The Northwest Grand Ring Road Tour

Summer is coming, the heat is unbearable, and the little princess will soon go to elementary school. I have been thinking about taking an unforgettable trip for her, and of course, a vacation for myself. A few old girls discussed it and decided on Qinghai Lake. They vaguely decided on the arduous and magical route of the Northwest Great Ring Road. Maybe it was the beautiful photos of friends in our circle of friends that seduce us, or maybe It was the scene in the books when we were young that "the solitary smoke is straight in the desert, and the sun is setting in the long river" that guided us. Three and a half old ladies (me, Miss Li, Miss Mei) and three four or five-year-old children embarked on the journey. . Along the way, hardships and shocks coexisted. The long route and the hardships of the journey were completely beyond our imagination. The magnificent scenery from grassland to lake to desert also shocked our senses. We were pained and happy!

The day before departure, I was full of expectations

I was still at work at 11 a.m., and at 1 p.m. I took the little girl on the high-speed train to Lanzhou. The children were chattering along the way. Playing games and chatting, the three of us were also full of expectations. We watched the clouds outside the high-speed train window get closer and closer, and slowly turned into large groups of marshmallows, as if they were in the air. They all started to feel free. We arrived in Lanzhou around six or seven o'clock and found the B&B we had booked in advance. I would like to highlight the current B&B. It is really convenient. You can check in directly with the password lock. The two-bedroom house is decorated very warmly. One of the rooms is The children were so happy with the bunk beds that they refused to come out as soon as they entered the room. After a little repair, I went outside to eat Lanzhou Ramen outside the community. It was so delicious. The three children shared a big bowl and they all pouted because they didn’t share enough. Later I realized that this meal was the best in our entire trip. of a meal.

On the first day, the Northwest Grand Ring Tour officially started

(Xining-Ta'er Monastery-Laji Mountain-Riyue Mountain-Daotang River-Qinghai Lake-Heima River- Bird Island)

We got on the high-speed train from Lanzhou to Xining at around seven in the morning. At around eight o'clock, the chartered coach, Master Ma, picked us up at the station. It was a circular trip for three people, three small children and one driver. The curtain officially opened. The first stop is Kumbum Monastery. Kumbum Monastery is located more than 20 kilometers southwest of Xining. It is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism in China. The temple buildings integrating Chinese and Tibetan techniques are distributed on the slopes of one ditch and two sides of Lianhua Mountain. They are scattered at different heights and complement each other, making them magnificent. The butter flower sculptures, colorful murals and embroidery here are known as the "Three Wonders of Kumbum Temple Art". It may be due to the peak season. There are so many tourists and the atmosphere of commercialization is blowing in my face. I feel that the Kumbum Monastery scenic area includes the entire town. First, it takes ten or twenty minutes to walk to the commercial street outside, and then it takes ten minutes to take a battery car. It takes a few minutes, and then you need to walk for a few more minutes to reach the official entrance of the scenic spot. Unfortunately, we were inexperienced. We wasted all our time strolling around the commercial street with our children. When we reached the entrance of the real scenic spot, the children were exhausted. Coupled with the crowds of pedestrians and the long queue that was more than ten meters long, we suddenly Like a deflated rubber ball, I didn’t have the strength or courage to go in, so I took a look outside. The real journey of viewing flowers starts from the first scenic spot. The poems in my mind before arriving at Kumbum Monastery. : "In that life, at that moment, I raised the wind horse not to pray for blessings, but to wait for your arrival; that day, I closed my eyes in the fragrant mist of the sutra hall and suddenly heard the mantra in your chanting of sutras." There was actually a feeling that had nowhere to put it. I feel like this is ideal and reality. After coming out of Kumbum Monastery, Master Ma said that you only need to walk to this place for four hours. If you continue like this, we won't be able to reach our place of residence at night. We are fearless and ignorant and don't take it seriously.

As the car started to climb Laji Mountain, the temperature dropped sharply. This was the first mountain we climbed. I remember the height was 3820 meters. When we reached the mountain pass, we obviously felt a headache, and Miss Li (one of the fellow travelers) 1) I already have symptoms of blue lips and shortness of breath. The climate on the plateau is really unpredictable. I experienced rain, fog, cloudy, sunny, and other weather conditions in a while. I was so hot that I wanted to faint. It's unbearably cold, but that doesn't affect its beauty at all. Green grassland, herds of yaks, blue sky and white clouds, colorful prayer flags can be seen everywhere. When the wind blows, they start to dance with the wind. It is said that the fluttering of the prayer flags dancing in the wind is a chanting of sutras, and they are constantly praying to God. Convey people's wishes and pray for God's blessing. In this way, prayer flags become a link between gods and humans. The location of the wind flags means the location of the gods and the place where people pray to the gods. Wind flags entrust people with their good wishes.

