Going to Haixi - Escaping the Malice of the Entire World

📍 Orlando · 👁 8278 reads · ❤️ 1 likes

【This is the first group photo I drew after returning home. I like these 10 companions, both old and new friends. I hope this travelogue can help us relive this unforgettable journey.】

I thought the sudden outbreak this year would trap me like a caged beast, unable to fly every month.

I thought online gatherings would become the norm.

“Let’s go to Mars Camp, shall we? Let’s go to Emerald Lake? Let’s go to the Lonely Highway? Let’s go to the Eye of the Demon!”

“Where is that?!”

“A place called Mangya, in Haixi.”

“Northwest? I don’t have enough time.”

“You do! Dragon Boat Festival, take 3 days off and string together 8 days.”

“Is the itinerary ready? Do we need to drive?”

“You don’t need to do anything. Just come…”

This is probably the first time in recent years I’ve been fooled so thoroughly. I didn’t have to plan the trip, I didn’t have to drive, and someone even helped carry my bags. Just to get me to travel with them, they even bought a new drone to bring along. I… gradually developed a little longing for this city I had never heard of before. 【Captain Ma and Tong Boss are awesome】

Pictures left for Haixi

This time, we went to all these places… I haven’t drawn many pictures on recent trips. Maybe it’s because I’ve started focusing on photography and video, or maybe because I switched to iPad Pro, thinking it would be more convenient, but actually after a full day of sightseeing I was too tired to draw. Or maybe the most important reason is that I’m not someone who likes to draw from photos afterwards; I really enjoy being inspired on the spot and picking up the brush right then. So now, I’m back to drawing. I hope to create drawings that satisfy me and have stories.

The panorama of Haixi, with an aerial view behind and our 11-person team in front.

From left to right: 【Uncle He】【Yunqi】【Sister Lin】【Huohuo】【Boss】【Pangniu】【Wen Zong】【Xiaobai】【Niu Zong】【Qingtian】【Xiaoyi】. Thank you all for your support along the way.

【Mingsha Mountain】 Although we didn’t capture a beautiful sunset at Mingsha Mountain, taking a set of flying Apsaras photos was fantastic!

【Mars Camp】 Although we didn’t camp overnight for night shots at Mars Camp, crossing the fantastic Eboliang landform to reach the magical Mars Lake was also great.

【Mangya Emerald Lake】 Although we didn’t capture reflections at Emerald Lake, using the drone to find a heart-shaped lake was also great.

【Aiken Spring (Eye of the Demon)】 Although we didn’t take portrait photos at Aiken Spring, the aerial shots and not being bitten by swarming mosquitoes were also great!

【Ushut Water Yardang】 Although we didn’t specifically shoot sunrise or sunset at Water Yardang, curing my companion’s altitude sickness was also great!

【Dongtai Jiner Lake】 Although we didn’t shoot enough video at Dongtai, taking photos that felt like the Maldives was also great!

【Lonely Highway G315】 Although we didn’t stand in the middle of the road for a lonely photo, taking a group photo with the “Nothing Special” fans was also great!

【Boluozhuanjing Petroleum Town】 Although it was quite desolate at Petroleum Town, taking photos and paying homage at the film location was also great!

No matter how good or detailed the plan, it can’t keep up with changes…

【1】June 20: Shazhou Night Market - Mingsha Mountain - Dunhuang Aistin (stay)

【2】June 21: Mogao Caves - Mingsha Mountain - Dunhuang Aistin (stay)

【3】June 22: Dunhuang Ancient City - West Thousand Buddha Caves - Yumen Pass - Han Great Wall Ruins - Petroleum Town Ruins - Lenghu Town, Lenghu Apartment (stay)

【4】June 23: Mars Highway 1 - Mars Camp - Mars Lake - Mangya Emerald Lake - Huatugou Jinkun Hotel (stay)

【5】June 24: Aiken Spring - West Tainar Lake - Water Yardang - Water Yardang RV (stay)

【6】June 25: Dongtai Jiner Lake - Dachaidan Emerald Lake - U-shaped Beauty Highway - Aksai Petroleum Town - Dunhuang Aistin (stay)

【7】June 26: Guazhou one-day tour - Son of the Earth - Yulin Caves - Dunhuang Aistin (stay)

【8】June 27: Dunhuang - Lanzhou - Ordos - Dalian (airport one-day tour)

【Each person has a folding fan. The front has characters written by my mom with a word each person likes, and the back says “Nothing Special” haha】

Looking at the itinerary in text is obviously not enough. Let me show you a short video I edited. It’s not long, covering the beautiful scenery and some small incidents we experienced on this trip. The video isn’t overly retouched – such beautiful scenery really doesn’t need modification! The original looks just fine. In short, if you don’t want to read my lengthy text, just watch the video. These places are really cool!

Advice from someone who has been there

Hello everyone, I’m Cat Huohuo. Recently, Haixi has become really popular. As someone who has been there, if you happen to read what I’ve written, let me give you a few tips in advance:

① 90% of the photos taken here are retouched, so the real colors and appearance might be disappointing. Just be mentally prepared.

② The scenic spots or the scenery along the way that you imagine are actually far apart. Plan your time every day (especially meal times).

③ Sunscreen and mosquito repellent are very important. Mosquito repellent is especially crucial at Aiken Spring.

④ The widely circulated news that Dongtai Jiner Lake will close on August 1 is false. Don’t flock there. However, it will inevitably become a paid scenic spot soon.

⑤ Basically, there are no toilets on the road; all yardang landforms can serve as toilets. Sorry for the ladies.

⑥ The altitude is around 3600m, not too high. Remember not to run. If you feel unwell, listen to me: take the strongest Rhodiola oral liquid + Lan Yang tablets, and get more sleep. You’ll be fine.

⑦ I don’t care what camera you bring, but if you don’t bring a drone, you’ll be “Nothing Special.”

⑧ Mars Highway 1 is very rough. Don’t drive it at night unless you’re camping, or you’ll be shaken to tears.

⑨ Scenic spots require reservations, masks, daily health code screenshots, ID cards, and they don’t check big data travel codes.

⑩ The G315 influencer road is full of aunties that won’t leave. I suggest everyone obey traffic rules and choose the right time to go.

? Accommodation and food in Huatugou are good, so you can arrange it. It’s the peak season recently, so book in advance. The accommodation in Lenghu Town is really poor. Finding a place on the spot is not reliable, especially if you’re a large group.

? In the Northwest, barbecue processing is free, which is quite rustic.

? Every day you’ll be walking on the road eating sand and preparing to eat sand.

Conditions are tough. If you still want to go (failed to dissuade you), fine. Let’s go and see the real look of these places together.

Due to the epidemic, there are various uncertainties worldwide. Domestically, the situation has been very well controlled over the past few months. Except for imported cases, most provinces and cities are safe and stable. The places we were going to – Qinghai and Gansu – were especially safe. I thought there shouldn’t be much problem traveling, but who would have thought that just before departure, a sudden outbreak in June caused everyone to panic. Flight cancellations, nucleic acid tests, various green codes – these words that had disappeared for months became top trending topics again. Don’t be annoyed with me for rambling now. You need to know that normally I fly at least 5 or 6 times a year… Now I’ve only flown twice. I have a lot to say!

Dunhuang, the last time I was here was 20 years ago! (It’s not that I’m old; I came when I was very young! And I still have vivid memories.) It has changed tremendously. From the moment I got off the plane, I could clearly feel that this city, blessed with rich cultural heritage, has integrated history and innovation! The story here isn’t as twisted as what came later, but the beginning is always wonderful!

Tips here: From Dalian to Dunhuang, you need to transfer. You don’t need to pick up your luggage during the transfer; at Xi’an transfer counter you can handle it directly.

Yes, this is the transfer counter. East Airlines on the left, other airlines on the right. East Airlines seems to have considerable presence in Xi’an! If your tickets were bought separately, you can’t use the transfer service; you’ll need to pick up your luggage in Xi’an and re-check in, go through security.

The first photo I took after getting off the plane. The airport no longer looks like the chocolate-colored one before!

The hotel has a pick-up service, very convenient. About half an hour from the airport to the city center.

Let me take a selfie and say something. Yes, masks are now a must. But arriving in Dunhuang, I found that only outsiders wear masks; locals don’t. They say the city’s protection is good. I envy that confidence. After a short rest at the hotel, we set off to Mingsha Mountain. The ticket for Mingsha Mountain is valid for three days, very cost-effective! You can scan and buy at the entrance for 110 yuan per person.

There are 11 people in this trip. Nine from Dalian have arrived, waiting for the remaining two. I have to say, in the Northwest there is definitely a time difference. Sunset is at 9:30 PM! We arrived at Mingsha Mountain around 7-8 PM, and the sand was still hot.

Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain, along with Shapotou in Zhongwei, Ningxia, the Yinken Tara Sand Dunes in Dalate Banner, Inner Mongolia, and the Barkol Mingsha Mountains in Xinjiang, are known as China’s four major singing sand dunes. I’m not sure if the others actually sing, but Mingsha Mountain definitely does.

Once inside the scenic area, check the prices for various modes of transportation!

Riding a camel costs 100 yuan per person. It takes about 100 minutes to reach Crescent Moon Spring via a winding path. You can rent anti-sand shoe covers for 15 yuan per pair, or bargain for 10. This time we didn’t choose to ride camels because it wasted too much time!

Helicopter flight area: Han Dynasty Tombs - Mingsha Mountain Range - Desert Great Wall - Crescent Moon Spring - City Skyline - Distant view of Qilian Snow Peak and Sanwei Mountain - Overlook Danghe Basin and Desert Oasis.

Aerial worship of Mogao Caves: 10,000 yuan per flight (limited to 2 people).

Tour of Yardang Geological Park: 50,000 yuan per flight, requires one-day advance booking (limited to 2 people).

Professional aerial photography: 38,000 yuan per hour.

VIP Plane: 1 person per flight, unit price 1,280 yuan, total 1,280 yuan.

Two-person combo: 2 people per flight, unit price 880 yuan, total 1,760 yuan.

Three-person combo: 3 people per flight, total weight not exceeding 200kg, unit price 680 yuan, total 2,000 yuan.

Family package: Family of three, child height under 1.2m or weight under 40kg, adult 880 yuan, child free, total 1,760 yuan.

Because of this helicopter route, aerial photography is not allowed in the beautiful Mingsha Mountain area! Don’t bring your drone!

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Moon Spring Scenic Area has 42 desert motorcycles, offering desert exploration and sand surfing. Fees: Route: East side of Mingyue Square ←→ Desert Oasis view ←→ Eastern Summit, 120 yuan/person.

The Feitian General Aviation Company at Mingsha Mountain offers glider rides with the following fees:

Route 1: Experience flight, 280 yuan/person.

Route 2: Mingsha Mountain - Camel team - Crescent Moon Spring panoramic view - Sand Plant Garden; 380 yuan/person.

Route 3: Route 2 - Ancient tombs - Mingsha Mountain - Desert Great Wall - Bagua map - Crescent Moon Spring panoramic view - City skyline - Distant Qilian Snow Peak - Distant Sanwei Mountain; 480 yuan/person.

Route 4: Route 3 - Nanshan Desert scenery; 680 yuan/person.

Route 5: Route 3 - Overlooking Danghe Basin; 880 yuan/person.

Route 6: Route 3 - Aerial worship of natural sleeping Buddha; 1,080 yuan/person.

Route 7: Route 3 - Overlook Desert Oasis - Find the Black Gobi; 1,380 yuan/person.

Route 8: Route 3 - Aerial worship of Mogao Caves - Sanwei Mountain; 3,740 yuan/person.

Professional aerial photography: 33,000 yuan per hour.

Mingsha Mountain has 22 desert off-road vehicles for desert exploration and sand surfing. Fees: Route: East side of Mingyue Square ←→ Desert Oasis view ←→ Eastern Summit; 300 yuan per vehicle.

There are also sightseeing buses: one-way 10 yuan/person, round trip 20 yuan/person. We of course chose this! Quick and convenient!

Legend has it that the site of Mingsha Mountain was once a treasure house of the Jade Emperor. To stop people’s greed, the Jade Emperor ordered the Great White Planet to bury it with yellow sand, so it’s hollow and makes sounds. Another legend: During the Han Dynasty, when Han troops fought the Xiongnu, a great wind suddenly rose, burying both armies in the sand. The sounds today are the shouts of battle and horses’ neighs. Actually, it’s the sound of sand grains rubbing against each other. Legends are so magical~~

There’s a local story about the formation of Crescent Moon Spring and Mingsha Mountain: Once upon a time, there was no Mingsha Mountain or Crescent Moon Spring, but a Thunder Sound Temple. On the fourth day of the fourth lunar month, during the annual Bathing Buddha Festival, devotees burned incense and worshiped. When the ritual reached “sprinkling holy water,” the abbot brought out a bowl of the temple’s heirloom holy water and placed it at the temple gate. Suddenly, a heretic Taoist challenged the abbot to a contest. The Taoist waved his sword and chanted, and instantly the sky darkened, a strong wind blew, and yellow sand buried the Thunder Sound Temple. Miraculously, the bowl of holy water remained unharmed. The Taoist tried to fill the bowl with sand, but not a single grain entered. Eventually, a sand mountain formed around the bowl, but the holy water remained. Defeated, the Taoist left. As he walked, there was a loud noise, and the bowl tilted and turned into a clear spring, while the Taoist became a black rock. It was said the holy water was given by Sakyamuni to the abbot to cure diseases. Thus, the bowl turned into Crescent Moon Spring. Believe it or not, I do.

Before coming, I found a photo I took here as a child. Double-exposed it—I’m still the same young man!

Gliders are quite cool. If you have time, you can experience the feeling of soaring.

After the electric car, you arrive at Crescent Moon Spring. Very close. Can’t stop taking group photos.

Can’t stop taking group photos.

After 5 PM every day, the number of visitors to Mingsha Mountain gradually increases, because sunset is around 9 PM.

The east summit of Mingsha Mountain offers grass sliding, sand sliding, archery, etc. Grass sliding costs 25 yuan per person, sand sliding 15 yuan, archery 1 yuan per arrow.

Mingsha Mountain, truly lives up to its name!

We spotted this spot briefly – a great place for silhouette shots.

This spot is also great for silhouette shots – with Boss as the model!

The highest building in Mingyue Pavilion complex is Yuequan Pavilion, with a gray-yellow eaves blending with the desert. Carved pillars and painted beams, ancient charm, built in the 1990s, but still feels nice. Took photos from different angles.

Today’s sand gear: socks with slippers, very fashionable!!! Haha, not hot at all.

Mingsha Mountain is also perfect for Chinese-style costume photos.

With the setting sun, a backlight shot.

My brother Xiao Yi climbed Mingsha Mountain on the first day! As the sun went down, the sand color quickly dimmed.

In a blink, I caught it!

This photo was taken at 21:10. The light was still there, but it hadn’t set because it was cloudy. So we left early for barbecue!

At night we searched and found this barbecue place is quite good~

Well, it was just okay. We have good barbecue in the Northeast too, but the roast whole lamb here was really amazing.

On the way back to the hotel, we saw this earthquake bureau!

The second day, full assembly.

For this Northwest trip, everyone did their best. In the morning we split into two groups: one went to the Mogao Caves, the other went to buy camping ingredients for the next day. I was in the latter group… Well, I’ve already been to Mogao Caves, so I slept in late, haha.

This popsicle idea is quite creative! Qingtian said they were among the first to eat it!!! Just taken out~~~

Riding my little motorcycle!!!! The young guy has a car, but he said in Dunhuang city, electric bikes and bicycles are more convenient.

The market is not far. Found a meat shop.

This leg of lamb… looks fantastic!!!! It turned out to be delicious. Five pounds.

After buying meat, we returned to the hotel. The main group came back too. The two from Beijing and Nanjing arrived! Uncle He even brought Nanjing peaches, super happy! But everyone was hungry on arrival…. What logic? Holding the peach, we went for Shunzhang Yellow Noodles.

Shunzhang Yellow Noodle Restaurant’s donkey meat yellow noodles, said to be the most famous century-old brand in Dunhuang. But the front wasn’t luxurious. As the saying goes: Heaven has dragon meat, earth has donkey meat. This place is a donkey meat noodle shop. The legendary donkey meat and yellow noodles, donkey tendons, donkey meat spring rolls were super delicious~~~

I photographed the old photos hanging inside.

Above, Mingsha Mountain hasn’t changed much, but the Mogao Caves have changed drastically. I’ve seen many TV programs about the Mogao Caves, feeling that many people’s pure pursuit of art has allowed these treasures to be preserved and transmitted.

I heard that famous people who tasted Shunzhang Yellow Noodles include Yang Shangkun, Peng Dehuai, Zhao Nanqi, and Chinese-American Nobel Prize winner Tsung-Dao Lee and his wife. Now Shunzhang Yellow Noodles has become a culinary icon of Dunhuang. Locals often eat there too, not just a place for tourists.

In 2010, calligrapher Qiao Jian and his brother Si Jian traveled to Dunhuang and tasted Shunzhang Yellow Noodles twice. After returning to Shanghai, they wrote: “Dunhuang’s First” in calligraphy.

Alright, full and happy, what to do? Go take photos, of course! Since everyone was in good spirits, two of them dressed up and headed to Mingsha Mountain~

At 8:30 PM we came to Mingsha Mountain again. Today’s sky was quite nice (finally has color).

Look how hard it is to pose. On the other side, Niu Zong was shooting Wen Zong, White Sister was helping with poses, Boss helped too, and Xiao Yi!!

【Must include an original photo!!】

Sister Lin’s flying Apsaras series~~~

One flying cat.

Wen Zong’s first time trying flying Apsaras – performed well!

White Sister~~~ also quite cool.

Besides the Sony A7RM3 and 6300, the DJI OSMO and drone were the main gear for this Northwest trip. The built-in gimbal is really good, otherwise the bumpy roads would shake terribly haha.

After shooting a time-lapse, we returned to the city.

Very happy to fulfill my martial arts dream during this trip. I always thought it would be great to wear Hanfu in the Northwest. But I have short hair, which is a disadvantage. I’d have to wear a wig and it would be hot. After rewatching Brotherhood of Blades, I immediately decided on Feiyu costume. Must have it! And successfully convinced Qingtian to be a Jinyiwei too. First, watch a short video I edited.

Everyone has a martial arts movie dream. If there’s any regret, it’s that I planned to shoot aerial shots at Yumen Pass but gave up because of the heat. Also missed many transitions and actions because I was directing while acting. Next time I’ll be behind the camera, maybe richer content haha.

“Dun” means great, “Huang” means prosperous. The ancients used “great prosperity” to describe ancient Dunhuang’s flourishing. We came to Dunhuang Ancient City, where Qingtian and I wore our Feiyu suits (Ming Dynasty Jinyiwei). Short hair is really hard to manage. The fake hairpiece also made me hot. Thankfully I didn’t bring a full wig. Boss also had a set of ancient costumes, but the delivery was too slow – didn’t arrive in Dunhuang in a week… gave up.

Come on, Brother Qing, I drink first! Yunqi’s ancient costume was also super beautiful~~

Everywhere in the ancient city is good for photos, basically no anachronism.

Found a street to start shooting video~

Before leaving, the two of us studied a few minutes of fight choreography in the cherry courtyard.

Well, toy swords are fine too haha. Next time I’ll buy a real one locally.

Oh, I almost forgot to introduce this place. Dunhuang Film City, also known as “Dunhuang Ancient City”, is located 20km west of Dunhuang city. It borders Gobi oasis to the east, Han dynasty beacon towers to the west, Mingsha Mountain foothills to the south, and vast desert to the north. Built in July 1987 for the co-production of the film “Dunhuang” (Japanese-funded, Chinese-designed), it’s a film studio built in Song dynasty style. It has become a filming base in western China and a new tourist attraction. In the northwest of the ancient city is Gaochang Street, with strong Western Region and Turpan style. It’s also the filming location for many movies and TV shows like “Fengshen Bang”, “New Dragon Gate Inn”, “Hero”, “Great Dunhuang”, “Detective Dee”, “Running Man”. So if you have a martial arts dream, don’t miss it! Bring your gear and camera!

Ticket price: 40 yuan/person.

Visit time: 1 hour (unlimited for photos).

Facilities: Archery, shooting, costume photography, video, film prop exhibition, Dunhuang film appreciation, tea seats, dining, souvenirs.

Thanks to my friends who became my photographers today!!!!

After enough photos, we headed to the next spot. Before West Thousand Buddha Caves, we passed this Xuanzang westward sculpture.

They say you can see a sleeping Buddha from here. The official photo was taken at dusk… now…

Now it looks like this. Indeed, it looks like a reclining figure.

Reservation, scan code, payment, mask, visit. A streamlined scenic spot process begins!

West Thousand Buddha Caves gets its name from being west of Mogao Caves (also called Thousand Buddha Caves). About 35km from Dunhuang city, carved into the cliffs along the Danghe River, it’s an important part of Dunhuang art. According to Dunhuang manuscripts in Paris, the caves were built earlier than or at least contemporaneous with Mogao Caves.

I have visited many temples, caves, and historical sites. Such a peaceful place is rare. During the epidemic, even usually crowded places became much quieter.

Wearing ancient costumes here made me hot… I was irritable all the way and gave up the plan to shoot at Yumen Pass later. The guide was very good, explaining each cave from ceiling to murals and donor figures. No need for audio guide. Few visitors, we listened attentively.

Only four caves are open at West Thousand Buddha Caves. Though not as magnificent as Mogao Caves, there are fewer tourists, and our guide was very patient, answering questions anytime. It felt like an art history class on Buddhist sculpture, very detailed.

Continue to today’s next check-in: 【Yumen Pass】 – yes, the one from “Spring breeze never crosses Yumen Pass”.

I saw this cute camel sculpture from the car.

Lunch was snacks bought from yesterday’s supermarket shopping!

After parking, we walked.

A poem I learned as a child.

This closing remark is quite good. The Belt and Road is indeed a great project!

Look! That’s it!!!!!!

Yumen Pass appears frequently in poems. The most famous is Wang Wei’s “Why complain the willow trees, the spring wind never crosses Yumen Pass.” How desolate and lonely were the soldiers guarding Yumen Pass? Both in terms of beauty and artistic conception, Li Bai’s “Long wind blows thousands of miles, crossing Yumen Pass” is much better~

Walking to Yumen Pass, exposed directly under the sun!!!!

Sunscreen competition: You probably exposed the most, with legs outside haha.

The two… masked heroes.

Niu Zong is also basically shielded from the sun.

My sunscreen level is also top notch!!!!

Xiaoyi wears short sleeves and is the least afraid of the sun!!!

Boss and Pangniu are also well covered!

Group photos continue!!!

Because Yumen Pass is located at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor, the living conditions are harsh. It’s 90km from Dunhuang and about 150km from Lop Nur, surrounded by Gobi, desert, rivers, and lakes. The view is relatively open.

Now Yumen Pass ruins are listed as a World Heritage site, a very important site on the Silk Road. It’s great to see!

Before leaving, Uncle He took a group photo for us haha~~~

This is a magical photo. In the Northwest, seeing this kind of toilet is a luxury! Basically, there are no toilets. No police checkpoints either. This luxurious toilet is also a luxurious dry latrine.

Now heading to Lenghu…

A factory taken from the car. Surprises and panic will unfold…

If not for Mars Camp, I wouldn’t know this place. Let me start with its name. I’m quite interested in place names in Qinghai, so I looked it up: Lenghu is the translation of Mongolian “Kuytun Nor”. Because of the “Kuytun Nor” lake (Kuytun means cold, Nor means lake) to the northwest of the town, the lake water is extremely cold, hence the name. Another story: In June 1955, geologists discovered a nameless small lake during oil exploration. Because it was inconspicuous, they called it “Lenghu” (cold lake). A piece of trivia: Lenghu town has an average altitude of over 2700m. Also, it’s one of the areas with the longest sunshine in China except Lhasa, Tibet.

On the first day, the four of us chatted happily; the journey didn’t feel long.

On the way to Lenghu town, we passed the oil base ruins. Yes, the first sight is so desolate.

The forgotten Lenghu oil town once gathered thousands of oil workers from all over the country to Lenghu, China’s fourth largest oil field. Today, it’s full of broken walls and ruins, desolate in the vast Gobi, as if it suffered a great disaster. Exploring this abandoned town, you can easily find fragments of residents’ lives.

When the workers moved away, they took recyclable beams, doors, and windows. Now only door frames and streets are left.

Take advantage of the good light, let’s fly a lap first.

The trunk of the young man’s car is full of camping gear.

Walking on the deserted streets feels like a bygone era, time frozen.

Some red characters remain.

Comrades, you’ve worked hard.

Are you afraid of being forgotten by the world? Forgetting is a permanent tragic theme. After an aerial lap, we left the oil town ruins and drove to Lenghu for the first night’s campsite~~~~

Insert: One stomp on the gas to Lenghu town side to find a campsite. First choice: a place with an ‘Eternal Glory’ monument! 666, gave up immediately! Hey!

See? Soon we found another potential camping spot. Excited, we had close contact with yardangs and started setting up. Camping, barbecue, fireworks, cool! We’re coming!

Many hands make light work. We gradually set up tents. However, after setting up a few tents, we found they varied in size, thickness, and some were mesh beach tents. At night… with the Northwest wind and sand, and so many girls, it definitely wouldn’t work. So we decided to send a scout team to return to Lenghu town before dark to find stable accommodation. Initially, we planned to camp because we read online that Lenghu accommodation was poor. But camping seemed unreliable. Money can still buy a bed, right? Go!

Well… you see this picture… On the first day, we experienced the awkward situation of getting stuck in the sand (I won’t tell you that a Wuling car passed by several times…) That scene made me think smart 4WD isn’t that great. Video attached: many hands push the car. Another benefit of many people: when you think no one recorded the moment, some random photographer captures it perfectly! These pictures from Wen Zong are really great.

We couldn’t disappoint the team’s expectations. We sped up to Lenghu town…

I heard Lenghu town was the first town pulled out by oil fields on the Qaidam Basin. In the early days, oil production was considerable. Decades later, not much oil remains. Most workers moved to new fields. The town is small. We slowed down and chose the most “luxurious” hotel, inn, hostel, guesthouse, apartment… Well, this hostel, I stayed in the car to take this photo. This conspicuous sign was the only place with available rooms at the time (barely livable; I heard others said rooms were frightening, doors wouldn’t close, etc.).

Yes, comparable to the hostel-level apartment. I have to say, at this intersection might be the town center. Opposite the apartment is a luxury hotel closed due to the epidemic, opening next year. The scout team asked at the apartment: fully booked during peak season. The other two cars with gear gradually arrived in Lenghu town. Everyone asked around, all full. The sky darkened. Time was running out… Suddenly, the walkie-talkie rang: the team accountant shouted that Lenghu Apartment had rooms. We were stunned because we just heard no. Turns out the method of asking mattered. This incident fully proved that “where there’s a will, there’s a way”! Very cool.

Thus, the accommodation problem was solved. We didn’t go to the apartment but directly found a shop that could process our barbecue. After all, I bought fresh roast leg of lamb in Dunhuang! We had to eat it. Everyone started skewering. The boss was very generous – each skewer was several times bigger than normal.

Many hands make quick skewering. We told the shop we’d pay any processing fee. But later we found out… it was free… processing for free… such a simple folk custom.

The gluten and sausages I bought at the supermarket! Grilled well, but Northwest… a bit heavy on salt.

