point!!!)

My riding friend, Brother Dong, also got up early. I thought I brought too many things, so I gave some to him, because he happened to need them too. (On the road, I still emphasize being kind to others and helping each other! Unless they are rude.) I checked the train number carefully and found that I got on the train at the new train station (Urumqi Station is the new station, and South Station is the old station.) , I almost wanted to run to South Station to get on the train. The new station was ten kilometers away from the hotel. It might be too late to take the bus, so I hurriedly packed my things and called Didi to go to the new train station. Brother Dong saw that my luggage was heavy, so he went downstairs to help me carry my things. He didn't leave until I got in the car. I'm really grateful to Brother Dong! If I have the chance, I will definitely go to Chengdu to see you !

In fact, I think the local people are actually very friendly and not as barbaric as everyone thinks . Moreover, Xinjiang is now so strictly managed that security problems can still be avoided. The Didi driver is a Uyghur whose hometown is in southern Xinjiang. When he heard that I was going to ride, he kept telling me about the current situation in southern Xinjiang and the severe martial law there, and also gave me some suggestions and precautions. I felt so warm instantly! After all, I'm the only one on the road. When we arrived at the train station, the driver took the initiative to get out of the car and help me carry my luggage. I really appreciate the driver!

When we arrived at the new station, it was indeed much larger than the old station. EMUs all depart from the new station. (Yes, Xinjiang has bullet trains!)

It is obviously dozens of levels more luxurious than Urumqi South Railway Station. It feels the same architectural atmosphere as Guangzhou South Railway Station and laments the rapid development of the city. (When I arrived in 11, there was no new website.)

Sit and wait for the train to arrive

Here, all the trains starting with K bound for southern Xinjiang do not even have air conditioning in the sleeper berths. . . And the environment is also much worse (because most of the terrain in southern Xinjiang is a relatively serious desert area, which is often troubled by natural disasters such as sandstorms, and passing trains are also severely eroded.) So, long live your understanding. Be patient and it will pass!

Get on the bus, exchange your ticket, and catch up on your sleep! (Seriously, taking a long-distance train alone makes you vomit blood...)

After waking up, it was already past three in the afternoon. After eating something, I sat by the window and admired the scenery outside the window.

Southern Xinjiang is really notorious for being desolate. It can even be exaggerated to say " Heavenly Northern Xinjiang, hellish Southern Xinjiang ." Usually, most friends who come to Xinjiang to travel choose Northern Xinjiang. The economy of northern Xinjiang is far more developed than that of southern Xinjiang. Its main advantages over southern Xinjiang are fertile land, a more pleasant natural climate and developed economic conditions. Southern Xinjiang covers arid and saline-alkali lands. Every year at the turn of spring and summer, uninvited and blocking sand and dust, as well as dry and hot winds, hail and floods, make the agricultural industry in Southern Xinjiang a weak industry. In addition, the local Problems such as the relatively low level of human education have led to the unoptimistic economic situation in southern Xinjiang. Because of this, some ethnic minorities often break out in riots and other incidents because they are dissatisfied with the status quo. This is the main reason for the chaos in southern Xinjiang . However, in recent years, the state has spent a lot of effort in supporting southern Xinjiang. Since the government implemented various free policies, the living conditions of the people in southern Xinjiang have begun to improve. Moreover, the development of tourism in Kashgar and other areas has helped local economic growth. In the more famous tourist areas in southern Xinjiang, security is stricter than in Urumqi, so there is no need to worry about safety issues. Southern Xinjiang has many good reputations, such as "the land of singing and dancing, the land of melons and fruits, the land of gold and jade", etc. (Fruit is indeed very cheap.)

On the way to southern Xinjiang, there is Gobi desert all the way, and the temperature is very high (this is also a no-man's land, there is no way to survive).

The train passes through Korla City. Korla City is the capital of the Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang. It is the throat of the ancient Silk Road and one of the birthplaces of Western Regions culture . It has a long history and is a famous place in southern Xinjiang. tourist area. The city relies on Mount Kuruk and Mount Hora, branches of the Tianshan Mountains, in the north, and is only 100 kilometers away from the Taklimakan Desert, the second largest desert in the world, the "Sea of ​​Death" to the south . It is an important transportation hub and material distribution center in northern and southern Xinjiang. It's a pity that the editor didn't have enough time and couldn't take a look at the beauty of southern Xinjiang. Otherwise, I would have wanted to ride in the desert.

Since this city is so big, the train will naturally stop here for 20 minutes. I wanted to come down and get some fresh air, but holy shit, it was even hotter than on the train. I took out my mobile phone and took a look. The temperature soared to 37℃. If it weren’t for the exhaust device inside the train, I would have died. Looking at the pictures, you can feel the local conditions, the gray weather and the huge sun.

Take a selfie quickly before getting tanned (there will be comparison laterO(∩_∩)O).