Because the journey was too long, we looked at Riyue Mountain and Daotang River from a distance, and rushed on the road with regret. Hurry up and hurry up. Before the sun sets, we arrive at the Qinghai Lake that we miss so much. It is known as the Eye of Heaven. If we have any idea about this trip before, it is Qinghai Lake. After all, it is not a guide for us. It is the most famous for us. From a distance, I can see Qinghai Lake lying there quietly. The water is blue and blue. It is not as rough as the sea in Beidaihe, nor as cute as the sea water in Sanya. It is like a bright pearl embedded in the white clouds. Between the sky and the golden sea of ??rapeseed flowers, large stretches of rapeseed flowers stretch by the roadside, and Qinghai Lake also stretches endlessly. Passing through the sea of ??rapeseed flowers is the only way to reach Qinghai Lake. Every other area will be circled by locals. Master Ma took us in from one of them and paid a 50 yuan ticket per person. I personally feel The price is a bit expensive. Who said it was the peak season? When we got close to Qinghai Lake, it wasn't as shocking as far away. There were many facilities built specifically for tourists to take pictures by the lake. The commercial atmosphere was incompatible with the nobility of Qinghai Lake, but we were still interested in taking pictures.

After leaving Qinghai Lake, we headed all the way to where we were staying. Due to poor communication in the early stages, we booked hotels for each day in advance, which meant that all our subsequent itineraries could not be planned at all. To change, you must rush to where you live. The boss of the chartered car was unwilling. After complaining, we learned that if he helped us find a hotel, in addition to having a free driver's room, he would also get some rebates. However, although we were reluctant, there was an intermediary travel company after all, and he also wanted to receive bonuses for good reviews, so although it was a little unpleasant along the way, it didn't embarrass us much. The Bird Island Resort we booked was 80 kilometers away from the route of Chaka Lake. Master Ma drove very steadily and walked steadily for 80 miles. The sky turned from bright to dark, black clouds began to appear, and it rained heavily. It was already 11 o'clock in the evening. , we are still on the way. The children began to feel anxious and asked one after another, when will we arrive at the hotel? When will you arrive at the hotel? We were already exhausted after a long day’s journey. While comforting us, we felt a cold sweat in our hearts. We were unfamiliar with the place and there were not even cars on the road. It would be terrible if the master had evil intentions! Fortunately, when the clock was approaching midnight, we finally arrived at the hotel we had booked. It couldn't be called a hotel to be exact. It was a very simple color steel room and there was no other choice. We checked in quickly. Because there is no driver’s room, although we agreed in advance that the driver’s food and accommodation would not be included, but considering how hard it would be to drive for a day, we really couldn’t bear to let him sleep in the car, so we took the initiative to pay 50 yuan to arrange one for Master Ma. bed. The first day's journey was over, and before I had time to summarize or reflect on it, I fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, "Mirror of the Sky" Chaka Salt Lake

(Bird Island-Heima River-Chaka Salt Lake-Crossing Qaidam Basin-Daqaidan)

The term "sky realm" was first given to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, South America. The dreamlike beauty fascinates many people. China's "sky realm" is the "Chaka Salt Lake" in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province. "Chaka" is Tibetan, meaning salt pond. Chaka Salt Lake is 3,100 meters above sea level, has an overall oval shape, and is very large, equivalent to 16 Hangzhou West Lakes, but only a small part is open to tourists. In recent years, Chaka Salt Lake has become extremely popular, and various photo-taking videos abound on Douyin, which is fascinating.

In the morning, we were waiting for the children to wake up and pack up. It was already past eight o'clock. Since we had children with us, our schedule was always a little slower than others. Others went to Chaka early in the morning, but we arrived at It was almost 11 o'clock. Before we even arrived at the parking lot of the scenic spot, there was already a long queue of cars, moving at a snail's pace. Master Ma asked us to park nearby and walked in. I don’t know if he wanted to save parking fees or because he was really worried that there would be too many cars to get in and out. In short, people had to bow their heads under the eaves. It is not a long journey for young people. It may not be anything, but it is also a test for us with children, because we may lose our energy when we reach the scenic spot. Sure enough, halfway through the walk, the child Yanyan lost her energy. The child could not express clearly and complained that she had a stomachache. After feeling nauseous for a while, Miss Li had no choice but to give up and go to Chaka Salt Lake. Miss Mei and I continued on with our two children. Tickets for Henan tourists were discounted, and we went to the scenic spot for 54 yuan per person.

