In fact, traveling is not difficult. Like many things, when we decide and take the first step, the most difficult part has already been completed.
Life is like a journey. You don’t care about the destination. What you care about is the scenery along the way and the mood when you look at the scenery. It is precisely for this reason that Xinjiang and Tibet have become places that people dream of, their first choice for travel, and holy places for self-driving tours. Because there are all the scenery that can only be seen in paintings! Forests, Gobis, deserts, grasslands, plateaus, seas of flowers, mountains, rivers... In addition to the sea, Xinjiang and Tibet encompass all the beautiful scenery you can imagine on the earth. It's just that it's too far and too big. It is 1,900 kilometers from Hami in the east of Xinjiang to Kashgar in the west; it takes at least 3-5 days to drive from Ali in the west of Tibet to Lhasa. Even if we are fascinated by the mountains and rivers there, sometimes we have to stay away. Because it is too far, because we are too busy at work...
When we visited the mountains and rivers of our motherland, we were lucky enough to find a perfect self-driving route that was comparable to Xinjiang and Tibet. This route included almost all of Xinjiang and Tibet. The beauty that can be included is much closer than there. I want to share it with everyone here for your reference. I hope that every friend can appreciate the great rivers and mountains of the motherland and the beauty of the journey.
No matter where you start from across the country, your first stop is Qi County, the birthplace of Jin Culture or Xikou Culture. Following the route taken by the older generation who took Xikou, go north to Shahukou, to Guisui (Hohhot), to Baotou. There are treasures everywhere along the way, all traces left by those who took Xikou, from Shanxi to Inner Mongolia and the Loess Plateau. , the vast grassland has an unobstructed view. From Baotou to Linhe (Bayannur), feel the impact of the Hetao area and beyond the Great Wall. From Bayannaoer to Ejina via Uliji, you can feel the power of nature in this vast desert. Surrounding Badain Jaran, then not heading west into Xinjiang, but heading south, directly to Jiuquan and Zhangye. Starting from Zhangye, along National Highway 227, you can enjoy this little-known landscape avenue. Of course, you can’t forget Qinghai Lake when you are in Xining, Qinghai. Return home via Lanzhou and Xi'an. End of trip. When we first walked this road, it was actually on a whim. The more we walked, the more it became full of connotations and unparalleled. It is really worth remembering to enjoy the scenery and receive the influence of culture. Let’s start a new chapter of our journey together.
What you enjoy during the journey is the scenery, you taste the culture, you taste the delicious food, and you enjoy the mood. It can be said that both are indispensable, and the strong Shanxi culture must be a highlight. The ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi is very famous, but I think that if you want to read Shanxi history, you might as well come to Qixian. Qixian County is located on an important transportation road, bordering Taigu to the east, Pingyao to the west, and Taiyuan to the north. The most famous one in Qixian County is undoubtedly the Qiao Family Courtyard. It is 200 kilometers away from Shijiazhuang and can be reached quickly.
We all probably know something about the Qiao Family Courtyard from the TV series. The TV series depicts impressive characters and also shows a history of the development of Shanxi merchants. When looking at the Qiao Family Courtyard, the first thing you notice is the architecture. The 80-meter-long stone-paved corridor is an eye-opener when you enter the courtyard. The entire courtyard is filled with pavilions, carved beams, painted pillars, and piles of gold and powder. Every detail shows the charm of our courtyard. Among them, there are countless brick carvings, wood carvings and plaques. The wealthy and luxurious compound makes people curious. When we carefully read a story about Shanxi merchants and their trustworthy business, we seem to understand more of the mysteries of business.
The second antique in the Qiao Family Courtyard is the "Ten Thousand Balls" that is the most interesting. It is said that the Qiao family purchased it from the United States at that time, and it was able to scale the image of a person on the ball. It was known as the earliest surveillance equipment, which was very interesting. Things like the rhinoceros moonglass and the Kowloon lantern are very rare and have been listed as key cultural relics under national protection.
