9-Day Tour of Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai: A Travelogue
They say our country is vast and resource-rich, but the stunning landscapes are truly countless. These diverse sceneries and unique geographical and cultural features are worth exploring and experiencing. So, taking advantage of our child's summer break, my family and another family signed up for a 9-day tour of Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai with China Travel Service. It cost over 5,000 yuan per person, and some of the unique sights still come to mind often. In the past, our first impression of China's northwest was desolate natural environments, dry climate, and so on, but the unique geography and climate have also created some extraordinary sights: Mogao Caves, Chaka Salt Lake, Mingsha Mountain, Qinghai Lake, Tar Temple, and more. Today, I'd like to recommend and introduce this trip.
First, some reminders:
1. Prepare plenty of sunscreen: spray sunscreen, sun hat, and ideally sun gloves. A handsome guy in our tour group didn't have these items and ended up as dark as a black person by the end, with severe peeling in some areas.
2. Bring medicine for colds and fevers. It's best not to shower when staying overnight in Qinghai, as many are not used to it and it can trigger altitude sickness. The temperature difference between day and night in the northwest is large, so guard against catching a cold.
3. A pair of comfortable, lightweight, and warm shoes. In the past, we used to wear outdoor hiking boots, which offer good protection but are generally a bit heavy; a 10-day trip can be tiring on the feet. This time, a friend who is in the military gave me a pair of physical training shoes and a pair of lightweight, warm (fleece-lined) shoes. They were comfortable, lightweight, and provided decent protection. Best of all, they only cost about 170 yuan, and my feet didn't get tired at all during the trip. I bought these shoes from a 10-year-old Taobao store called "Junmi Zhijia Shangpu" (Military Fans Home Shop). The service is excellent, with many repeat customers, and most importantly, the quality is good—they are genuine. Travel enthusiasts might want to check it out.
Day 1: It was a China Travel Service group tour. We took the train from Bengbu, Anhui. It was the child's first long-distance train trip, so they were very excited, especially sharing a sleeper berth with the friend's kid, watching the scenery, chatting, and playing games—super happy. Along the way, the green grasslands and distant white snow-capped mountains were breathtaking.
First, we arrived at Lanzhou Train Station in the afternoon. First impression: the station was a bit small, considering Lanzhou is a major northwestern city, haha.
We have a habit when traveling: whenever we have time, we visit the local museum. So our first stop was Lanzhou Museum, which was important for understanding Lanzhou's history. The most stunning exhibit was the "Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow"—a masterpiece of ancient craftsmen, a perfect combination of mechanics and aesthetics.
Day 2: We first went to the Qilian Grassland and Snow Mountains, but unfortunately the weather was not cooperative—dark clouds covered the sun and strong winds blew.
(Reminder: Wear more layers; the wind is quite strong, haha.)
Day 3: Next, we visited Jiayuguan and Zhangye's "Colorful Danxia." Jiayuguan was magnificent. The grilled lamb skewers at night were good, haha. Zhangye's "Colorful Danxia" was very beautiful, but it was too sunny.
Day 4: We went to Dunhuang Mogao Caves and Mingsha Mountain. Mingsha Mountain was crowded; riding a camel was fun, but we were so busy playing in the sand that we didn't have time to see Crescent Moon Spring. The kids had the most fun sliding down the sand dunes. At night, we watched a performance, which was nice. The Mogao Caves had many visitors; it was peak season, so we had to queue. Most notably, we could only see about seven caves, and the guide explained quickly. The murals inside were exquisite and beautiful—a pity we couldn't see more.
Day 5: Next, we went to the "Mirror of the Sky"—Chaka Salt Lake. The salt lake was huge and very beautiful, and there was a small train you could ride along the shore.
Day 6: We went to Qinghai Lake. We could see many seabirds. We sat by the lake for two hours, quietly listening to the sound of the water. We stayed overnight in a guesthouse near the lake and didn't dare to shower, afraid of altitude sickness.
Day 7: Lastly, we visited Tar Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. It is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa. Remember to respect local customs. The Tibetan Buddhist brocade paintings inside were very beautiful, truly resplendent. The guide's explanation was excellent; you need to observe carefully and listen attentively.
Final summary: The round trip took 9 days and was quite tiring. Most of the time was spent on the tour bus, with only brief stops at attractions. But when you see so many beautiful sights, you feel it was all worth it. Looking forward to the next trip.