After getting on the train, I saw a conductor outside the train who was wrapped tightly from top to bottom, which was in sharp contrast to the passengers sitting opposite me. I took out my phone and took a photo immediately. The staff here work really hard, hats off to them!

There is Gobi desert along the way, and I feel very uncomfortable after looking at it for a long time. Then I just lay in bed and make a salted fish.

It wasn't until the next morning that the train arrived at Kashgar, the most famous area in southern Xinjiang.

(Since the editor did not stay in Kashgar, the following introduction information comes from other travel friends who traveled with me)

Kashgar, also known as Kashgar, means "various brick houses" in Uyghur. Kashgar borders the Taklimakan Desert to the east, the Karakoram Mountains and Ngari in Tibet to the south, the Pamir Plateau to the west, and the Tianshan Mountains to the north. It is the largest city in western China on the Silk Road.

Places worth visiting - International Dazaba: The largest international trade market in the northwest, known locally as "Dongzaba", is similar to the small commodity market in Yiwu or the Lotus Pond Market in Chengdu. You can buy A variety of dried fruits are sent home.

Id Kah Mosque : It is refreshing and clean inside, with no Buddha statues at all. The Uyghur people have their God in their hearts.

Gaotai Residential House : Located in the old city, the maze-like ancient streets of the Western Regions were the filming location for the movie "Lion from the Sky".

In addition, you can pay your respects to the statue of Mao Zedong in the People's Square, and you can also visit the typical Islamic ancient building complex of Xiangfei Tomb in the east of the city.

Specialty catering

Recommend Kashgar Ansar Catering , which has more Uighur characteristics. Barbecue and yogurt are must-haves. Most locals know it and can find it on the navigation system. Many restaurants on the streets of Kashgar sell hand-picked rice , which is a must-eat meal in Xinjiang. A bowl of rice + a pot of mutton, 16 yuan. After you finish eating, you will know why middle-aged and elderly people in Xinjiang are so fat.

As for accommodation, my friend said that you can search for it on Meituan. It is recommended to stay in the old town, where you can find everything to eat and play!

There are two professional mountain bike shops in Kashgar - Merida and Giant. If necessary, this is the last city with a mountain bike shop before departure, so be sure to buy the missing equipment.

For travel friends who do not start in Kashgar, or who cannot send the car to Yecheng, when arriving in Kashgar, it is recommended to take a car to Yecheng, because the car can go directly to the bus, but not the train, and it also saves the shipping fee. Kashgar International Bus Station, which is a newly built bus station in 2015, is far away from the city, near Guangzhou New City on Pamir Avenue in Shufu County, Nanmen. The bus ticket from Kashgar to Yecheng is about 60 yuan, so remember to buy the ticket in advance.

Outdoor stores in Kashgar sell gas tanks and stoves (you may not be able to buy them if the city is under martial law!)

The bus slowly entered Kashgar Station, and there were quite a few people there.

A Belaruss girl got in the car. Out of curiosity, I struck up a conversation with her. She spoke very softly, and I could see that she was a kind-hearted person. To my surprise,she went to college in Hunan. Her name is Paridei Kuisha (Paridei means "fairy" in the local area, because she is really good-looking), and she is from Kashgar, Xinjiang. I asked: Why do you want to go to Hotan area (Xinjiang) when your home is in Kashgar? The southernmost region), so she told me the ins and outs of the current situation in southern Xinjiang... (It involves political issues and I dare not disclose it.) For the locals, life has been greatly affected. limits. So she had no choice but to temporarily "take refuge" with relatives in the Hotan area where martial law was not yet under martial law.

Then, before the bus started, several groups of armed police came up and said they would open bags and check all passengers' IDs. Fortunately, I am Han Chinese and they only checked my ID. Kuisha was so embarrassed that she had to open her suitcase for inspection, which made her feel distressed. . . . . . (You probably know the current situation in this area).

Kuisha is a Christian and believes deeply in religion. She declined my request to take pictures (thinking that taking pictures would take away her soul), but while she was talking to other people, I secretly took a photo ... It looks good. ,Ha ha.

After Kashgar, it still takes three hours to reach Yecheng. All the way to the desert, all the way to desolation.

We finally arrived in Yecheng, but this was my first time to experience this way of getting off the bus. Directly across the train tracks…

After four days of train travel, Yecheng has finally arrived!

When exiting the station, ethnic minority people lined up and had their bodies checked, while Han people could just exit the station directly. It feels bad to treat the locals like this.

After leaving the station, I went to the baggage room to take out the bicycle and luggage I had missed for a long time. Except for the rear tire blowout, nothing happened.

The management staff of the private room are Uighurs, who are very nice. They asked me to repair my car inside to avoid the sun, and gave me a glass of water. So you have to believe that the local people are simple in heart and only a handful of people are causing trouble!

He didn't notice the dog next to him and barked suddenly, which scared dad to death. I don’t know where they were brought from, but the management told me that these are just police dogs. No wonder he's so strong.

It took more than two hours to repair the car and organize the equipment. After weighing it, all the equipment weighed 28 kilograms, plus the dry food and water we will buy later, it is estimated to exceed 30 kilograms. Fortunately, my weight is light, less than 100 kilograms.

The advantage of bringing a tripod is that you can take selfies anywhere, haha. Leave a photo at the starting point to encourage yourself ! (Look at the luxurious equipment )

Yecheng is a small border town located at the junction of the northern Kunlun Mountains and the Tarim Basin. The streets are wide, clean, and the locals are friendly. While the sun was shining brightly, the wind was also quite strong. The surrounding arid Gobi and desert gradually turn into oases, and Danxia landforms occasionally appear. In this quiet little town, how many people know that this was once the area most severely affected by terrorist attacks. Under the full punishment of the People's Liberation Army and the local police force, the people of Yecheng slowly returned to a peaceful life. Yecheng is the actual starting point of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. There is no public transportation on the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. Apart from chartered cars, most people want to hitchhike.

At first, I was a little unaccustomed to riding with a heavy load. Even when I was riding out of the train station square, I felt a little "overwhelmed" and I kept paying attention to the rear wheel for fear of a puncture.

Today I plan to stay at the "White Swan Hotel" that has been recommended by my predecessors. It is also an important gathering place for travelers across the country . It is ten kilometers from the train station to the hotel, so you can just navigate directly. The city is not big and easy to find.

But there’s still that problem, the city is under martial law! I went around several blocked intersections and begged many uncles from the People's Liberation Army. Until I took a detour to a small intersection on the edge of the city, there was a soldier who saw that I was a Han and came to ride, so he accommodated me and let me in. Other locals standing at the intersection were heartbroken because they could not come in. They can only be released at twelve o'clock in the evening.

I entered the city and found the White Swan Hotel, put down my car and luggage, and met a riding friend named Xiaoyang, who is from Shenyang in Northeast China. He set off a few days later than me, waiting for his teammates. We went out to hang out together and bought dry food for gas tanks (Qiaodan Sports Outdoor Store in Yecheng sells gas tanks. Opposite the outdoor store is a market where you can buy things.)

There are political propaganda slogans everywhere along the way. It seems that the government has done a good job in ideological work for the locals.

Because of the martial law in the city, the city seemed so empty and dead.

The locals are friendly and hitchhiking is common. They also asked me if I could get on the bus, haha. No charge.

You have to go through the security check before entering the market. The government has really worked hard to prevent explosions, which is not easy.

Xiaoyang said he wanted to eat noodles. Although the market was not big, there was no noodle shop. Finally, when he was near the exit, he saw a noodle shop. The proprietress is a native Uighur and does not speak Chinese. Fortunately, the menu is in Chinese, otherwise it would be embarrassing. But the noodles here are pretty good.

Look at the dry food I prepared!Vegetables are a luxury item on the road, and a Chinese cabbage is the best partner. Buy a few tomatoes, which can be cooked or eaten raw to supplement vitamins. Some instant noodles and steamed buns. There are also two bottles of 1.5L Nongfu Spring.

Back at the hotel, all equipment was checked, packed, and mobile phone power bank fully charged. The journey will start tomorrow, so I went to bed very early.

Regarding other notes (you can skip this if you don’t have this itinerary yet):

1. If you do not have a border defense permit, you must apply for it in Yecheng. You can reissue it at the Yecheng Public Security Border Defense Brigade next to the White Swan Hotel. It’s free with your ID card. Note that the valid area of ​​​​your border defense permit is the "Ngari area". To complete the trip along the Xinjiang-Tibet Line, you need Shiquanhe to replace the border defense permit for Tibet. What I need to remind you is: if you have any criminal record (including detention record), you will not be able to apply for a border defense permit!

2. If you encounter martial law, you don't have to go to the city to stay. Now the accommodation conditions near the zero-kilometer road pile are better than in the city, and there are a lot of delicious food to eat. You have to go to the local area and look for it yourself. It's easy to find, just near the zero-kilometer house number.

3. Gas tanks: You cannot carry gas tanks to Xinjiang, so you must buy gas tanks before departure. The White Swan Hotel currently has no gas cans for sale. But there are Jordan stores in the county. Generally, one person can carry 1 509ml gas tank, and the price is around 40 yuan (of course more valuable than Tao).

4. Please replenish the supplies needed for the journey in Yecheng: instant noodles, compressed biscuits, instant rice, ham sausage, and chocolate. Although it is possible to buy them on the road, the quality and price are relatively higher. There is no need to bring a water bag. Remember to buy 2 bottles of 1.5L mineral water per person and keep the water bottles as water bags. You'd better bring a big cabbage, because after a few days, vegetables will become a luxury. The vegetable market in Yecheng is at the intersection of Xingfu Road and Wenhua East Road. You can find it just by asking the locals.

(To be continued...)