Big Wusu beer is really fun, right, Xiao Yi hahaha.

Cheers, friends! This is only the first day of Haixi, many difficulties but we got through!

Cola or beer, which makes you happy?

The skewers may look plain, but the meat is delicious!!!! Except the burnt parts, all very tasty.

A precious photo.

Maybe we were too tired after eating and returned to Lenghu Apartment. We washed up in the dark. The whole floor was ours, but no lights (okay), only one toilet (okay), no hot water (okay), the door couldn’t lock!!!! (What?)

I consider myself someone who has stayed from five-star hotels to heated brick beds. I’ve seen everything. My door wouldn’t lock, but there was a padlock on the door… What does that mean? It means locking from outside. I asked next-door Pangniu and Boss to lock our room from outside and unlock it the next morning. So I felt like I was confined! Pangniu even told me: if you need to go to the bathroom at night, see that basin? Use it!!!!

In the morning, before 7, I heard someone unlocking the door for me hahaha. This night will be remembered forever. For breakfast, I ordered a bowl of noodles and ate a lot. It turned out to be right.

Today’s itinerary starts from Mars Highway 1. This is probably the roughest road I’ve ever traveled. Yes, the roughest. But for the driver, it’s fun! All bumpy, eating the dust of the front car. The worst part: after arriving, we learned there was a good road all along… a good road.

The legendary Mars Highway 1, where is the road? The road is under your feet. Yes, this dirt road.

First, watch a video! A clip I edited.

“Where is the road? The road is under your feet.”

First, a group photo. This picture shows that this Mars highway really meanders through the Eboliang landform.

More people should stand apart for a cooler photo.

Like this! Right?

Or like this~~~~ super cool?

Having a drone is very convenient.

Does my pose remind you a bit of Kakashi-sensei?

On the following road, we were at the back, with Xiaoyi driving in front, and the young man’s car ahead.

It’s hard to describe the road condition. But in my opinion, don’t drive at night, it’s scary. During the day, keep a safe distance.

Uncle He drove very steadily; we didn’t eat much dust from Xiaoyi’s car.

Dust flying ahead. When Xiaoyi passed, we deliberately stopped to take a picture of the 66 sign.

Finally saw this signpost – almost there!

After a few hours of swaying in the car, we finally broke out of Mars Highway 1 and arrived at Mars Camp ahead.

Victory is in sight.

The exterior is roughly like this.

See, in this “place on earth that looks least like earth,” China’s first Mars simulation base for science and sci-fi – “Mars Camp” – stands up. I heard this project cost 150 million yuan. The camp simulates future human living environments on Mars, with “headquarters building”, “Mars pods”, etc., blending with the surrounding Eboliang landform, like scenes from movies.

After parking, Huohuo couldn’t wait to get out and take a look. The exterior is cool, with many shipping containers.

From below, it doesn’t look too special. Need a drone.

Take off and see~~ like this!

I was flying; below, people were busy setting up the stove for lunch! In the Northwest, you spend a lot of time on the road, so dinners are usually formal, lunch is simple!

Let’s get some group exercise!

Fragrant!!! Hot and tasty.

Inside, there are cool glass stickers on the first floor, but slightly backlit, so I adjusted colors. Got my messy hair…

The disinfected camp is open. Need to register at the entrance. This sign says “Visitors stop,” because inside is the space capsule.

On the second floor, I saw a board. Can’t miss it. Draw a picture as a souvenir!

Group photo at the Lenghu Lab.

Coming out of the second floor, you see the plaque here! Haha, cool group photo, then downstairs for lunch.

Actually, Mars Camp doesn’t have many scenes. Maybe later there will be new sculptures or attractions.

This is the space capsule. We were probably the first batch after yesterday’s checkout. No one else, so we could take some photos.

Hehe, I even sat inside to feel it~~

If all doors were closed, it would feel more realistic. The red ones are pillows.

The inside of the space capsule is like this~~~

The bathroom and shower here – really need to save water… resources are scarce here!

After eating, we planned to visit the nearby 【Mars Lake】, a few kilometers away. From Uncle He’s gaze, yes, we need to cross to the other side!

Our three cars drove in order. We were at the back. If Xiaoyi could pass, we could. Whatever bumps Xiaoyi’s car hit, we hit. Good reference.

Boss got out to scout the road!

The road condition is okay. Many off-road teams have driven this shortcut.

Even a boarding point. Not sure when you’d catch a bus here haha.

The car is completely covered in yellow sand, but this stretch is the most beautiful part of Eboliang!

After going downhill, we arrived!

Yes, this is Mars Lake…. Different from my imagination, but I heard it never freezes.

The young man said it’s a hot spring, so I went to touch it. Warm.

In winter, there should be beautiful mist!

From here, you can overlook the whole Eboliang landform and also see Mars Camp.

Desolate? Beautiful?

Here, I took a photo of everyone 【Looking up to ask the sky】 – Sister Lin.

【Senior official inspection series】 – Xiaoyi.

【Give me five】 – Wen Zong.

【Embrace the earth】 series – Pangniu.

【Working photos make me happy】 series – Niu Zong.

We didn’t stay long here because there’s not much else… Then we went back the same way.

Goodbye, Mars Lake.

On the way back, we had to take an aerial shot at a spot we saw earlier~~~

Video screenshot~~ looks good!

The beauty of self-driving is probably the blend of car and scenery…

Today’s destination is Huatugou. On the way, we first pass Mangya Emerald Lake. Mangya – first impression is rhythmic~ Yo yo, boundless horizon is my love. In 1956, Mangya Temporary Working Committee (county level) was established, converted to Mangya Town in 1964, and in 1984, Mangya Administrative Committee (county level). Mangya, from Mongolian, standard pronunciation “Mangnai”, means “forehead”, originally referring to “Old Mangya”, east of Mangya Lake. It’s a yardang landform with protruding front edges, resembling a human forehead, hence the name.

Facts prove that timing is crucial to see the most beautiful moment of a natural scenery!!!!

We arrived just before sunset! Slowly drove around to find a good spot.

At various “best photo spots,” you always see red dresses of all ages. There are many best spots, don’t stop right at the entrance; too crowded and boring.

As the light got better (evening), the color of Emerald Lake became more beautiful.

Review of the scene: why altitude sickness happened – because we were setting up this inflatable sofa. Don’t run, don’t run!

But the result was great! Our props perfectly matched this travel scenery. Probably no one else is as good as us!!!! Haha, give ourselves a thumbs up and a chicken leg.

Let’s take a reflection shot of Uncle He.

Turning around from taking reflection, I saw four passersby, looked cool, so I snapped a photo. You can see quite a few rental Borgwards here.

By then, one person had altitude sickness and didn’t join the group photo. I also made a mistake – should have told everyone to stand farther apart.

Here’s also a sign that people like to photograph…

The horizon is no longer enough to show the beauty here.

I personally think Mangya Emerald Lake is very distinctive and not inferior to Dachaidan Emerald Lake!