The internet-famous train costs NT$50 per trip, but there were too many people queuing up. We chose the sightseeing bus, which cost NT$5 per trip. The bus pulled us to the lake and dropped us off, while the train can go directly to the center of the lake. Look It's different if you pay 10 times the price. As we walked along, the first thing we saw were several large salt sculptures. There was salt everywhere under our feet and on the road. Going further, you can have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of the Sky Realm. The sunshine at noon is just right. The blue sky and white clouds form reflections on the lake. The sky and the lake merge into one, which is beautiful. The beauty of Chaka is that the surface of the salt lake is like a mirror, reflecting the beautiful breathtaking sky scenery. Being in the world of salt, walking on the lake is like walking in a fairyland on the clouds, soaring in the sky in dreams. I feel like I am traveling in a silver world, with clouds and water within my reach, as if the sun and the moon are passing by, and I can watch the changing winds and clouds, and wait for the stars to change.

?The beauty of Chaka lies in its long salt mining culture. Not only does it have beautiful scenery along the lake, it also has a mechanized salt mining culture, with crooked telephone poles and railway tracks that seem to stretch to the end of the sky. . In the thousands of years of history of China as a great nation, the salt industry has always been in the hands of the ruling class as the lifeblood of the country. Those who traffic in smuggled salt are mostly guilty of serious crimes. During this period, incidents of salt shortage occurred one after another, throughout the chronicles. And even today, when the supply of salt is abundant, how many people know where salt comes from? Having said that, let’s talk about our journey. I especially want to praise the two children Chenchen and Xiaoyu, because in the middle of the lake you can step on the water and salt. The children were full of expectations and walked forward without complaining about hardship or tiredness. When we got close to the center of the lake, we put on the shoe covers we prepared in advance and went into the water. This is the children's favorite part. You can feel the squeaking salt under your feet, which is very interesting. There were so many tourists in the water area that the reflection was no longer visible, so the photos taken were not very good, but we were particularly happy when the children were happy. If time permits and if we are not in a hurry, the children can play more happily and for a longer time. However, we have to continue to move forward and reluctantly leave the Chaka Salt Lake. The children can't walk a little and cry out for legs from time to time. My legs ached, so Miss Mei and I encouraged and pulled them to a place where they could go sightseeing. On the way, the children knew that Yanyan did not come because she was not feeling well, so they specially found a bag to put a handful of salt in. I wonder if this is considered a violation?

We had a simple meal at the entrance of the scenic spot. The food in the scenic spot is really expensive, a mediocre rice bowl costs 35 yuan, and a bowl of stuffed rice is 15 yuan. We got lost on the way out. There were parking lots one after another in Nuoda. We just couldn't get out and couldn't find the way we came. We were mentally anxious thinking that we had to rush for time, but we still couldn't find a way out. The nervousness and impatience were instantly suffocating. Coupled with the fact that we had two exhausted children, we missed the delicious meals and warmth at home. bed. After going back and forth a few times, getting our bearings, and asking for directions, it was already past three o'clock when we got back to the car, and we had to drive through the night again tonight. Sure enough, Master Ma complained that we were too slow, and encouraged us to stay nearby and start our journey again tomorrow. We remained unmoved. First, we were afraid of missing the beautiful scenery ahead, and second, we always had a wary heart. Fortunately, the advantage of traveling in the northwest is that the beautiful scenery is not all in the scenic spots, but on the road. Accompanied by the blue sky, white clouds, breeze and stars, we rushed to Dachaidan in a hurry. With the experience of the previous night, we had no expectations for the accommodation. We just wanted to rush there and have a rest. We arrived at the accommodation at 10 o'clock in the evening. The boss was very enthusiastic and the room was much better than expected. The busy day was over!

