Did not know what to expect and did not even bother to check on the itinerary as it was arranged by my uncle who asked us to join the tour of 9 days 7 nights via Air Asia direct to Lanzhou following Golden TourWorld Travel (GTT) with no shopping stop.
As end August, the systems at KLIA and KLIA2 went haywire, we were told to be earlier to airport 3.5 hours before flight depart at 5.25 pm that Sunday 8 September 2019. The travels on flight took us 5 hours to reach Lanzhou and after so much queries at the custom airport, we reached the hotel almost passed midnight. The next morning our flight to Urumuqi by Shandong Airline took us another 2.5 hours departed from Lanzhou at 10.30 am. Lunch served onboard but not to my liking with choice of chicken or fish.
Day 1
Flight details (Via Air Asia which started to fly to Lanzhou)
8 Sept 2019 KL/Lanzhou (5 hrs) 1725/2220 hrs
Clearing of immigration has taken up quite a bit of time due lots of queries and they started with biometrics, so by time we check into hotel was quite late. Lucky the hotel, Ruiling International Hotel was not far from airport, approximately 9 km away.
Day 2
Next morning we were told to wake up early as we need to board domestic flight
9 Sept 2019 Lanzhou/Urumuqi via Shandong Airline 1030/1300 hrs
After arrival straight to Heaven Mountain and Lake Tianshan
Check in U Hotel, the best hotel throughout the trip.
Urumuqi is the northern route of the Silk Road and is melting pot of various fascinating culture.
Heavenly Lake, a befitting fabled lake on high altitude
Day 3
Erdaoqiao Bazaar and then lunch before we leave to Turpan. The earlier the better to avoid any road closure due to wind and blowing sand. When we drove through Xinjiang Highway to Turpan, we passed by Asia's largest windpower station. At Turpan, we visited Karez Well System, the main source of water supply to Turpan's citizen. After dinner, we check into Shuang Cheng Hotel for 2 nights.
Day 4
Visited Ancient City of Jiohe, the oldest largest best preserved earthen city in the world. Visited the Grapes Valley before we were treated with whole roast lamb for lunch.Visited hottest place in China, Flaming Mountain aka Red Mountain. The temperature was 35 when we there thus not too "flaming" at all. After dinner, we were back to hotel for early rest.
Falming mountain - a fling with the heat and the "monkey king".
Day 5
We were allocated 1.5 hours before our train depart to Dunhuang for strict custom check on your baggage and hand carry. No inflammable, knife or scissors are allowed. As for drinking water, is better to put into hand carry for them to check and they will ask you to have a zip in front of them. Lunch was onboard, box meal with rice, chicken, vege, beancurd. We visited Mingsha mountain as we arrived Dunhuang. Ride the camel and tour around Crescent Lake. For dinner, we were served Snow Mountain Camel palm. We stayed at Fulihua International Hotel for a night.
Day 6
We visited Mogao Grottoes, this cave is a shrine of Buddhist art treasures. Then leave by coach to Jiayuguan. We stayed in Sky Fortunes for the night.
Day 7
In Jiayuguan, we visited Jiayuguan Fort, Great Wall Museum before we leave by coach to Zhangye. The attraction Danxia Landform Geological Park with fascinating colorful mountain ridges of red rocks. We stayed at Xi Yu International
Day 8
Proceed back to Lanzhou by train. Visited Lanzhou waterwheel, Sculpture of Mother Yellow River, Ancient Water Mill. Had dinner nearby airport and then check in for flight home.
Day 9
Home Sweet Home