There is an old saying in Qixian County that when there is a drought nine times out of ten years, men go out of business and women dig wild vegetables. It is precisely because of the west exit that the development of Shanxi merchants was achieved. If you want to appreciate this period of Shanxi merchant culture and the tragic historical and cultural story of the west exit, you must know it. Starting from Qixian County, let’s review the journey. There are wonderful stories left by Shanxi people on the west entrance.
Shanxi people going to the west entrance are just like Shandong people going to Guandong. As a great population migration in history, it is destined to leave many evocative stories. I think it is very appropriate to set the starting point in Qixian County. There have been nine droughts in Qixian County for ten years. Many people of the older generation will choose to take the west exit. There are also examples of people who have returned to their hometowns and built large houses after getting rich. It was also precisely because people took the west exit that led to the economic development outside the mouth, which was very prosperous for a time. It has also affected the development of culture. To this day, Inner Mongolia and Datong, Shanxi, are deeply influenced by Jin culture, and most of their languages ??belong to the Jin language family.
It is 450 kilometers from Qi County through Taiyuan, Xinzhou, Dai County, Shuozhou to Shahukou in Youyu County. In the past, people would have to walk for a month to go to the west entrance, freezing to death and starving on the way. Dead bodies abound. Nowadays, they are all relatively prosperous big cities, and the transportation is very convenient. There are no traces of those years at all, but we can still learn a lot of historical stories from books and documents, remember them, and commemorate them. The most unmissable part of the journey is Yanmen Pass in Dai County. On the northern Shanxi Plateau, the scenery suddenly changes. It is obviously different from the Fenhe River area. The sky seems to be higher. Along with the beautiful scenery of the Loess Plateau, you come to this ancient frontier fortress. In the important town of Yanmen, I climbed to Yanmen Pass and recalled a few frontier fortress poems, which brought me a lot of thoughts.
Shahukou is a Great Wall fortress in the Ming Dynasty. Its original name was "Shahukou". As the name suggests, fierce battles with frontier ethnic groups must have taken place here. Later, after the ethnic integration, this place was changed into the Tiger Killing Pass. This is what it was like back then, now Inner Mongolia. Not only that, Shahukou is not only an important channel for doing business in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia, but also an important channel for doing business with Kyaktu, Ulan-Ude and Russia. I think it must have been very prosperous back then. There are historical relics all around, and there are dozens of temples and Taoist temples. Therefore, the rise and fall of Shahukou is the history of the development of Shanxi merchants, and it is also the blood and tears on the road to Xikou.
Beyond Shahukou is the vast grassland. Driving here, your heart is racing. How can you not enjoy a beautiful scenery while savoring a piece of culture. It's not far from Shahukou to Hohhot. It takes more than 100 kilometers to reach Hohhot in no time. Hohhot, the provincial capital city of Inner Mongolia, where the combination of metropolis and grassland culture is also an important stop on the road to Xikou, has gone through thousands of years of history. You must appreciate the unique Mongolian culture in Hohhot.
In Hohhot, choose a place to stay close to Dazhao and Xiaozhao. Take advantage of the night to take a walk around the old street of Saishang. The old street next to Dazhao Temple is very prosperous, with a dazzling array of items on display. Most of them are some Mongolian specialties, such as kumis, leather goods, cultural toys, antiques... just It seems to recreate the prosperity of trade at that time. The lights are bright and the traffic is busy, and you can feel the enthusiasm from the Mongolian people. A must-visit is Grile Grandma Milk Tea Shop. It is an internet celebrity restaurant that has been featured on countless variety shows. The interior decoration is in a strong Mongolian style and the dishes are very authentic, but you may not be able to get used to it when you first come here. You must try the mare kumiss, milk tea, and milk tofu, which will leave you with endless aftertaste.
It is about 200 kilometers from Hohhot to Baotou, and the transportation is very convenient. The scenery on both sides of the road is grassland accompanied by woods, and the scenery will be different in four seasons. In spring, wildflowers are in full bloom on the grassland. If you look closely, the colors are also very beautiful, dotted with the colors of spring; in summer, the water and grass are abundant, and the green area is refreshing; in autumn, the grass is turning yellow, and the leaves of the trees are falling. It is a unique landscape; in winter, after a heavy snowfall, it is covered in silver, quiet and peaceful, and new life is born under the snow.
You would be very lucky if you catch up with the local Naadam Conference. Various horse racing, wrestling, and archery competitions are held on the grassland. It is a feast for the eyes. You can eat mutton and drink kumis next to the campfire. At this moment, you are completely integrated into the Mongolian culture and experience the bold enthusiasm of the grassland people. The grassland will definitely leave a deep impression on us and will not be forgotten for a long time.
The distance from Baotou to Bayannur is about 250 kilometers along the G6 Beijing-Tibet Expressway. Bayannur, when you hear the name, it has strong Mongolian characteristics, but coming here may subvert your inner thoughts. Bayannur is adjacent to the Yellow River in the south. The whole place does not seem to feel like outside the Great Wall, which is why it is unique. The geographical location has created a natural landscape that combines grasslands, lakes, and forests. The Hetao area of ??the Yellow River has been prosperous since ancient times, and this is the perfect integration of the Hetao area and the grassland beyond the Great Wall.
The next stop from Bayannaoer is Ejina. After leaving the prosperous Hetao area, the landscape suddenly transitions from grassland woods to desert Gobi. On the loneliest highway G7 Beijing-Xinjiang Expressway, traffic flows Obviously there are a lot less Gobi, grassland, desert, and the landscape changes from time to time. If I don't tell you that this is Inner Mongolia, it will be like walking on the Taklimakan Desert Highway. On this section of G7, the speed test is not complete, and most of them are patrolled police cars. The desolation is extreme, and there are very few service areas along the way. Even if there are, you may not be able to refuel, so you must plan your supplies well. Just walking slowly in the Gobi desert, the 670-kilometer journey takes about 8 hours. Calm down and enjoy the desolate beauty on the way. It is definitely an experience worth remembering.
In Ejina, if you come here in the golden autumn, you will be able to feast your eyes. The Populus euphratica forest in Ejina turns yellow earlier than the Populus euphratica forest in Taklimakan, and the most important thing is that the desert here in Ejina is mostly golden. The large sand grains and the Populus euphratica forest are world-famous, attracting a large number of tourists every golden autumn. Although prices here are very high at this time of year and even a bed is hard to come by, it is still worth it to see the beautiful Populus euphratica landscape in the desert. The strange-shaped Populus euphratica trees have been growing for thousands of years. It seems that each Populus euphratica tree tells a story. When these Populus euphratica trees are connected together and their leaves are blown yellow by the autumn wind, they present a visual feast to people.
Driving in the Gobi desert, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Alxa. The 450,000 acres of Ejina Populus euphratica forest adds a rich touch to autumn; don’t miss a series of beautiful scenery such as Moon Lake and Guangzong Temple. The entire Alxa is a loop, starting from Ulijixi in the east to Ejina. There are countless things to do and see. You may encounter cute wild camels strolling on the sand sea while driving on the road, and you may be able to see those who are still washing the sand after the hero meeting. Off-road vehicles, of course, may be a piece of camel grass, or it may be the wonder of the sunset in the desert. Enjoy the fun that the desert brings to travelers in the Badain Jaran Desert. Finally, we chose to rest in Badain Jaran Town and taste the unique desert flavor in Badain Jaran. It’s extremely cold at night in the desert, so be sure to protect yourself from the cold and don’t get sick, which will affect your travel experience.
The distance from Badain Jaran Town to Zhangye is actually only 150 kilometers, which is not too far. We go south along the 307 National Highway. The roads in Inner Mongolia are wide and flat, and the vehicle speed limit has reached 100. We are speeding all the way. On the roadside is the Haloxylon ammodendron forest that we are very familiar with. Friends who have Alipay will be familiar with it. I think we have all made a contribution to the prevention and control of desertification here.
When we arrived in Gansu, the road conditions were rugged and obviously narrowed. Looking at the map, we found that we were in the famous Yanzhi Mountain. In ancient times, the Huns had a saying, "If I lose Yanzhi Mountain, my women will lose their color." As far back as the Han Dynasty, this was a battleground between the Xiongnu and the Chinese nation. It was also an important area for the integration of grassland culture and Central Plains culture, including Jiuquan not far away. Even its name is related to Huo Qubing, the general of the Han Dynasty. Thinking of these and admiring the scenery of the former frontier fortress, I have long forgotten the fatigue of the journey. If you have no other arrangements and plans in Zhangye, I suggest you choose the "Liyuan New Village" at the entrance of the Colorful Danxia Scenic Area in Linze County. It is very convenient to reach the Colorful Danxia Scenic Area and next to the large-scale performance of Zhangye. At the scene, the sea of ??flowers at the door is even more refreshing.
Colorful Danxia is a famous Danxia landform with extremely high geographical research value, but this does not affect its ornamental value at all. The colors of colorful Danxia are bright. Each season and each weather will show a different scenery, just like a girl who changes her makeup. But the most beautiful time must be when the rain is over and the sky is clear, under the rays of the sun. , beautiful color and fascinating.
There are many named viewing platforms throughout the colorful Danxia, ??which are lifelike. For example, Colorful Xia Gorge, Colorful Tower, Colorful Screen, Sea of ??Fire, Colorful Lian, Colorful Glass Peak, Colorful Coral, Colorful Mushroom, and Big Scallop. In the scenic area, you can take a helicopter or hot air balloon to overlook the entire Danxia, ??and the bright colors of the hot air balloon itself form a beautiful scenery. In 2019, the ticket price of 74 yuan was very suitable. However, in January 2020, the Colorful Danxia Scenic Area was upgraded to a 5A-level scenic spot, and the ticket price must have been increased to more than 100 yuan. But even so, when coming to Zhangye You must not miss the beautiful colorful Danxia.
Gansu is the longest province from east to west in my country. There is a joke: "Foreigners take a train to Xinjiang. When they arrive in Lanzhou, they ask if it is almost there? The flight attendant said that after Gansu, it is Xinjiang. The boy has prepared it in advance. I got off the bus and got ready, but it’s been three days and it hasn’t arrived yet. “Looking at Zhangye in Gansu Province, it can be said that Zhangye is located in the middle and must be an important transportation artery. It is connected to Dunhuang and Xinjiang to the west; Inner Mongolia to the north; Qinghai to the south; and to the east. Wuwei Jinchang reaches the central defender. However, there is a national highway that starts from Zhangye in the north and leads to Xining in the south, but it attracted my attention. After consulting the relevant information, I decided to go and find out. This is National Highway 227!
National Highway 227, connecting Qinghai and Gansu, is considered a traffic artery in the northwest. But what we don’t know is that it has beautiful natural scenery. Maybe it is too low-key, but only by walking up Only then did I know that this trip was definitely worth it. Starting from Zhangye, we first saw a desert scenery, which was roughly the same as before. The sky full of yellow sand and groups of camel grass added a bit of loneliness.
As I walked, there were more and more trees on the roadside, and I could vaguely see the snow-capped mountains in the distance. There were more and more fruits on the roadside, and the road was winding up. Maybe this is the place. The so-called paradise. Not far away is Minle County. In recent years, Minle County has built "China's Most American Road 227". If you come here in summer, you can say that you have walked into thousands of flowers, yellow, purple, white... just like God. I spilled the paint in my hand and scattered it here, smelling the fragrance of flowers and feeling the charm of a paradise.
As you approach the Qilian Mountains step by step, you will feel like an ink painting when you look at the mountains on both sides. There is also a feeling of a frontier fortress. I quietly admire the beautiful scenery on the roadside. One pass after another disappears in the rearview mirror. Watching the wind and horse flags fluttering in the air, I realize that I must have arrived in Qinghai. There are many After getting off the car and looking into the distance, the sun was blinding my eyes, and the ultraviolet rays were extremely strong. I knew this was the plateau, and the scenery on the plateau was really unique.
One place that must be visited is the Gangshika Snow Mountain, which is covered with snow even in summer. It is a sacred mountain worshiped by the local people. It is about a few kilometers away from the main road and the alpine meadows on the roadside. Just like what I saw in Naqu, Tibet, it is fascinating. The water left from the mountain is cold and transparent. Hold a handful in the palm of your hand to feel the temperature and sanctity of the snow. When you climb high and look into the distance, the outline of the Qilian Mountains is fully revealed, which is shocking. Just take a photo at the foot of Gangshika Snow Mountain and it will be a blockbuster. Be sure to record all the good things during the trip.