On the third day, unexpectedly encountered the Emerald Lake and Yadan Gobi style tour

(Dachaidan-Emerald Lake-Qinghai Yadan Devil City-Yangguan Scenic Area-Dunhuang)

When we got up in the morning, it was past nine after breakfast. Master Ma reluctantly took us to Emerald Lake. This lake was not included in the original itinerary because this lake is a wild lake that does not charge admission. The lake has not yet been developed. Miss Mei discovered it from Douyin. The journey was not far, about ten kilometers away from Dachaidan. It was a bit bumpy, but we soon reached the place. The lake here was green, beautiful and quiet.

This "Emerald Lake" of about 6 square kilometers is the mining area of ??the former Salt Lake Mining Team of Dachaidan Chemical Plant. The lake is rich in boron, lithium, salt, potash fertilizer, Glauber's salt, etc. This salt pond has different sizes, shapes, and depths. The high-concentration salt water in the salt lake is called "brine" locally. It is a mining pit formed after years of salt lake mining. Due to the different concentrations of minerals contained in it, it forms a colorful scene, especially in calm moments. , scattered everywhere like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds. When you are in it, looking at the figure under your feet, the feeling at this moment can only be deeply felt by being in it.

The meaning of travel may be to meet different friends, see different customs, and appreciate different beautiful scenery, and this time the Emerald Lake is undoubtedly a highlight, because the unexpected encounter made us feel It is extremely beautiful, and the children had a lot of fun fishing for salt in the lake. After leaving Emerald Lake, we will be on the road, on the road, on the road for the next seven or eight hours. Next we have to go all the way, which I call the Yadan Gobi style tour. It feels like we have entered a no-man’s land. There are vast Gobi and saline-alkali land along the way. The road to Yadan is more like a heavenly road, endless, and the cars There are few people, and occasionally you will see a tourist bus like ours. Tourists will get off, dance, or jump and run, leaving behind the blue sky and white clouds here and their own figures on this sky road. This is It is a natural art place where visitors can create their own works of art as they please.

?The wind in the Yadan landform area is strong. Whenever strong winds blow up, soil and sand fly, and visibility is low. The air flow reflects and refracts on the surface of the mound, producing a series of acoustic phenomena and emitting a peculiar whistle. The cry gives people a sense of terror. In the past, the locals thought it was the howling of buried resentful ghosts. In Mongolian, it was called "Sulumhak", which means devil, so the Yadan landform was also called the Devil City. It was already three o'clock in the afternoon when we arrived at the Devil's City. Master Ma kept saying that the Devil's City was all about the landforms. We had seen almost everything along the way, and there was no point in going to the scenic spots. We scoffed, but we saw the bright sun outside. With a few kids who were tired from traveling, I also gave up. After having a decent lunch at Yadan, I took a look at the Devil City from a distance, and then headed all the way to Dunhuang. The Yangguan Scenic Area was also I didn’t go there, and I didn’t experience the desolate and euphemistic scene of “going out of Yangguan in the west without any old friends”. It’s a pity! I want to talk about how important it is to find a considerate tour guide when traveling. Master Ma was worried about his accommodation and was in a hurry all the way. Since he is a Hui nationality, we couldn't eat together, so we also I rarely go to the restaurants he recommends, which may directly lead to him losing the food and beverage rebates after losing the accommodation rebates. He spreads a kind of negative energy along the way, that is, it is not fun here, there is no fun there, and everywhere is not fun. Let’s run away. Thousands of kilometers for what? Of course, these are all minor episodes during the journey and do not affect our overall appreciation of the beautiful scenery. At around 9 o'clock in the evening, we arrived in Dunhuang. After a few days of small town style, we finally felt the atmosphere of a big city. It was great!

On the fourth day, the endless fun of Mingsha Mountain and the unique experience of desert camping

?Finally we arrived at the desert that the children most yearned for. We live not far from Mingsha Mountain It's only 10 minutes away, and we're staying in Dunhuang tonight, which means we don't have to rush today and can finally have a day of crazy fun. Mingsha Mountain, where sand mountains and springs meet, is named because of the sound of sand. Here you can climb Mingsha Mountain, overlooking the Crescent Moon Spring, and enjoy the desert sunset on the top of the mountain, feeling the desolation of the northwest desert. broad. Crescent Moon Spring is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain and is named because the water surface resembles a crescent moon. This is the most famous place in Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area. We can’t go to the Mogao Grottoes, because the tickets need to be reserved a month in advance, and we came here completely on a temporary basis, so we can only give up. It doesn’t matter if we make an appointment next time. At around nine o'clock in the morning, we called Master Ma to pick us up. Master Ma said that he hadn't gotten up yet after sleeping late last night. The front desk of the hotel said that your driver is really weird. Other drivers wait for guests early, so why not? Is there anything like this? We were also speechless, and our dissatisfaction with the driver reached its peak. After all, we had to pay a high toll of 1,000 a day. After the driver came, we didn't bother to talk to him and went straight to Mingsha Mountain. When we arrived at the scenic spot, the sun was already very bright, but it was not stronger than our determination. The six of us were fully armed and wrapped ourselves in Arabs before we started to go inside.

If I was not careful in Chaka, my skin was burned by the ultraviolet rays of the plateau, and it was so painful that I no longer dare to underestimate the sun here. The scenic spot costs 120 yuan per person, and you can enter by swiping your face several times within three days, and you can ride a camel inside. , helicopter rides, and sightseeing buses. In the end, we were afraid of the heat and chose to take a sightseeing bus. This became our biggest regret during this trip, which was not riding a camel.

?As soon as we arrived in the desert, we were in a paradise for children. We laughed at them for playing in the sand or in the park. They kept their heads down and refused to move forward. The moment I saw the desert, I was in a trance. I felt that there was no gap in the light, and there was no gap in the sand. The dense light shone densely on the sand, shining brightly, golden, and the mountain ridges were outlined by the light. Sharp edges and corners, especially skinny. He raised a handful of sand with his hand and sprinkled it down finely. In an instant, it was back to the original state. I can't help but sigh at the power of nature. We can lift up the sand at will, or even step on it under our feet, but who can shake this sand mountain? Even our footprints will be restored to their original appearance the next day without a trace.

Although I am very tired and hot, I have a special desire to climb when I come here. Climbing up the ridge is very strenuous, one foot is deep and the other is shallow. However, the children are full of energy and even climb We adults were far behind. For the convenience of climbing, the scenic spot has placed auxiliary ladders for climbing up. Step by step, we finally reached the top of the mountain. In my mind, this is not a mountain. The mountain is hard, and the desert mountain at the foot is indeed soft and soft. Just, the sparkling feeling. Sitting on the top of the mountain, looking at the Crescent Moon Spring below, the camel team passing by the mountain, the beautiful scenery is unobstructed, the blue sky and clouds, the sun, the passionate desert, the humpbacks, and the dancing sand make people feel like they are in another world. Suddenly, I felt that those blurred sand shadows were like wisps of ghosts, wandering on the sand dunes. Before I have seen the desert, I always thought that the desert is related to despair, the vastness that can't be seen at a glance, and the hopelessness baked by the vicious sun. But when I came to Mingsha Mountain, I felt that it was not the same thing. Maybe Crescent Moon Spring It's the desert's lifeline in itself. Although there were many people and the sun was very harsh, I thought it was all quite beautiful.

After leaving Mingsha Mountain and having lunch, it was already around three or four in the afternoon. We walked around and found the hotel where we were going to camp for the night. Yes, we will go camping in the desert in the evening, and the children have been looking forward to it for a long time. However, there is always a gap between ideals and reality. Due to too many tourists, the car to pick us up at the desert camping site has not yet arrived, so we took a nap in the courtyard of the hotel, with the children chasing and making noise, and we were bored. 's waiting. The small hotel is located in a village at the foot of Mingsha Mountain. It is decorated with a somewhat literary atmosphere. Unfortunately, it was not well taken care of in the later period. The old tires and worn-out wind chimes in the yard were not well decorated, but it felt a bit dirty. We waited until eight o'clock in the evening before the car to pick us up arrived. Unfortunately, there were still traffic jams on the road. The ten-minute journey took more than half an hour. It was already past nine o'clock when we arrived at the camp. It was early. Those who arrived had already started eating. The imaginary desert camping should first have fun riding a dune motorcycle, then go sandboarding, then have a lively barbecue, karaoke, and camp to watch the stars. Then the reality is that we arrived late, and the organizer arranged a seat for us where there were already seven or eight people, and let us eat. There was a big table and a hot pot. They had already eaten half of it, and we couldn't move our chopsticks. It’s more fun if others come together in a group, drinking and singing and dancing with the host. Yanyan and Xiaoyu looked very interested, clapping and singing along with the host, very intoxicated. Children's attention is always very short. They were attracted by the sand next to them. They jumped up and down with tools to play in the sand. The sky was full of stars, and the children were digging in the sand. Next to them were strangers who were singing and dancing. It didn't matter. good. At around ten o'clock, the bonfire party started, and we got into the atmosphere a little bit. People we knew and didn't know all gathered in a circle and danced the bunny dance. The firelight flickered, singing and dancing. If the party ended smoothly, we would go to the tent to sleep. It's okay. However, God may not have his way. God may have made my phone fall into the desert during the bonfire party in order to increase the hardships on our journey.

