A 11 – Day Journey Through the Wonders of Northwest China

Introduction

In the golden month of October, a group of friends embarked on an 11 – day adventure to explore the rich history, stunning landscapes, and unique cultures of northwest China. With a budget of around 4300 yuan per person, they visited numerous iconic destinations, including Dunhuang, Ejina Banner, and Lanzhou.

Day 1: Shanghai – Dunhuang

• Arrival and Exploration: Utilizing Spring Airlines’ “Fly Whenever You Want” ticket package, they took a flight with a stop in Lanzhou and arrived in Dunhuang in the afternoon. The hotel offered free airport pick – up. They had time to stroll along the Danghe River, a beautiful waterfront area in the arid city.
• Dining Delights: In the evening, they took a convenient Didi ride to Jingyuan Galiu Delicious Lamb Meat near Shazhou Paradise. They feasted on hand – grasped mutton, which was tender and odorless, and shacong scrambled eggs. The local specialty, mutton stewed with wide noodles (locally called “bing”), was a highlight. The noodles absorbed the rich flavor of the mutton. They also enjoyed the refreshing apricot peel water, a signature drink made from local Li Guang apricots.

Day 2: Dunhuang Ancient City, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, “Impression Dunhuang” Show

• Ancient City Adventure: They headed to Dunhuang Ancient City (also known as Dunhuang Film Studio) to fulfill their martial – arts dreams. After paying 35 yuan per person for the ticket, they changed into ancient costumes at the “Han and Tang Charm” studio for 60 yuan per person and rented a horse for 20 yuan. The desolate scenery of the ancient city, with its cold weapons and movie – like settings, was perfect for photography.
• Lunch at Mingsha Mountain: After the morning shoot, they had lunch at Xu Ji near the Mingsha Mountain scenic area. They tried the famous donkey meat with yellow noodles and were pleasantly surprised by the spicy and crispy roujiamo.
• Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake: Entering Mingsha Mountain with a 110 – yuan ticket per person, they were amazed by the magnificent camel caravans. They chose to walk towards the Crescent Lake. The soft sand, the unique shape of the sand dunes, and the beautiful scenery of the lake were truly enchanting. The lake, like a crescent moon, had remained clear and unfilled by the surrounding sand for thousands of years.
• “Impression Dunhuang” Show: In the evening, they watched the “Impression Dunhuang” show at a cost of 298 yuan per person. The immersive performance, using cutting – edge technology, took them back in time to experience the glory of Dunhuang’s history and culture.

Day 3: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang Museum

• Mogao Caves Exploration: The Mogao Caves, also known as the “Thousand – Buddha Caves,” are a world – famous Buddhist art treasure. They had to book tickets one month in advance. After watching two movies at the visitor center to understand the history and art of the caves, they took a bus to the core area. A guide led them to visit eight randomly selected caves. Inside the caves, they were in awe of the magnificent murals and sculptures that had survived for over 1600 years.
• Dunhuang Museum Visit: After the cave visit, they went to the Dunhuang Museum for free. The museum displayed a large number of cultural relics. The replica of Cave 45 was particularly impressive, and they also enjoyed an exhibition of silk products inspired by Dunhuang art. In the evening, they explored the Dunhuang Night Market near the Flying Apsaras Playing the Pipa statue and tried various local snacks.

Day 4: Dunhuang – Jiayuguan

• Train Journey: They took a bullet train from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan, a steel – industrial city.
• Jiayuguan Fort and Museum: In the afternoon, they took a bus to the area around Jiayuguan Pass. The pass, known as the “First Pass Under Heaven,” was an important gateway on the ancient Silk Road. They visited the Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum, which was the first museum in China to comprehensively display the Great Wall culture.

Day 5: Jiayuguan – Ejina Banner

• Road Trip: Driving from Jiayuguan to Ejina Banner, they passed by the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base. Along the way, they witnessed the mirage on the Gobi Desert.
• Heicheng Ruins and Strange Forest: They arrived at the Heicheng Ruoshui Populus Euphratica Scenic Area in the afternoon. The area consisted of the Populus euphratica forest, Heicheng Ancient City, and the Strange Forest. The Populus euphratica, a tenacious tree species that can survive in harsh desert conditions, created a beautiful golden landscape. They quickly left the rebuilt Heicheng Ancient City due to its commercial atmosphere and rushed to the Strange Forest to watch the sunset. The dead trees in the Strange Forest, with their strange shapes, told a story of perseverance and the passage of time.

Day 6: Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest

• Full – day Exploration: They spent the whole day in the Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest. With an entrance ticket of 150 yuan per person (the Eighth Bridge required an additional fee), they walked from the First Bridge to the Fourth Bridge. Although the large number of tourists and poor management were a bit disappointing, the golden Populus euphratica forest was still a visual feast. The Second Bridge, with water reflecting the golden trees, had a unique charm. The Fourth Bridge, also known as the “Hero Forest,” was the filming location of the movie “Hero.”

Day 7: Juyanhai Lake, Ejina Banner – Alxa Left Banner

• Sunrise at Juyanhai Lake: They got up early to chase the sunrise at Juyanhai Lake. The lake, once dried up, had been restored to life. The sight of the rising sun, the flying red – billed gulls, and the beautiful reeds was truly magical.
• Drive on G7 Highway: Then they drove on the G7 Beijing – Xinjiang Expressway, the world’s longest highway crossing the desert. Along the way, they saw vast deserts, Gobi, and the growing Ant Forest areas with saxaul trees.

Day 8: Alxa Left Banner – Yinchuan

• Xixia Imperial Tombs: They visited the Xixia Imperial Tombs, the royal mausoleums of the Xixia Dynasty. The 95 – yuan ticket included a visit to the museum, where they learned about the mysterious Xixia culture and the unique Xixia script. They took a sightseeing bus to the core Third Mausoleum, which was believed to be the tomb of Li Yuanhao, the founding emperor of the Xixia Dynasty.
• Zhenbeipu Film and Television City: In the afternoon, they went to Zhenbeipu Film and Television City, known as the “Oriental Hollywood.” They explored the Qing City, Ming City, and the Old Yinchuan Street. The filming locations of many famous movies, such as “A Chinese Odyssey” and “Red Sorghum,” were here.
• Yingbin Road Night View: In the evening, they enjoyed the night view along Yingbin Road in Yinchuan.

Day 9: Yinchuan – Qingtongxia – Zhongwei

• Qingtongxia 108 Pagodas: They first visited the Qingtongxia 108 Pagodas. After learning about the pagodas’ history in the museum, they were impressed by the well – arranged pagoda array. Walking around the pagodas was said to bring good luck. The view from the top of the pagoda was magnificent, overlooking the beautiful Qingtongxia Gorge.
• Zhongwei 66 – mile Road: They then drove to the so – called “Zhongwei 66 – mile Road.” This 30 – kilometer road, with various landscapes such as the Yellow River, Gobi, and grasslands, was as spectacular as the famous US Route 66. They were supposed to reach Beichangtan Village but had to turn back due to the late sunset.

Day 10: Zhongwei – Lanzhou

• Shapotou Scenic Area: In Shapotou, they entered the Yellow River area with an 80 – yuan ticket. They saw the traditional sheepskin rafts on the Yellow River. They took the desert elevator to the top of the sand dune and enjoyed the view of the Yellow River’s magnificent bend. They also tried the “First Cableway across the Yellow River” (120 yuan per person), an exciting experience of flying across the river.
• Sandstorm and Journey to Lanzhou: After lunch, a sandstorm hit, but they managed to drive carefully on the highway and arrived in Lanzhou at night. In Lanzhou, they tasted the local beef noodles (locally called “niurou mian”) and milk and egg fermented glutinous rice.

Day 11: Lanzhou – Shanghai

• Lanzhou Exploration: They had time to explore Lanzhou during the day. They walked on the Yellow River Iron Bridge (also known as the Zhongshan Bridge), the first permanent bridge on the Yellow River. Then they climbed to Bai塔 Mountain Park, which offered a great view of the city and the river. They also saw the Yellow River waterwheels and the Yellow River Mother Statue.
• Return Journey: In the evening, they took a flight back to Shanghai, ending this unforgettable journey.

This trip was a perfect blend of history, nature, and culture, leaving the travelers with memories that would last a lifetime. The vastness of the northwest, the ancient cultures, and the unique landscapes had a magical allure that made them eager to return.

Read More《2020走近敦煌千年璀璨文化，追寻胡杨林三千年守候身影》

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