Emerald Lake is formed by years of salt mining pits. Different mineral concentrations create colorful scenes. The magnesium sulfate brine is pure and beautiful. When calm, it’s like mirrors scattered everywhere, like emeralds inlaid in the Gobi.

Walking here is like walking in a painting.

Here you can find any shape you like!!!

For example, find a heart shape.

Niu Zong took this for me~~~ I love it!

The sky is a serene lake; the lake is a restless sky. I think I’ll remember this place forever.

Aiken Spring is really a hit. Nobody knows who discovered this godforsaken place. If you don’t bring a drone, don’t bother. All you get is feeding mosquitoes and getting tanned. Only I tell you this! Everyone else says it’s super cool, don’t miss it. As someone who’s been there, I really think… this Eye of the Demon looks a lot like a toucan! Why does it seem scary? It’s super cute! If you say demon, I’ll tell you it’s the mosquitoes here. Too fierce, too venomous, circling like drones, following you, making your head buzz.

It’s me, it’s me, I’m the toucan…

If you still want to come despite this, fine. Let’s see what’s here that makes people travel long distances. There’s basically no signal on the way! No signal! Follow the signs, better than GPS.

Uh, first, the story at the entrance. Before going to Aiken Spring, Qingtian called them; it’s now open all day. But each car must register, and passengers must get out for temperature check. Normally, this would go smoothly. But, but in my country, people seem to have a disease: they get anxious when seeing a crowd. I don’t know what’s the point of cutting in line. At the gate (so-called scenic spot), there was only one staff lady, who had to stop cars, supervise a lady writing info, take temperatures, and explain things. It was really hard. Can’t we just queue? We encountered such a line-jumper: the white car on the right. Our three cars were driving in order, and he tried to squeeze in. Our Northeastern girl would let that slide? Our team accountant Pangniu got out to talk. No result, then an argument. I quickly went to mediate. We were talking nicely with the driver, but the passenger wasn’t happy, claiming they also had someone ahead and wanted to enter early (turned out they lied – we saw their car inside later! What’s the point? And not afraid of the guy remembering? Can’t reason with a man who argues with girls.) Then our Ms. Yang stood in front of their car and said, “I’ll stand here, if you dare, drive over.” The guy stood in front of our car and said, “I can do that too.” Speechless. After my earnest persuasion (pulling and scolding), we finally got in.

After the entrance incident, we continued, driving through a demon-mosquito-death-winding dirt road…

Yes, like this. You arrive. First, don’t marvel at nature’s grandeur. If you want to drone, immediately go to the staff to register. Then you can fly freely.

Yes, ascend slowly to see the full view of the Eye of the Demon. But trust me, this color – isn’t it good? Why must you adjust it beyond recognition? I sincerely hope… photographers, restore a bit of the true color. The Northwest really doesn’t need PS.

People can be photoshopped out, but I gave up – just show you. It’s packed with people!! I think it’ll get more crowded. There are warning lines around the spring, with staff watching. Can’t wander freely as netizens said before. But that’s good for protecting such natural scenery!

Come on, take off! It’s really hot here, so many mosquitoes. While still in control, quickly evacuate~~~~~

Today was relatively relaxed. The road conditions were good except for Aiken Spring.

On the way to Water Yardang, you pass the Two-Colored Lake – West Tainar Lake. Three Wranglers! I love them.

West Tainar is also on G315. One side is blue, the other green. The green side is due to high copper ion content; the blue side is due to high salt content, reflecting the sky.

The blue side has a gradient.

From below, it appears more blue.

We flew here too~~~ Following the car while flying; I’ve practiced these days~~~ One trip improves. Hope to shoot better works next self-driving trip.

Because a companion had severe altitude sickness, we didn’t arrange much today. Planned to eat at a restaurant and rest at Water Yardang (we booked accommodation there!).

This restaurant – I didn’t take many photos, but I have to say: Northeasterners abroad meeting Northeasterners are super happy. This restaurant is opposite Water Yardang scenic area, not far from the gas station. Really can’t remember the name, sorry boss. We were a big group. Normally, they’d suggest ordering two portions because the dishes aren’t as large as in the Northeast. But the boss himself said, “I’ll split it into two plates for you! Our portions are big.” The boss lady is Northeastern!!! And when we ordered, Pangniu saw they were making fish and asked if we could have some. They initially said no – it was fresh from the lake for themselves. But when they heard we were from the Northeast and had an unwell companion, they immediately made a pot of fish soup!! A whole pot of fish soup!!! Absolutely delicious!

Let me use the picture from Cooking Master Boy to express my feeling!!!! Delicious!!!!!! After eating, we went to the scenic area. It was around 8 PM, sunset hadn’t started yet.

As the world’s only water yardang landform, it formed when the lake level rose, gradually submerging the northern yardang groups. So in the endless desert, a “vast ocean” suddenly appeared. This ocean not only gave us enough imagination but also brought unparalleled shock.

Entering the scenic area, first go to check-in. We’re staying at the RV hotel. From the aerial view, there are quite a few. One RV can accommodate four people.

From the ground, you don’t see them all.

It’s said one RV can sleep four, but I think the bunk beds are quite spacious.

There’s even a mahjong table… really suitable for Chinese people!

Forgot to take a picture when we entered; took one when leaving! Haha.

The unwell companion lay down. I took the drone and went out.

The sun was slowly setting, light was good, but no clouds today. Not the most beautiful sky!

The colors of the yardangs are not uniform.

I love this color.

But because I was lazy, I shot from the shore, didn’t walk onto the yardangs – this is a regret. Rest is more important haha.

That night, we had a group meeting. Seeing the physical condition of some companions, we decided not to stay at the Dachaidan Snow Mountain Hot Spring Hotel the next day, but return directly to Dunhuang to rest. If something happened, we had one day to deal with it. Otherwise, the worst case might be everyone stuck in Dunhuang. So a reminder here: scenery is important, but safety and health are the most important things for a trip.

The next morning, since the itinerary was canceled, we slept in. Didn’t specifically get up for sunrise. But Sister Lin, who had altitude sickness, no longer had fever or swelling. I went out for another flight. Morning yardang looked like this.

Colors gradually came. Around 9 AM, everyone packed up and headed back to Dunhuang.

Each car reported the condition of its members via walkie-talkie. Everyone seemed better today. So on the way back, we stopped at places we could pass.

We encountered Dachaidan Mosque; it looked nice. The name Dachaidan comes from: in 1960, Dachaidan City (county level) was established; in July 1964, changed to Dachaidan Town; in 1992, Dachaidan Administrative Committee (county level). Dachaidan evolved from Mongolian “Ike Qaidam” lake (meaning “big salt lake”). “Ike” means big, “Qaidam” homophonic to “Chaidan”. Named after its proximity to Ike Qaidam Lake.

About Dachaidan, perhaps what we will remember most from this trip is not the beautiful scenery… but the decisions we made! Hey, first stop: 【Dongtai Jiner Lake】. I wasn’t impressed then, thought Dachaidan Emerald Lake would be better. But, keep reading.

The real color is like in the video. After shooting, the sun came out a bit more, making colors brighter. Wen Zong appears. The water of Dongtai Jiner Lake mainly comes from the Dongtai Jiner River, fed by meltwater from the Kunlun Mountains’ Hetaobanri Snow Mountain and Buge Daban Snow Mountain. That’s why the color is particularly bright and beautiful~~~

Recently, there was news online that “Dongtai Jiner Lake will close on August 1 for two years of construction.” As said earlier, this is pure rumor. Here is the official announcement from Golmud City Government, proving it’s false. Please don’t spread misinformation! But from what I saw before entering, there is already management. It will inevitably become a paid scenic spot soon.

Dongtai really is the trump card of this trip. If everyone hadn’t been in such good condition today, we might have missed this blue eye in the Qaidam Basin~~~ Clear water and white sand beaches are cool and bright. Seeing it instantly brings a coolness like iced cola.

Today is Dragon Boat Festival. We arranged the inflatable sofa in the shape of a dragon boat, giving us a festive feel!

Compared to the uniform red dresses walking around, I think we were the most stylish kids in Dongtai today.

One isn’t enough cool; a group is enough~

Imagine playing guitar in the Maldives!

Close-up thanks to Niu Zong~~~ (After this, I flipped over…)

I want you to accompany me, watching the sea turtles swim in the water~~ slowly crawling on the sand counting the waves. Leaving Dongtai, we felt this trip was very fulfilling because Dongtai, Xitai, and Mangya Emerald Lake were already stunning. But the young man said Dachaidan Emerald Lake is also beautiful. So we continued to see it… the most famous Dachaidan Emerald Lake.

When you search Dachaidan Emerald Lake, you see stunning pictures. But when I entered the scenic area, it felt like the Songhua River… clusters of red dresses and red jackets made me want to leave immediately.

It’s free for now, but I saw the facilities are almost complete: shuttle buses, main gate, all built. Seems like they will charge soon. If you want to come, don’t miss it. But if you ask me, I think Mangya Emerald Lake is nicer.

A “been here” photo. Shot and left, didn’t even use the drone. Shows how eager we were to head back.

But as everyone’s health improved, we could add more to the itinerary. Soon we would pass the super popular G315 highway.

To be honest, the weather this morning wasn’t great. But cloudy has its own beauty.

A sky-view road comparable to US Route 66 – G315, 3063 km long, starting from Xining, Qinghai, passing Qinghai Lake, Qaidam Basin, crossing Altun Mountains, traversing Taklamakan Desert to Kashgar, Xinjiang. Recently popular.

Old father and the lonely highway.

Let’s see the front of the fans~~

Everyone chose words they like.

Miss! Your good condition and bad condition have a huge difference!!! Yesterday you had fever and swelling; today you secretly changed into a tank top!!! Fine, you’re the most stylish kid on Lonely Highway G315 today.

Insert ad: If you have altitude sickness and want to recover quickly, be sure to drink glucose, Rhodiola oral liquid, and take Lan Yang tablets! The next day you’ll be jumping around like her!!

Uncle He silently picked up the reverse side.

Let’s take a group photo, girls.

Crossing the 3800m Dangjin Mountain Pass, we enter Jiuquan, Gansu, and also arrive at Aksai Petroleum Town.

First, a short aerial video. I used the drone mainly for group photos. In the Northwest, you really can’t do without a drone even if you have a camera!

I believe everyone has seen Lu Chuan’s “The Ghouls”. There’s a scene in 1985 at a western petroleum town where Hu Bayi (Zhao Youting) and Yang Ping (Yao Chen) are attacked by monsters. When I first saw that scene, I was deeply attracted by the 80s/90s Chinese town style. So we came!

It’s now developed into a complete scenic spot with a food square.

This big stage is set up.

From here, the actual filming area begins.

You can continue to shoot aerials. Boss kicks.

The desolation is obvious from the air.

Can’t stop group photos!

There are many scrapped cars here, so you can pose freely.

I particularly like this little skeleton – it’s cute, not scary at all.

Scenes from the movie.

Kindergarten teacher and students.

A photo with the movie~

Qingtian said now there are some monster sculptures for photos. They’re actively promoting tourism!

A lonely earth.

Spectators A, B, C, D.

Heroine vibe~~~.

Sculpture on the garden.

The director brought the whole crew here to film. Because of the success of “The Ghouls”, the town suddenly attracted many adventure enthusiasts. After years of silence, the town came alive. Hope it gets better. After all, the Northwest deserves our support.

On the way back to Dunhuang, the young man said the yogurt in Aksai town is good. So we rushed there. Our car sent Yunqi as representative. I don’t drink milk, so I stayed in the car and took a photo. I heard the bosses finally got to spend money – they bought all the yogurt in the counter and then bought the bulk ones too….

Seeing Mingsha Mountain, Dunhuang is not far. The thrilling journey didn’t reduce any planned attractions; instead we gained an extra day. Thinking about it, it’s funny – we were through life and death. Plans can’t keep up with changes!

Worn out from travel! Everyone must eat well!

Returning to Dunhuang felt like returning to civilization. Today is Dragon Boat Festival!!!! We ordered a roast whole lamb set dinner! So! Delicious! What’s interesting is that they brought it out not for us to tear apart, but for photos (how thoughtful!). After photos, they divided it onto plates. Watermelon was complimentary, super sweet, several plates….

Today was an extra day, a gift. We slept well last night. This morning we went to the breakfast shop recommended by the young man.

Yes, this one, also a time-honored brand. We ordered lamb combination soup and lamb soup noodles.

I quite like it! Eating meat in the morning is fine!

The road to Guazhou is not far, a good highway. But a sandstorm hit, which was intense. Slowed down, turned on hazard lights, and drove unsteadily. Video as proof.

Guazhou is next to Dunhuang. Though not as famous as Guazhou Ancient Town, historically it was a famous Silk Road city and transportation hub. It’s said to be named for its good melons.

Oh! About this: these apricots are absolutely the best I’ve ever eaten!! They are a seasonal product – Li Guang apricots. Though small, they are super sweet!!!! I couldn’t stop eating!!! But fruit delivery is inconvenient, like Dalian cherries. Best to eat locally!

Guazhou’s most famous is the Yulin Caves.

A child embraced by the desert - the giant baby sculpture “Son of the Earth”!!! This is it. Really huge! Very eye-catching.

I later researched this work. The sculpture “Son of the Earth” was created by Professor Dong Shubing, head of the Sculpture Department at Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts. After studying global large-scale sculptures and testing available materials domestically, they chose red sandstone, used 3D scanning for data, then 3D carved and assembled it piece by piece. This large outdoor themed sculpture was created from May 16, 2016 to October 1, 2016, funded by the artist himself, and then donated to Guazhou County Government for permanent display on the Hongshanpo Gobi. Truly an artist!

Alright, we then arrived at the main attraction of the day – Yulin Caves. A complaint: there’s only one road in and a different road out. There’s a parking lot. The complaint: at the entrance, there’s a small building where everyone must get out, register info before passing. The person registering writes manually… so retro, so time-consuming. Only humane thing: if you can’t hold it, you can apply to drive in early. We gathered a car (plus an aunt) to rush to the bathroom – luxury toilet!

Yulin Caves is one of China’s famous grottoes. Similar to Mogao Caves in form, content, and artistic style, it’s a branch of the Mogao art system, valued by scholars both domestic and international. Although the creation date is unknown, from the cave forms and inscriptions, it began before the Sui and Tang dynasties. From existing murals and visitor inscriptions, caves were carved and painted in Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Western Xia, Yuan, and Qing, with large-scale construction. Exterior can be photographed freely; interior cannot!

The caves are carved into the east and west cliffs of the Yulin River valley, named after the elm groves along the river. In 1961, it was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit.

Yulin Caves has over 250 painted sculptures and about 5,000 square meters of murals, about one-ninth of Mogao’s total. If Mogao’s murals rank first in quantity and quality among China’s grottoes, then Yulin Caves is second only to Mogao as a mural art treasure. The murals are mostly from the Tang to Yuan dynasties (800 years). Content is rich: large-scale sutra illustrations, vivid single Buddha images, decorative patterns, various exotic flowers, birds, animals, and scenes of social life, production, and technology from that time. Masterpieces from each dynasty, especially Cave 25’s Tang murals, are rare treasures.

After buying tickets, we waited for more tourists to join. Probably because there are few visitors and cultural relics need protection.

We took a simple “been here” photo.

We visited four caves. The most impressive was a reclining Buddha. It was carefully excavated from sediment washed down by the Yulin River flood.

The opposite hill looks like a human face.

I think if you come to Dunhuang, Gansu, only visiting Mogao and not Yulin Caves is unwise. Only by appreciating Yulin can you deeply understand Dunhuang’s grotto culture. Our trip covered Yulin, Mogao, and West Thousand Buddha Caves – complete!

Being able to draw – you’ll never starve, ancient or modern, haha~

Yulin Caves has two types of tickets: regular (four caves) and special (extra cost). I must say: the staff here are different – they don’t recommend paying extra for special caves, even advise ordinary visitors not to spend more unless they have special research or love for the caves. In today’s increasingly commercialized scenic spots, this is a breath of fresh air. Due to the epidemic, each scenic spot has good protective measures. Good for themselves, cultural relics, and visitors.

The visit wasn’t long. After the guide, we walked out. The walk to the parking lot wasn’t far, but… the wind was too strong! Blowing us silly. The melons of Guazhou may be unknown, but the wind is howling.

Leaving Yulin, we were hungry. Found a small restaurant with good stir-fry dishes! The most popular was the Maoxuewang I ordered.

On the way back, due to time, we gave up Suoyang City, Tar Temple, etc. If fated, we’ll meet. But we couldn’t miss the sunflower sea we encountered. Got off for photos.

That girl is flower-crazy.

She also ate one.

Wen Zong’s picture is also very beautiful!

A huge field. The angle wasn’t the best because some aunties were coming over… Not happy! With so many sunflower fields, why do they always want to join us? Haixi is better – basically no one photobombs!

Sunflower says: as long as you face the sun and strive upward, life will become simple and beautiful.

The car return location was at the train station. Returning and picking up cars are convenient. App auto-unlock, unmanned operation. Fill up as when you got it. Overpay refund policy.

The Pipa-playing flying Apsaras statue – a landmark of Dunhuang.

Back! Continue staying at this hotel. We said goodbye to the young man. This Haixi trip ended smoothly.

In Dunhuang, besides Mingsha Mountain and Mogao Caves, I think watching a performance here is also essential, best before visiting Mogao – it helps a lot for the subsequent visit.

“Meet Dunhuang” is different from usual shows – an immersive experience, large-scale live performance!

Stunning stage design and lighting effects. The whole show is walked through, not sitting like movies – making you feel on site!

After the catwalk, the second act starts, still with multiple performers cooperating with lighting and music to tell the story.

Novel! Intuitive! Shocking! In this hour and a half, everyone who watched will have a special emotional connection. Sorrow or shock – what I felt was the rise and fall of a millennium and a sense of powerlessness. But what Dunhuang left to the world is wealth, eternal artistic achievement!

This flying Apsaras segment with creativity and beauty is my favorite. The combination of human body and light and shadow is the best display.

The final stage: sit down and enjoy a large stage play.

Besides the actors’ heartfelt performances, the entire theater uses holographic projection I think!!! Truly a big production!

Later I learned this project cost 600 million yuan…. Indeed, money talks for good effect.

A glance of ten thousand years. Hope more historical stories can be presented to the world in novel and unique ways.

Construction site mask group! Originally planned to shoot cool photos at night while camping at Mars Camp. Never used them, but today we showed them, so it’s complete! (There was a police car at the entrance – we were really daring.)

After playing at the construction site, it was late. Everyone was tired and went back to the hotel. A few of us still wanted more, so we went to a barbecue stall nearby for late-night snacks. Yes, that’s what young people should do: not sleep, but party.

These small skewers must have a photo!!!! Really delicious! I miss them after returning home.

Although I’m in the civil aviation industry, even on business trips I’ve never been to four airports in one day. From Dunhuang back to Dalian, we passed through four airports… Four! International! Airports!

Saw a halal version of Dicos on the way!

This is the Ordos Airport at dusk – looks nice. Our route: Dunhuang - Lanzhou - Ordos - Dalian. At Lanzhou Airport, you can get a free bowl of beef noodles with your transfer ticket!

After returning home, our memories and discussions about this trip continue daily.

Thank you for reading until now. Finally, a video: on the last night in Dunhuang, we found a place to burn all the sparklers I prepared…

This summer, traveling with you

Is more exciting than drinking iced cola

Li Guang apricots and Wusu beer

Rhodiola and Lan Yang tablets

Desert, highway, lake, snow mountain

All condensed in this moment of light and shadow…

Come on, let’s go to Haixi, escaping the malice of the entire world.

I always believe that after walking through lakes, smoke, rain, years, and mountains, the experiences and travels that taste a hundred flavors will become more vivid and unforgettable…

Next stop, will you continue with me…

P.S. As I publish this, my hometown Dalian suddenly became a severely affected area by the epidemic. Traveling has become increasingly difficult. That’s why whenever I look back on this trip, it’s full of memories and extremely unforgettable. Hope Dalian can do it! China can do it! The world can do it! Get better soon!

Travelogue Table of Contents

1. About this trip

2. About the itinerary

3. The road is long and arduous, but we will reach it

4. Dunhuang丨Barbecue, flying Apsaras, caves, desert – we’re coming!

5. Dunhuang Ancient City丨Fulfilling my martial arts dream

6. West Thousand Buddha Caves丨Listening to the thousand-year stories

7. Lenghu丨An unexpected camping trip

8. Mars Highway 1丨A road full of off-road experience

9. Mars Camp丨Transit station to escape Earth

10. Mangya丨The boundless horizon is my love

11. Aiken Spring丨To tell you the truth, don’t come