It has been said that in one's life, one must go to the Great Northwest Loop, because one big loop is equivalent to 10 trips. The most classic seven-day Northwest Loop spans about 2,700 kilometers across Qinghai and Gansu provinces, covering about 20 of the best scenic spots in the two provinces. All the seemingly out-of-place beauties, such as deserts, Gobi, grottoes, yayas, danxia, mountains, rivers and lakes, all converge on this line.
You may have to travel many times to see the whole landscape, and you can encounter it here. The attractions are scattered and far away, so the most suitable way to travel to the attractions in Northwest China is self-driving.
In May, the annual long-distance summer trip is once again on the agenda. Where are you planning to go this year? At a family gathering, the topic came up occasionally, and I said my daughter wanted to visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. One person driving too tired, can only regret to travel with the group. I did not expect to get a positive response from my brother's family, said we rent a seven-seater car in Xining is better, two people take turns to drive, is not too tired, and went on a trip.
1:z86 Nanjing - Xi'anan
Comfortable soft sleeper carriages
2 days 2 Xi'anan - Xining
The next day at noon arrived at Xi'anan station, at Wudaokou station take the subway line 1 to Beijie, then transfer to line 2 to Xi'anan North Station, then take D2673 to Xi'anan North Station in Xining, arrived at Xining Station at 19:40 and went directly to CARInc. to pick up the car. There was a problem with the rental car, the first car just wouldn't start.
The second car was shot and ready to be picked up. My wife said it seemed like there was a problem with the staff shift, so I asked the master to hook it up himself. The result is really difficult to hang, ten times can hang three times is good. Such a car I dare not drive thousands of kilometers.
Fortunately, the third car is not much of a problem, repeatedly try the brake throttle position. The car was rubbed all the place took pictures and left. In the later journey, the car is still quite strong, and nothing happened.
Car Co., Ltd. Xining High-speed Railway Station Branch
Since the fuel tank of the lift car has reached the warning line, it immediately went out to refuel. It was almost ten o'clock after the toss. Had a quick meal of ramen and checked into the Ruijia Hotel (No. 26 Jianguo Street).
The night view of Xining from the guest room.
3 days Xining Qilian town, Zhuoer Mountain (total trip about 290 kilometers)
West of Xining, take the Datong exit, into G227. over the Dasan Mountain, encountered falling rocks. Luckily, I waited for the construction vehicles to clear the area, and it took only ten minutes to pass normally.
Dasan Mountain toll station
Continue to go, over the 3700 meters of Jingyangling Pass, to the Silk Road, the main road to the town of Goose Castle, where lunch, all the way to Zhuoer Mountain.
Goose Castle Ancient Town (New)
Passing by the Arou Temple
It takes about one o'clock in the afternoon to reach Mount Zhor. Zuoer Mountain is facing the Niuxin Mountain, the snow on the top of the mountain is clearly visible, and the rape flowers at the foot of the mountain correspond to the yellow and green of the wheat fields, so it is called "the Qilian Mountain in the sky".
Zhuoer Mountain is 4328 meters above sea level. Maybe I just went to the plateau is not accustomed to, may also be walking a little fast. I was a bit overwhelmed after coming down from Zuoer Mountain. After playing for about two hours, I drove to the B&B in Qilian Town. BB was booked more than a month in advance on Airbnb's website. It was on the sixth floor of the BB, and carrying large and small bags up to the sixth floor added to the heightened reaction. Had a quick dinner in the evening and went into the room to rest. After a short night's sleep, it was difficult to fall back asleep. I had a terrible headache and my eyes seemed to be squeezed out of their frames. Stayed up until dawn.
4 Days Qilian Town - Zhangye Qicai Danxia Scenic Spot (242 kilometers) - Jiayuguan City (about 220 kilometers)
The headache didn't go away for the rest of the night, so I had to get up and take an aspirin. Continuing the journey, I left Qilian town and headed towards Ebao. Early in the morning I encountered herdsmen who drove their cattle and sheep out of their homes to natural pastures. From time to time, the cows and sheep crossed the road in groups to graze. All we can do is quietly wait for them to pass, after all, this is their territory. We are passers-by. Don't honk your horn when you come across cows and sheep, wait for an opportunity to pass, otherwise you will be easily frightened. The consequences will be troublesome).