?The mobile phone is not valuable, but the photos and memories along the way are all in it. I am really anxious. What is even more sad is that the signal here is very poor. Sometimes I can get through and sometimes I can’t.

The car keys of another group of people were also lost in the desert. We searched and searched and found other people's car keys, but the mobile phones disappeared and there was no trace at all. It was already close to 11 o'clock, and the organizers were already distributing tents. There were many people queuing up and noisily trying to get tents. We had no intention of queuing up, so we checked our phones to make sure there were fewer people in line before getting tents, and finally got the tents. It was already past one in the morning, and the children had fallen asleep in their mother's arms before the desert camping trip they were looking forward to began. We originally thought of lying in the desert and watching the starry sky and the sun rising over the desert, but by the time we got the tent and packed it up, we were too tired to say a word. The children fell asleep quickly, and people in twos and threes were still wandering outside. The night that belongs to us has finally arrived.

The fifth day, the miraculous work of nature

(Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Zhangye Danxia National Geopark-Zhangye)

Continuous late sleep and fatigue of traveling , we three old girls were so tired that we could not speak. Miraculously, we found that the children’s recovery ability was particularly strong. After waking up, they were lively and full of energy. It was just dawn, and many people who got up early and were on their way had already set off, so we were not in a hurry, so we might as well stay late. Before Mei and her mother got up, Li and Yanyan climbed up the nearby hillside and started sandboarding. Xiaoyu and I asked the people at the base to use dune motorcycles to send us to the mountain to play with them. The motorcycles were special. Exciting, I was afraid that Xiaoyu would fall from above, so I protected him tightly. When we reached the top of the mountain, our eyes suddenly lit up. The sun that had just come out was not very dazzling. From a distance, it looked like a big egg yolk hanging on the other side of the mountain, coating the khaki desert with a layer of gold. It feels like the sand slowly turns from earthy yellow to golden yellow. It's really beautiful. Xiaoyu and Yanyan sat on the sandboard and slid down and back up again and again. They were very happy. Soon the clock pointed to nearly ten o'clock. It was time for us to set off. Zhangye was still waiting for us. The way back went smoothly. Master Ma said we were going to Jiayuguan and Zhangye Danxia Geopark today. Due to the long distance, we could only choose one. We thought about it and chose the National Geological Park, which has a visual impact. After a long journey, we finally arrived at Zhangye Danxia at five o'clock in the afternoon. Although it was close to dusk, the sun did not look like it was going to get off work at all, and was still shining brightly. The few of us no longer had the excitement and dancing at the beginning of the journey, so we numbly bought tickets and entered the scenic spot.

However, to enter the Geopark, you must buy a tourist ticket in the park, which costs 20 yuan per person. The tourist bus has stations at four viewing platforms in the scenic area, and tourists can get on and off freely. Danxia Geopark is actually a desert land where not even an inch of grass grows. However, the bare rock mass on the ground surface is rich in color and colorful. The four viewing platforms allow you to see relatively concentrated landform colors from high places. The landforms of Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park are brightly colored, intertwined with layers, majestic and spectacular. It is exactly the "Danxia seven-color hills covered with strange, dangerous and picturesque scenery". In one word, God overturned the color palette. We browsed through it briefly, but due to time constraints, we did not fully experience the uncanny workmanship of this magical nature.

The sixth day, the last carnival of galloping

(Zhangye-Qilian Mountain Prairie-Gangshika Snow Peak-Menyuan Rapeseed Flowers-Xining)

Starting from Zhangye, we entered the Qilian Mountains prairie in our sleep.