The next step is the hundreds of miles of rapeseed flowers in Menyuan. Unlike the mainland, the rapeseed flowers here don’t bloom until July. The endless golden ocean complements the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Stop the car and Walking in the sea of ??rapeseed flowers, smelling the fragrance of the flowers, accompanied by the blue sky and white clouds, this is the most beautiful experience in life, feeling the gift of nature. You can buy a few bottles of honey, which is sweet and delicious and can be regarded as a souvenir of the trip.
Climb up to Daban Mountain, overlooking the hundreds of miles of rapeseed flowers, and see all the mountains at a glance. Plateau, glaciers, rapeseed flowers... perfectly blended together at this moment. The roads are rugged and traffic jams will inevitably occur during the peak season, so be sure to pay attention to driving safety.
The whole journey of National Highway 227 is not too long. The 340-kilometer journey from Zhangye to Xining condenses countless beautiful things. You can arrange a one- or two-day trip to reach Xining and experience this pearl on the plateau.
Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai, has the atmosphere of the plateau, but it still feels more like the northwest. Most of the food you eat is the same as in Gansu, which is halal, but Xining’s stuffed skin and yogurt are unique. . It's very delicious, you must try it when you come here. Most of the barbecue here is not grilled over charcoal, but directly grilled over an open flame. Paired with a bowl of ramen and a cup of yogurt, it can be said to be a unique taste experience.
Don’t miss the beautiful Qinghai Lake when you come to Xining. Starting from Xining, you first pass through the ancient city of Huangyuan. There are many traces of the princesses who entered Tibet. It is said that there are many beauties here, because they followed the emperor at that time. The princess's maids came here and could not adapt to the plateau environment, so they stayed here to reproduce and reproduce, which can be regarded as a unique landscape.
Qinghai Lake is vast, and what we can play can only be called a corner of Qinghai Lake. Even so, we can still feel the charm of Qinghai Lake. The characteristics of the plateau lake are undoubtedly obvious, and the surrounding culture Don’t miss it either. The rich Tibetan culture hits your nose, so friends who are obsessed with Tibet can also have a little experience here. Daotang River, Riyue Mountain, Bird Island, and Sand Island must be played all over. Tickets for Qinghai Lake are 100 yuan in peak season and are valid for 3 days. Within 3 days, you can visit Sand Island, Bird Island and Erlangjian Scenic Area at will. Enjoy the plateau scenery here and watch the sunrise and sunset of Qinghai Lake. Add a touch of color to your trip.
After visiting Xining, I planned my return route. Traveling is about never turning back, so I decided to make my next stop in Xi’an, the thousand-year-old ancient capital. It is a 900-kilometer journey from Xining to Xi’an. If you are in a hurry, leave early and leave late. Return and arrive in one day. If you are not in a hurry, you can go to Tianshui first and use it as a stop on the way to rest briefly before heading to Xi'an.
The tour of Xi'an still depends on your own itinerary. After all, it takes a long time to truly appreciate the charm of Xi'an, the ancient capital of thousands of years, and we use it as a rough tour. In one stop, visit the Bell and Drum Towers in the city, walk around the ancient city wall, and taste Xi'an's unique cuisine. You can’t miss the dough rolls, meat buns, and various kinds of pasta. The most impressive delicacy is undoubtedly the steamed buns. A bowl of beef steamed buns. You can break the buns yourself and serve them with chili sauce and candied garlic. This is a delicacy in the world. There is no substitute. Enjoy delicious food and end your trip perfectly.
Shijiazhuang - Qixian - Daixian - Shahukou - Hohhot - Bayannur - Ejina - Badain Jilin Town - Zhangye - Xining - Tianshui - Xi'an - Shijiazhuang
The total mileage is approx. 3,500 kilometers, the itinerary is best arranged in about 14 days, which saves at least 20 days compared to the Xinjiang-Tibet Loop Route. The scenery and culture along the entire journey provide a unique experience, making it a good choice for self-driving travel.