China Pak Silk Road

yonGO travel

17-day China's Silk Route from 9 - 25 Sep 2002
Guangzhou, Urumqi, Tianchi Lake, Turpan, Hami, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan & Nanshan Valley

Day 1 Mon Sep 9 KL Guangzhou: The group of 16 (3 men included) met ridiculously early at 630am at KLIA that meant a very early departure from home. The advantage was that we arrived in Guangzhou by 1205hrs. We vanned to our hotel in Shamian Island. After a quick lunch, we walked to the nearby Qingping market, dubbed a takeaway zoo, because one can buy dried stuff like frogs, seahorses, snakes, leeches, ants and bees. Other 'foodstuffs' available include scorpians, tortoises, terrapins and frogs. At night we walked a little further to the pedestrian mall at Xia Jiulu Shang Rd.

Day 2 Tue Flew Guangzhou to Urumqi: At 7am I led a small group to visit the Qingping Market to look at the morning activities and to take a stroll around the backlanes of Old Guangzhou. We then flew 4 hrs to Urumqi arriving at 1415hrs and from the plane, we saw beautiful views of the snow-covered Tianshan mountains. After checking into our hotel, we walk to the nearby Erdaoqiao Market (Ethnic Market) for shopping and dining. A favourite of the ladies were the silk scarfs.

Day 3 Wed Tianchi Lake: We bussed to Tianchi Lake 120 km 2.5 hrs for a 2 days-stay in a Mongolian tent or yurt. Our Kazakh host Rashit welcomed us at the bus park. We bussed and trekked the rest of the way to the camp site located next to the water's edge. After lunch, I led the group on a streneous uphill trek to a viewing area where one could get good views of the lake and its surrounding snow-peaked mountains. Everyone ended up busy clicking away with their cameras. At night we had a Mongolian meal of whole lamb (Y400), vegetables and carrot rice.
Day 4 Thu Horsing about at Tianchi Lake: Everyone was up early and eager to go on the full-day horse ride including the three senior citizens aged between 55 and 65. This was probably the highlight of the trip and we reached the snowlime after lunch. We were rewarded by great views of the pine forest, icy streams and snow-capped mountains of the Tianshan.

Day 5 Back to Urumqi: After early breakfast, we headed back to Urumqi for a look of the city. First stop was the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum with its famous mummies of European descent. Later it was the Hongshan Park for a good view from its higher elevation. And lastly to the Night Market with its extensive array of stalls selling food and other stuff. Books, in particular guide books and pictorials, were favourite buys. By the time we got back to the hotel , it was past mdnight.

Day 6 Onwards to Turpan: We bussed early to Turpan 270km 5 hrs. On this day we visited the ancient city of Gaochang, the Grape Valley as well as the Karez Wells of Turpan. This town is the grape capital of China and produces the best grapes and raisins in China. At night, we headed to the town square and had their well known.

Day 7 Turpan - Hami: Another early departure saw us passing through the Shanshan Desert. We stopped to have the reputed best Hami melons in China. It was the fruit season in Xinjiang and we consumed large quantities. In Hami, we visited the tombs of the Hami Kings before retiring to our hotels.

Day 8 On to Dunhuang: Yet another early departure to Dunhuang 430km 5.5hrs. We arrived before 3pm and had much time to ourselves to walk about this pleasant town visiting the shops and night markets to recover from three days of hectic travel.

Day 9 Dunhuang: We were at the sand dunes of Minshashang (Singing Sand Mountains) at 7pm as it was cooler. Most of us opted for camel rides to the highest dunes in China, reaching up to 1713m. Some also sand-slide the dunes and overall had a good time. Later we went to the Mogao Caves, a Unesco listed site with it famous 1000 Buddha Caves. But we only manage to see about 10 show caves with its interesting Buddhiist statures and wall painting. In the evening, we hired bicycles and romped about the farms and orchards just outside of town.

Day 10 Jiayuguan Fort: Jiayuguan is 385km 4.5hrs away and the site of the western end of the Great Wall of China. We visit the famous Jiayu Pass Fort with its massive 10m thick walls and later the nearby Xiuanbi Changcheng or Overhanging Great Wall.

Day 11 Trek to the 7th Glacier: At 6pm our bus took us on a 3 hours journey to a remote northern mountainous region. The scenery was breathtaking but there were practically no inhabitants in the hostile environment. The trail to he top of the 7th Glacier is well marked but only 5 person managed to get near to the Glacier, highest point 4,300m above sea-level. In total it was 4 hours up and a super-fast 1 hour down.

Day 12 Train back to Urumqi: In the morning we headed to the interesting town market to view the local lifestyle. Shopping in Jiayuguan is very good because it is not a touristy town. At 3pm we headed to the Railway station for our overnight train to Urumqi. The journey was made interesting because we befriended the locals sharing the same coach.

Day 13 Urumqi then Shuixi: We arrived at 0816hrs and bussed to the Shuixi Valley Village 75kms 1.5hrs, located in the Nanshan Natural Scenic Area (Southern Mountains) for a night stay in a working farmrer's house. Later that day, the group went on a walk around the village that was preparing their greenhouses for the winter. They are still able to grow and sell vegetables in winter using the hothouses, insulation panels made of hay and burning coals, which are mined from the nearby mountains.
Riding in Nanshan: We opted for another horse ride today to the Nanshan Mountain area. The horses here differs because these are fast riding horses compared to the rounder smaller mountain horese of Tianchi. Many of us enjoyed the speedy gallopping of the horses. After lunch we boarded the bus to go back to Urumqi.
Day 15 Full day Urumqi: Some of us headed to the People's Park to have a look at the early morning activities of the locals. There were different dance groupings for Latin, Ballroom, Line, Fan apart from the Taichi and Martial artists. Today was "do-as-you-like day" which meant more shopping or just walking about the town.
Day 16 Goodbye Urumqi: In the morning it was a frenzy of last-minute buys before the flight to Guangzhou 1520-1955hrs. As we arrived late in Guangzhou, there was little time to do anything.
Day 17 Wed Sep 25 Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur: Five in the group including the Trip leader left early for an extension trip to the Three Gorges and Zhangjiajie. The rest spend some time in Guangzhou in the morning before going to the airport for the 1850hrs flight to Kuala Lumpur.

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