"Qilian" is an ancient Xiongnu language, meaning "Tianshan". It is the natural barrier in the north of Qinghai, and it was Qiang in ancient times. Qinghai is the main route to the Western Regions. It was known as the "North Gate of Qinghai" in ancient times. The southern route of the Silk Road passes here. The car started to move forward on the winding mountain road. The high altitude sickness on the first day seemed to have favored us again. Miss Li felt uncomfortable again, but she had gained experience and could handle it easily. The car drove to the Oboling Pass, and we got off the car and stopped for a while. There is a sign at the pass indicating that the sea level of the pass is 3685 meters. We climbed to the top of the mountain on the right side of the pass. The top of the mountain was built with stones and had colorful prayer flags. Standing on the top of the mountain, you can see the low mountain top opposite. There are no trees on the mountain and it is all green grass. At first glance, it looks like a green carpet. There are white clouds in the blue sky in the distance, and the mountains look particularly fresh against the background.

After stopping for a while, we continued to move forward. There were horse farms along the way. Visitors can choose to stop and play at the horse farms.

The horse master took us to choose one of the horse farms. The herdsmen at the horse farm asked enthusiastically if we wanted to ride a horse for 120 in a large circle and 90 in a small circle. I reflexively asked if it could be cheaper. The herdsman immediately got angry. How could it be cheap? It was all at this price, and I was so scared that I didn’t dare to say anything. The three children were chattering and wanted to ride horses. Miss Li and I took our own children to ride one horse each, and the bold Miss Mei and her son each set off on one horse. I used to watch other people riding horses seem very relaxed, but I was nervous for no reason when I was sitting on the horse. Every time the horse took a step, my heart would twitch, for fear of falling off. The uncle holding the horse was very nice and kept saying it was okay. It’s okay, don’t be afraid, just walk to the middle of the grassland and take photos for us familiarly. Miss Mei is in trouble. She likes excitement and always dislikes her horse for not running fast enough. After finishing one lap, she has to ride another lap by herself. The two children were also encouraged and insisted on following the herdsman uncle for another lap. It's rare that everyone is so interested, so just let you run as much as you want on the grassland.

There are two swings in the middle of the horse farm. After riding, the children went to swing, and we sat and watched. I have been traveling for several days, sitting here looking at the blue sky and white clouds, watching the little gophers running out from time to time, and suddenly I feel more relaxed than ever before. I take a closer look at this vast land in the northwest. If I can, I should take half of it. It takes a month or even a month for an in-depth tour. It is a pity to browse the beautiful scenery like we did. Perhaps we were approaching the highlight of the journey, and Master Ma also wanted to leave a good impression on us and did not rush us. We sat and chatted on the grassland. There were mountains in the distance and horses in twos and threes on the grassland nearby. The fatigue from the journey seemed to be slowly relieved. At around nine o'clock in the evening, we returned to Xining. The six-day tour of the Northwest Grand Ring Road came to a perfect end. Although we were tired and tired, we were more shocked by the beautiful scenery and gained insights into the journey.

? Summarize some insights. First of all, six days on the Northwest Grand Ring Road is far from enough. Just taking a look at the sights is still unsatisfactory. Perhaps it is because we have children with us, and there are many scenic spots in the middle. I have missed all the scenic spots. If you have time, it is best to drive by yourself. There is no need to rush for time or scenic spots. You can be leisurely and contented, and slowly appreciate the vast territory and infinite beauty of the Northwest. Secondly, self-driving in the Northwest is the first choice. If you want to charter a car, be sure to communicate with the driver in advance about the driver's food and accommodation issues along the way. It is not a bad idea to ask the driver to help book accommodation and arrange the itinerary. You can find discounted accommodation and the driver will receive a rebate. They will definitely provide more dedicated service. People like us who are a bit awkward will not be happy, which will greatly affect the mood of the trip.

Speaking of food, as a foodie, I am deeply ashamed. I was on the road the whole trip and had no idea about what to eat. I just made do with a few bites. I ate instant noodles several times, and finally I don’t want to smell the smell of instant noodles anymore. When I saw the barbecue skewers and vermicelli soup from the Northwest that others posted, I was so greedy that I almost swallowed my saliva. Next time, I will be fully prepared for another in-depth trip to try all the delicious food here.

Finally, I end with Li Bai’s poem, looking forward to my next trip with Miss Mei, Miss Li and another Miss Li.

"The bright moon rises above the Tianshan Mountains, among the vast sea of ??clouds. The wind blows for tens of thousands of miles across Yumen Pass. The Han descends from Baidu Road, and Hu peeks into the Qinghai Bay. From the battlefield, no one has returned. The garrison looks at the side. , I feel so sad when I think about returning home. ? The tall building is like this night, and I can’t sigh easily. ——

"Moon in Guanshan" by Li Bai

Bgk? D?