Yak
Borrow sheep way
The car drove to the three-way intersection of the town of Goose Castle, which was visited yesterday. g227 turn Gansu Zhangye. After crossing the 3685 meter Ovoo Forest Pass, enter Minle County, Gansu Province. In a documentary I can't remember to see the Minle County. I remembered that this county is a bit famous for its rapeseed fields. Sure enough, along the way, I saw a large blooming rapeseed flowers, and I couldn't help but stop to take pictures.
Blooming rapeseed flowers
Arriving at Zhangye scenic area is already past noon, after entering the Gansu territory, Van Gogh has disappeared. I had a crazy meal at a Sichuan restaurant in the scenic area to make up for the deficit of not eating much yesterday. I also regained my strength. Zhangye's seven-colored Danxia is famous for Three Shots at a Gun and has since become a location for several popular movies. Piled up like mountains and draped in colorful ribbons, they look like a palette God dropped on earth.
Played in the scenic area for about two hours, the original plan to take off in a hot air balloon to shoot a panoramic view of the Danxia landforms, asked the staff for safety reasons, the weather is too hot, discretionary five o'clock after the opening. Forget about it. Out of the Danxia scenic area, straight to Jiayuguan. It was about six o'clock when we arrived at Jiayuguan Scenic Area. The entrance fee for Jiayuguan is 110 RMB. From forums and friends who have been there before, I learned that this scenic area is a bit of a pit. So we decided to drive around Jiayuguan Pass on three sides and take photos from all angles to mark the spot. Then stayed at Ibis Jiayuguan Hotel for the night.
Because it was my first time in Gansu. I experienced Gansu cuisine at a restaurant across the street from the hotel. The experience was good.
Delicious Milk Mud
5 Days Jiayuguan Dunhuang (about 362km)
Woke up in the morning and pushed open the window to see the Qilian Mountains in the distance. Many of the peaks are wearing white caps. It is covered by perennial snow. Unfortunately, the hotel screen window could not be opened, and could not be photographed. Only in the hotel downstairs shot Jiayuguan Railway Station, Jiayuguan Railway Station left Jiayuguan to Dunhuang. On both sides of the highway is the vast Gobi, all the way to the west, listening to Xu Wei's "Free as the wind". My heart was filled with pride. Feeling how wide the heaven and earth are and how wide my heart is."
Jiayuguan-Dunhuang
Arrived at Dunhuang at noon. After dinner, we went directly to the Mogao Grottoes Digital Display Center. A month ago we booked a Class A ticket on the Mogao Caves official website. 38 RMB/adult. Includes digital movie, 8 caves, tour bus. When you book, you need to make a reservation to show up. After the booking time, you can't enter the theater to watch. The digital movie focuses on the past life of Mogao Caves. After watching the movie, take the tour bus to visit Mogao Caves. Since Mogao Caves is a world-famous art treasure trove, there are a lot of tourists. And for safety and security reasons, only line up at the entrance and enter in groups. Every 15-20 people will have a guide to lead, the guide will give a pair of headphones throughout the explanation.
Mogao Grottoes: In the Mogao Grottoes, known as the Louvre of the Orient and also known as the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas, there are artistic treasures that have been handed down for thousands of years. Those finely carved statues of Buddha, those carefully sketched and painstakingly painted murals, are the precious gifts left to us and the world by craftsmen of all generations. The Mogao Caves are a classic not to be missed on a trip to the northwest. The Buddha statues in the caves are very beautiful. The surplice sits on a lotus table and hangs naturally. The folds of the robe covering the lotus table are clearly visible. In the caisson, flying gowns and fluttering ribbons. As if traveling through time and space at any time, the murals in the cave are colored with pigments made from grinding precious stones and metals. After thousands of years, they are still colorful. Because of the protection of cultural relics, photography is not allowed in the caves. After visiting the caves, the Mogao Grottoes tour is over. (Brush the microblogging on the high speed train. Seeing the torrential rain in the Dunhuang area, the rainfall in one day is the sum of the whole year. The water washed away the road to the Mogao Grottoes, and all tourists who had booked tickets for the tour got refunds. One can't help but be secretly grateful. While we've been traveling in the NW, the weather has been beautiful for the past few days. It was not too late to go back to the Digital Exhibition Center to pick up the car. It's about 10 kilometers to the Mingsha Mountain Viewpoint. Tickets are 110 and half price for children. Doesn't include any excursions and pays 130/person for excursions in the scenic area, including sandboarding and camel riding. Scenic area one-way electric car.
