MOnKeY: Silk Road - juz the beginning

More are coming, meanwhile

ACCESS ALBUM in new windows

5 Nov

by pangchi

Morning
Xi'an
-Shenzhen > Xi'an 2 hr, 0845 flight, i.e. have to set off from HK home at 0530.

Afternoon
-Visit the Terracotta Army. Bus RMB7/head one-way, 25km

Night
Looking for hostel + Muslim quarters, bell/ drum towers

6 Nov

by pangchi

Morning
-Bus to Hua Shan RMB22/head one-way, 120km, 2hrs
-Scale the mountain, very steep, cliffs everywhere. Thanks to cable car which did the start and the end.

Night
-Dinner near bell/ drum towers

7 Nov

by pangchi

Morning
-Muslim quarters + Great Mosque

Afternoon
-Train T53 to Jiayuguan. Upgrade to softsleeper (Yahoo!!!!!!) RMB175+212+5/ea, 1446km, 17hrs

8 Nov

by pangchi

Morning
Jiayuguan
-Jiayuguan Fort
-the Great Wall
Taxi, RMB 100 for 3 places

Afternoon
-Bus to Dunhuang. RMB66, 387km, 6hr.

9 Nov

by pangchi

Morning
Dunhuang
-Mogao Caves
Minibus, RMB 30/head return, 25km

Afternoon
-"Sand dune", Mingsha Shan & Crescent Lake
Bus, RMB 1/head/one way, 5km

10 Nov
Morning
-Taxi to Liuyuan to catch train for Urumuqi. RMB 120/cab, 160km, 2hrs

Afternoon
-Train T53 hard seat. RMB113, 825km, 10hrs
(low in cash, still pay premium for express train but didn't upgrade)
-"Enjoy" desert landscape in Xinjiang
-Arrive Urumuqi.

11 Nov

by pangchi

Tian Chi
-Transit at Fukang, RMB 10 + 10/head, 120km.
-Nothing to see cause all fog, yea, me inside the cloud. Sad.
-Walk up, 1hr, strongly recommended. Took bus down to park HQ, RMB20.
-Return by hitching bus chartered by other people, RMB 25/head. Need to be thick skin.

12 Nov

by pangchi

Morning
Erdaoqiao, Uyghur bazaar (here they called bazaar, bit of central asia feel)

Afternoon
Urumuqi > Shenzhen 7hrs
-Bus 51, RMB1 stop at airport main gate only, 1km to walk :-(
-Shenzhen > HK via Huanggang by night buses.

Average out the necessities too.
Stay: ~RMB120/night on twin share ensuite room
Eat:: ~RMB15/meal on twin share, 2 noodles, few cold dishes (vegetables)
Attraction entry: ~RMB80-100/ea/place

Recommended lodging: