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Jiayuguan Trip

Sunday, July 25th, 2021

After dinner, we went to Lanzhou Railaway Station for a 11-hour train trip from Lanzhou to Jiayuguan. Lanazhou Railway Station is the only passenger railway station in Lanzhou. It is located below the Gaolan Mountain in the south of Chengguan District of Lanzhou, Gansu Province.

We were arranged to take the overnight Train K9661 starting at 08:38pm and arriving at Jiayuguan at 7:46 the next morning covering the total railway length of 770km. Now it was the tourism peak season here in Gansu Province, there were over a dozen of through or passing by trains linking the two important cities on the ancient Silk Road.

The orange coloured train looked much safer and more reliable.

I was waked up by the early morning sunlight creeping into our cabin. What caught my eyes were the passing by Qilian Mountain with snow capped peaks. Yes, the famous mountain would accompany us throughout the trip paralleling the the whole Hexi Corridor.

Qilian Mountain with snow capped peaks

We arrived at Jiayuguan on time. Jiayuguan Railway Station was located 5km south of the city center.

Jiayuguan Railway Station

After disembarking at Jiayuguan Railway Station, going through the city center, we went directly to Jiayuguan Hotel (嘉峪关宾馆) for a familiarization trip. It is a 4 star hotel with 177 rooms modernly equipped and elegantly furnished.

Add: No.01 Xinhua Road, Jiayuguan Tel: 0937 – 6201588 Fax: 0937 – 6227174. We were transferred to Jiayuguan Hotel (嘉峪关宾馆) for a fam trip.

A huge painted Jiayuguan Tourism Map hanging on the wall in the lobby of the hotel aroused my interest. The map clearly showed the layout of Jiayuguan City with the mapping of its rich tourist attractions.

Jiayuguan Downtown – Jiayuguan Airport ( 13km )
Jiayuguan Railway Station ( 5km )
Long Distance Bus Station ( 1.5km )
Jiayuguan Pass ( 4km )
Overhanging Great Wall (Suspension Great Wall ) 12km
The First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall ( 15km )
Wei Jin Underground Brisk Murals ( 18km )
July First Glacier ( 120km )

The Tourist Map of Jiayuguan City

The next activity was the highlight of our fam trip in Jiayuguan, visiting the Jiayuguan Pass. Jiayu Pass ( Jiayuguan Fort ) was the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China. Built 1372, Jiayuguan Fort was was christened as the first and greatest Pass under the Heaven. The pass consisted of three defense lines – an inner city, an outer city and a moat.

The fort was located at the narrowest point of the western section in Hexi Corridor ( 15km wide ) bound by Qilian Mountains and Hei Shan ( Black Mountains ). The fort had a perimeter of 733 meters with an area of more than 33,500 square meters. The total length of the city wall was 733 meters and 11 meters high.

Jiayuguan pass had two gates – East side ( Gate of Enlightenment ) and West side ( Gate of Conciliation ). On each gate there was a building with an inscription of “Jiayuguan” in Chinese written. Each gate had 17 m-high towers with double gates that had been used to trapping invading armies. The south and north sides of the pass were linked to the Great Wall. There was a turret on each corner of the fort.

The West Gate of Conciliation

The unrepaired turret of the fort.

The city wall of the pass.

The horse course way up to the pass

Outside the wall of the pass.

After finishing the tour of Jianyuguan, we moved on to the south of the pass and got to the first beacon tower of Great Wall of China. The first beacon tower was built 1539 by an local military officer stationed in Hexi Corridor.

People were taking photos of the First Beacon.

Now we were driving along the highway from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang at the driving distance of 385km.

Tip 10: Hassle-free Great Wall Guided Tours

Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for guided tours to Great wall Tours:

Mutianyu Great Wall Group Day Tour
Mutianyu Great Wall Half Day Private Tour
Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
Hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall Tour
Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall West Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace Day T our
Badaling Great Wall + Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Day Tour

Visit Badaling Great Wall by Train
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall by Bus

Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
Hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall Tour
Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall West Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Day Tour

Further Readings

How to Plan a Trip to Beijing
Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of H eaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in B eijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

Posted in Dunhuang Travel, Jiayuguan Travel | 7 Comments »

Dunhuang Trip, My Trip to Dunhuang

Monday, August 15th, 2011

On Auguast 01, 2011, after simple Chinese lunch at the end of visiting Jiayuguan Pass, we set off for Dunhuang on a 385km road trip along the National Highway G30 and changed at Guazhou County for National Highway G313 leading to our destination – Dunhaung.

We set off for Dunhuang on a 385km road trip.

we set off for Dunhuang on a 385km road trip

This 385km driving trip was the most challenging part of our Hexi Corridor trip. But we were all excited and very much expected the long bus travel cutting through the Gobi desert bound by Qilin Mountain in the south and the North Mountain and the extention of Tianshan Mountain in the north.

Gobi

At the city Yumen, we stopped for about 20 monutes for using toilets and relaxing. It was a national highway, so each distance between 60 and 100km there would be a service center with the facilities like a restaurant, a store and a toilet.

Service Area at Yumen on the G30

On our left side was Qilianshan Mountain.

Our left side was Qilianshan Mountains.

Wind turbines

wind turbines

In the later afternoon, after four and half hours, we reached the city of Dunhuang. The monotonous desert landscape suddely gave away to the green oasis with cultivated fields opposite the rolling sand dunes. But it was not the oasis and the sand dunes that attracts a huge number of tourists coming to Dunhuang each year, it is the the splendid cave temples of Dunhuang, a trove of Buddhist art in the high desert.

Dunhuang once commanded a very important strategic position at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road along the narrow Gansu Corridor which was extended to the north Chinese plains and the ancient capitals of Chang’ans and Luoyang.

The Mogaoku (Mogao Caves ) was located under the Minshanshan (Singing Sand Dunes ), 25km southeas of the city of Dunhuang. The attraction site of the Crescent Moon Lake and the Singing Sand Dunes was located 7km south of Dunhuang City. The Dunhuang Railway Station was located 12km in the northeast of Dunhuang and Dunhuang Airport 13km in the east of Dunhuang.

Dunhuang Tourist Map

Dunhuang Tourist Map (www.friendsofdunhuang.org)

Now we entered the city center of Dunhuang. The Feitian Statue standing in the center of the city.

New hotels in Dunhuang were popping up to meet the increasing number of tourists coming from home and broad.

All the hotels were located in Dunhuang city, not at the Mogao Caves area. This time we were arranged to stay at Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang ( add: 5 Beilu, Shazhou Tel; 0937 -8829999 ), one of the best hotels in Dunhuang. Other nice hotels include Dunhuang Hotel ( add:14, Guandong Lu Tel: 0937 – 88220088 ), Dunhuang Shazhou Sunny Hotel ( add: 31, Guanzhong Lu Tel: 0937 – 8850001 ), Dunhuang Shanzhuang ( add: Guoyue Lu Tel: 0937 – 8882088 )…

Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang

Rooms at Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang

Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang

After check-in, for the rest of the time, we were free without any prearranged activities. Together with a bus mate from Guilin, we went to the famouas Dunhuang Market for a short trip.

In the market, you would see good dried fruits, and nuts ( including dates, raisins, walnuts, apricots…). You would alo discover many souvenirs. If you felt hungry, the market would not let you down.

A panoramic view of the Dunhuang Market, the commercial street.

A panoramic view of the Dunhuang Market,

Jade, bracelet, beards, wrist beads…

Luminous cup

luminous cup

Gourd Carving

Stone Carving

Skewered lamp

Enjoying the local flavors

The next morning we got up very early to catch the beautiful view of the Singing Sand Dunes coupled by the Crescent Lake. We were a little bit disappointed by the yellow dust ( yellow sand, yellow wind or dust storms)… It is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon which affects much of Northern and Northwest of China like Lanzhou, Baotou and Yinchuan as well as Beijing in the season of March.

Singing Sand Dunes

Riding a camel

The Crescent Lake in the dust storm

The visit to the Mogaoku, or Mogao Caves was the highklight of our Hexi Corridor trip. The site of the Mogao Caves is loacted 25km southeast of the city of Dunhuang. The Mogao Cave temples rise three levels along a 1.6 kilometer escarpment near the Daquan River. Every visitor to Dunhuang will be overpowered by their rich complexity and astonishing details. There are totally 492 caves, hand hewn from the cliff face over a millennium, are numbered for reference and protection.