Drive to Dunhuang IU Hotel at 8 o'clock. After checking in and having a simple dinner, I went to Dunhuang night market and bought some gifts.
Dunhuang logo bouncing lute statue.
Sixth day Dunhuang - Yumen Pass (100 kilometers) - YaDan ghost city (about 70 kilometers) - Akse (180 kilometers)
From Dunhuang out of the Yumen, all the way to the Gobi, very few vehicles. Looking at the empty road. We also parked on the side of the road and took some road photos.
The Yellow River was getting farther and farther away as it flowed in the middle of the river, and Yumen Pass was situated on a lonely mountain. Why complain about the delay of spring with the sad song of the willow, the old Yumen Pass, a spring wind is not blowing ah! In initiation, every Chinese must memorize Tang poems. Finally, seeing is believing. I saw the remnants of the small square city of Yumen, walked into the city, looked at the yellow rammed earth walls, and felt the heartache and loneliness of the garrison generals. (Yumen scenic single 40, do not need to buy scenic transportation to drive)
A little more than an hour to the YaDan Ghost City scenic area, Ghost City: Dunhuang's YaDan Ghost City is a part of the ancient Lop Nor, the scale is huge. On the endless Gobi, the rugged Yadayan landforms cluster in a starry, fantastical and spectacular. When night falls, the sharp and strong wind blows across the Gobi, emitting a terrible roar, which is frightening. Hence the name "Ghost City".
Crossing the Gobi Desert Highway, we arrived at Akse Oil Town at 6 p.m., where the oil has been extracted. The town looks quiet. There were not many vehicles. When we arrived at the hotel and settled down, we immediately went to Boro Brickwell Town. Akse Oil Town: An oil town in Akse Kazakh Autonomous County. The locals were outside collecting tickets for 20 people. This was the filming location for the movie Nine Layer Demon Tower. It is an abandoned city restored in the 80s. Many scenes from the movie are still intact. The flying minibus, gas station, and school are all great places to pose.
Strange image of a helicopter parked in front of a small hotel refueling for repairs.
7 Days Akse - Youxiang Service Area (about 270km) - Dachaidan (50km) - Delingha
Today I had to cross the Dangjin Mountain, which is more than 3,700 meters above sea level, to enter Qinghai again, so I got up early in the morning to wash and pack.After filling up with fuel at 7:30am, I started my journey to leave Akse and head to Dangjin Mountain. There was a 42 kilometers uphill journey and it was obvious that the 2.0T Cosmos was throttling down. The car ran out of energy so I drove forward 20 yards.
There was a 10-meter-high sidewalk platform directly across the driveway, and I wondered what it was for. When I saw a sign that said in front of the platform, I suddenly realized. Out of control vehicle navigation. I dreaded going downhill for 42 kilometers straight. Some vehicles have failed brakes, so let them rush to the high platform to brake. Think of long trailers of dozens of tons. If they fail, escape would be horrible.
On the way, when there is a stretch of road under Jinshan
At 11:30 p.m., the Youxiang public security checkpoint is reached. Everyone in the car has to get out of the car to undergo a security check. No photos are allowed here. After getting on the bus again, we enter the Yuqa service area, which is contracted by Tibetans. Only provide Tibetan food. Starting from 59 RMB for one serving, I felt a bit expensive and asked for instant noodles again. The overall feeling is not very friendly.
We only ate our own snacks. (Actually, you can go 50 kilometers ahead without eating here. It takes a short time to get to Chaitan Town, the site of the Dachaidan Management Committee. There are hotels and supermarkets here, and the choice is huge.)
We had dinner earlier and went straight to the Emerald Lake of Dachaidan. It is 5 kilometers from the town to the lake and the road is in very poor condition. Only a turtle could run fast. At least when we got to the lake, the beautiful scenery made it worth driving this unprecedentedly bad road.
The place is undeveloped and costless. At the lake, a small group of old-timers came by in their cars to hang out. At 2 p.m. from the Emerald Lake out, continue to take the G3011 LiuGuo highway, turn DeXiao highway, go to Delingha. In the middle of the way, rest in the Huai Tou Tara service area. Aliens were found near Huaitou Tara and there is currently an alien site. This was not in our itinerary. We only clocked in at the service area. Continue traveling east till Delhi.
Tutara Service Area
Delhi was founded in 1988 and is the capital of Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, at an altitude of about 3,000 meters above sea level, with a city population of about 50,000 people. The air in the town is fresh. The streets are neatly planned and clean. It feels cozy and livable. Delhi poet Haizi passed by several times. And wrote the famous poem "Sister, tonight I am in Delingha", which is a necessary place for many Wenqing to enter Qinghai. There is a Haizi Memorial Hall near Xinyuan Road in Hanting, where we live, which introduces Haizi's life and his poems.
8 days Delingha - Chaka Salt Lake (200 kilometers) - Tianjun County - Gangcha County
Out of Delhi, take the Chad Highway to s2013 - Chaka Salt Lake, have fun. 2013 turn to the G315, climb Guanjiao Mountain at an altitude of 3,847 meters, and enter the county of Tianjun, and enter the pastoral area again, see a large area of grassland and cattle and sheep. Zero distance from the cattle and sheep, through the Tianjun County into the Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gangcha County, encountered the Qinghai Lake, walking along the lake for 20 to 30 kilometers, into the plateau of the sea city of Gangcha County.
Tea Salt Lake: rated by National Geographic as one of the "55 places one must visit in one's life", it is known as the "land of the sky". As a mirror that can reflect the sky, it is a holy place to visit Qinghai and take pictures. Tea Salt Lake is a famous natural crystallized salt lake in the Qaidam Basin, and is China's "Mirror of the Sky". Its salt production can be used by the whole country for about 75 years. There are many salt sculptures in the scenic area for viewing, and you can also take a small train to explore the depths of the salt lake. Visitors can walk barefoot to the edge of the lake to watch and photograph their reflections. If they are lucky enough, they can see mirages forming on these rivers during the day. (The Chaka Salt Lake train is 50 yuan per person one way, so you can take the one-way train straight to the core area, get off the lake to photograph it, and walk a kilometer or so back to the Salt Sculpture Plaza to take an electric sightseeing bus to the exit. 5 yuan per seat)
Tianjun County relies on sheep to re-enter the Luyu pastoral area.
Qinghai Lake (a big lake as blue as the sea, boundless)
Qinghai Lake: each season, Qinghai Lake has its own different beauty. In the middle of the year, the best scenery in July and August, because at this time the lake is blooming with a lot of golden-colored rapeseed flowers, the sea of yellow flowers and the blue lake connected to the sky and water. The scenery is beautiful. (It was a bit cloudy when we arrived. It was very windy).
Gangcha County, Haicheng City ("Auspicious Four Ruins" sculpture symbolizes the great unity of all ethnic groups)
Tibetan elders jump around the square in a pot village.
Api welcomes Tibetan-decorated B&Bs.
9 days Gangcha - Huangzhong Tal Temple - Xining
From Gangcha County, traveling along the G315, passing through Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Haiyan County, Huangyuan County, Xining, and arriving at Huangzhong County Tal Temple. Thar Monastery: one of the six major monasteries of the Yellow Religion of Tibetan Buddhism in China, the birthplace of the founder of the Yellow Religion of Tibetan Buddhism. Tal Temple, also known as Tal Temple, was built in the Ming Dynasty, Hongwu ten years (1377). Named for the Great Silver Pagoda built in the Dajinwa Temple in honor of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Buddhism
Return to Xining at about 5:00 pm. The starting point - the end starting point. A big turnaround. When you arrive in Xining, drop the kids off at the hotel, fill up the gas tank, and then immediately return the car to the car company . Since there was no gas in the tank when we picked up the car, we filled it up and returned it. Shenzhou had a record before and we were refunded 450 bucks for the gas. It was more official. We immediately liked the store on the app. I went back to the hotel and cleaned up, then went to the online celebrity restaurant Yiranxuan Qinghai Specialties. When I arrived, I didn't get to sample the Qinghai cuisine. I had a great time this time. Ordered some specialties in the restaurant.
Because it was an online celebrity restaurant, it meant a lot of people. Lots of people dragging suitcases for dinner (I guess the only way to get off the transportation). While we waited for our seats, I slipped into the alley across the street. Unexpectedly found my way through the alley. It was the majestic Dongguan Grand Mosque that I had wanted to see earlier. It was a benefit of the meal.
Day 10 Xining - Xi'ananbei - Nanjingnan
The trip was over. The perfect big ring.
Necessary items for Qinghai-Dalian ring tour:
Documents: ID card, student card, etc.. (It is best for children to have an ID card to facilitate travel)
Moisturizing: lip balm, hand cream, hydrating spray
Sunscreen: sunscreen, sunscreen clothing, hats, sunglasses, shawls.
Cash: Alipay and WeChat are basically popular in Northwest China, and it's best to have some on hand in small towns.
Clothing: There is a big difference in temperature between morning and evening, and the temperature is also low in summer. In addition to seasonal clothing, July travel is best to prepare a jacket and ultra-thin down jacket. Because of the beauty of the scenery and nature photos. You can bring colorful clothes.
Sandals: can be used in the salt lake and desert.
Medications: basically not very bad. Take a little cold medicine, band-aids, aspirin, the Northwest diet too much meat, and correspondingly poorer sanitation. Therefore, the prevention of diarrhea is very important, the corresponding drugs are necessary.
Electronic devices: camera phone, charger. Charging treasure. There is a more important, with multiple USB port cigarette lighter charger (car rental company cars do not provide this, charging treasure long time to listen to the song navigation does not tolerate)
Maps: the best offline before the trip, before departure to update to the latest, because to pass through the no man's land, some of the mountains and the desert Gobi area is no signal.
Written at the end.
Things to do ahead of time when traveling:
1. Rent a car locally if you are not driving the entire trip. With CARInc. for example, you should book 2 months in advance. Not only are there cars available to rent in advance, but the packages are reasonably priced. If you rent a temporary one, you may not have a car to rent or the price will go up 3 or 4 times.
2. Accommodation along the route is extremely tight in July and August and during the National Day. You need to book hotels in advance based on the day's destination planned in your daily itinerary. If the trip can not reach the scheduled location on the same day, it is best to remove individual trips according to the situation.
3. Tickets for the Mogao Grottoes also need to be booked a month in advance on the official website. Buying tickets on the fly will only allow you to see a limited number of caves that are temporarily open.
Other things to keep in mind
1. Don't wear short skirts and shorts when you enter a Buddhist holy place, such as the Tal Temple. It is recommended to wear long pants directly, and some ankle-baring skirts are not allowed.
2. Along the way, there are Hui, Tibetan, Mongolian and other ethnic minorities inhabited areas. Please respect other ethnic cultures.
3. When you enter a pastoral area, cows and sheep have to borrow the road, don't sound the horn. Take your time and wait for the opportunity to arrive.
Gan Da loop four adults and two children's costs (excluding the road accompanied by gifts, snacks, mineral water and other miscellaneous expenses)
1:Accommodation 3502
2:Railway transportation costs 6903 (including a breakfast)
3. Costs associated with the rental of a car
Rental fee of 1,630 yuan. Gas, 450. gas, 220 yuan. Come on, 280 yuan. Come on, $240
$265 for gas in Axel. Yeringha gas at $280. Check gas at 270 yuan on the line. Gas, 130 yuan (last day)
Total 3765
3. Bell
Toll 68 yuan, toll 123 yuan. Highway 65 yuan. Delingha high-speed fee of 60 yuan
The highway fee of 35 yuan 20 yuan
***Total 371
4. attractions tickets
Grottoes cost 1248 yuan. 420 yuan. Seven-colored Danxia 390 yuan
Mingshan tickets 550 yuan. Famous mountain playpro