If you travel on a large group, your group have to make a reservation in advance. Individuals and small groups do not need a reservation for entering Mogao Caves. But all visitors must be escorted by a guide offered by the Dunhuang Academy. High season tickets are around US $25, the two hour guide service available in major languages.

Photography is not allowed inside the caves. The standard admission only allows you visit a dozen cave temples, including the Cave No.96, the iconic nine story pagoda with the colossal 35.5m tall Buddha, the third largest in the world.

It is worth visiting at least two cacess. Aroud 30 caves are open to the public at any one time of the 429. Murals and sculptures bring us much enlightment on the ten centuries of culture at the crossroads of East and West.

The Cave 96, the Iconic Structure

The caves are well protected

Three levels caves

More caves

Tip: Hassle-free Dunhuang Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Dunhuang Guided Tours:

Dunhuang Highlight Day Tour from US$ 119 p/p
Dunhuang Excursion Day Tour from US$ 89 p/p
Dunhuang 4 Day Tour from US$ 159 p/p

Dunhuang Tailor-Made Tour

Further Readings

How to get to Dunhuang
Dunhuang Trip
Top 10 Places in Gansu

Any questions, just drop a line.

Tags: Dunhuang, How to visit Dunhuang, How to visit Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Visit Dunhuang
Posted in China Travel, Dunhuang Travel, Jiayuguan Travel | No Comments »

Jiayuguan Taxi: Jiayuguan Taxis, Tips and Phones

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Jiayuguan Taxi Quantity
At the time of my writing, Jiayuguan has about 100 taxies. Most of them gather around the hotel, restaurant, entertainment site as well as night market, so it is very easy to hail a taxi in Jiayuguan city.

Taxi Models in Jiayuguan
Generally speaking, the taxis running in the street of Jiayuguan consist of Jetta, Hyundai, Kia and a spot of Santana.

Jiayuguan Taxi Fares:
• RMB6 for the first 3 kilometers
• RMB1.2 per km for each additional kilometer
• RMB0.6 for each additional km at night

Jiayuguan Taxi Company Bookings
If you need to book a taxi, please make the call as following:
• Jiayuguan Jieanda Taxi Company add: near Gangtie Road, Jiayuguan City

Hailing a Jiayuguan City Taxi
•The best places to hail a taxi is near the Station, the Airport, Bus stop, Scenic Spots, Hotel, Restaurant and so on..

Jiayuguan Taxi rider’s rights
As a taxi rider, you have the rights below:
Direct drive to your destination and no compulsory car pooling
Go to any destination in and beyond Jiayuguan
Your car driver knows the streets in Jiayuguan and the way to major destinations in Jiayuguan;
Your driver should know and abide by all traffic laws;
Air-conditioning on demand;
A radio-free trip;
No Smoking
A clean passenger seat area;
A clean trunk
A driver uses the horn only when necessary to warn of danger;
No Tip

Jiayuguan Taxi Stands
As a small city, there is no taxi stands in Jiayuguan. People just hail a taxi anywhere they think it is safe enough.

Jiayuguan Taxi Complaints
If you have any problem with a taxi in Jiayuguan, please contact the following:
• Jiayuguan Price Bureau. Tel: 0937-6087222

Jiayuguan Taxi Useful Information
•Using a meter instead of bargaining with the cab driver
•Refusing a forced pooling taxi
•Determine the charge with the driver for a long-distance drive
•Jiayuguan Airport –Jiayuguan Long-distance Station : about RMB18
•Jiayuguan Airport-Jiayuguan Downtown: RMB20-30

Jiayuguan Travel Service

Xian Dunhuang Jiayuguan 5-Day Tour

Xian Lanzhou Xiahe Jiayuguan Dunhuang 6-Day Tour

Xian Lanzhou Xiahe Wuwei Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang 8-Day Tour

Xian Xining Lanzhou Xiahe Jiayuguan Dunhuang 6-Day Tour

Jiayuguan Silk Road

Great Wall Hotel Jiayuguan

Xining Silk Road, Xian Xining Lanzhou Xiahe Jiayuguan Dunhuan Tour

Xian Silk Road Tour
Xinjiang Silk Road Tour

China Silk Road Tour

Tags: how to take a taxi Jiayuguan, Jiayuguan cab, Jiayuguan taxi, Jiayuguan taxi cost, Jiayuguan taxis
Posted in China Taxi, Jiayuguan Travel | No Comments »