Silk Road in June for 3 weeks

Replies: 12 - Last Post: 21-Jun-2007 04:17 Last Post By: ellyse

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spearhawk

03-May-2007 10:54
Posts: 165

Silk Road in June for 3 weeks

Hi all,

i am planning a possible travel to Xinjiang's silk road in May. Really need some valuable advices on this.
I will be flying in to Chengdu, from there i will like to do all the way overland by public transport to Kashgar, after which i will continue to Pakistan from there.
the route i was thinking of is something like
Chengdu -> Xi'an -> Lanzhou -> Dunhuang -> Turpan -> Urumqi -> then either North or South Silk Road to Kashgar

how long does this roughly take, including transportation time and sightseeings along the way? do-able in 3 weeks?
what are the places that i should stop at for sightseeings? and maybe a rough budget on how much this will cost?

Thanks in advance!
spear

My Silk Road (China) and Northern Pakistan Pictures
Nepal and the Himalayas (Annapurna) Pictures

lionel76

03-May-2007 12:28
Posts: 64

3 weeks time is Ok is you choose the north road to Kashgar, North road's infrastructure; facilitiies are better than the South one, But if you decide to explore the "far remote CHina" you may choose the South road, South road is pure "Sand road" it lies on the edge of desert. few people and towns along that road. Hotel charge ( three stars) for 20 days; Train/bus ticket and food all adding together RMB 8000; (USD 1000) per person for budget travellers. Better to buy medical insurance before you travel this route

zaiming

03-May-2007 18:06
Posts: 10

Chengdu - Xi'an fastest train (hard seat) 113yuan
Xi'an - Lanzhou fastest train (hard seat) 94yuan
Lanzhou - Dunhuang (hard seat) 81yuan
Dunhuang - Turpan (hard seat) 120yuan
Turpan - Urumuqi fastest (hard seat) 20yuan
Urumuqi - Kashgar fastest (hard seat) 200yuan
in total (est.) 650yuan
-> sleeper 650yuan x 2 = 1300yuan

hostels - 30 yuan x 20 = 600yuan
other daily expenses 50yuan x 20 = 1000yuan

IN TOTAL: 3000yuan (for backpacking !!!)

lionel76

04-May-2007 00:44
Posts: 64

That's travel by train, not backpacker route, how can you find a train if you travel on the " South silk road"? The price is soaring in the peak season in summer.

Fried rices with eggs and a can of beer willl costs you 40 yuan in those small town in the desert.

spearhawk

09-May-2007 20:31
Posts: 165

hi again people,

thanks for the input and information.
after abit more research, here is a rough plan that i came out with, maybe u guys/gals can help me again to tune it.

my rough plan is (excluding transport time):
Xian (2 days)
Lanzhou (1 day)
Jiayuguan (1 day)
Dunhuang (2 day)
Hami (1 day)
Turpan (1 day)
Urumqi (2 days)
Yining (1 day)
Kucha (1 day)
Kashgar( 2 days)

in that order, is the public transport (bus and train) easily obtained from town to town? i am planning to get then as a per day basis, when i wish to leave, or rather last mins so to say.

also, did i miss out any important town that definitely warrant a visit?

please let me know if the time for each town needs to be adjusted for the sightseeings in the town itself.

many thanks in advance!
Spear

My Silk Road (China) and Northern Pakistan Pictures
Nepal and the Himalayas (Annapurna) Pictures

ellyse

10-May-2007 05:38
Posts: 8,932

I would try to go to Xiahe in between Xi'an and Lanzhou, if possible.
Cheers!

spearhawk

10-May-2007 20:58
Posts: 165

hi ellyse!
thanks again!

realise u are actually very active in quite a few travel forums. =)

anyway, i am thinking of skipping Lanzhou all together, maybe just as a transit for Jiayuguan. advisable?
Is Binglingsi really worth visiting as compared to Mogao Caves in Dunhuang?

i will love to go try Xiahe, but i think the reroute off the route and back seems to take up abit of time, as i want to spend more time in the Xinjiang part of the Silk Road, like in Kashgar and Yining.

but if i do stop at Xiahe, i will connect to Lanzhou from Xian via a overnight train, then bus into Xiahe, overnight there, bus back to Lanzhou and onward to Jiayuguan by train, right?

thanks for the time!
spear

My Silk Road (China) and Northern Pakistan Pictures
Nepal and the Himalayas (Annapurna) Pictures

ellyse

11-May-2007 05:31
Posts: 8,932

Quite a few? I actually haven't been able to check on most of the forums I used to be on, for at least 3-4 weeks now. I've given up on Travel China Guide and Travellers Point; almost given up on Virtual Tourist; and desperately need to check back on TripAdvisor before they cancel my "expert" status.
I would agree that Lanzhou doesn't really need "visiting" except perhaps for a transit point.
Binglingsi and Mogao should feel quite different, so if time and circumstances allow for it, go for both.
Yes, your plan about Xiahe sounds about right. I'm not sure if there's an easier (less roundabout) way to get to Xiahe.
Cheers!

robroyrob

13-May-2007 03:45
Posts: 41

At the moment of writing I am in mira (Xinjiang). The road 315 from Golmud to mira is good.
Only the valley near Mira you need a 4 wheel dirve (no bus available). The bus from Golmud to Herzgou(spelling?) near the border of Qinghai and Xinjiang is quiet convient and it will take you in 12 hours. 90 kilmeter west of Herzgou there is a lovely small miningtown where we arrange a 4 wheel drive to Mira. I am looking forward to this adventure on the south silk road. Keep you informed.
Rob

robroyrob

14-May-2007 00:47
Posts: 41

Just some right spelling. I have my LP now with me.
Traveled Golmud - Hautugou - Miran - Ruoqiang - Qiemu along the 315.
Going all the way to Kasghar. Transport is not that difficult as I read in other post.
The Altun mountain range is quiet impressive with the four wheel drive from the border of Qinghai/Xinjiang to Miran.
The Miran ruins has some secrets I could not discover because the people asked way too much to bring you there.
Have someone else seen the ruins? The road from Miran to Rouqiang is one straight asfalt road with sandstorms all the way.
That 's it for now.
Rob

sapien987

31-May-2007 02:57
Posts: 24

robroyrob or anyone else,

do you know if you can get a bus from korla to ruoqiang, and then another from ruoqiang on to golmud? Any idea how long this would take?

Cheers,

Chris.

tailwind

05-Jun-2007 10:56
Posts: 404

tushkan is a tour guide and offering biased advice, against the policies of the Thorn Tree. Ignore his advice, better yet, to discourage such activity, do NOT go to his advertized places for touring advice, and do NOT email them. Keep the Thorn Tree a source of unbiased advice from travellers to travellers and non-commercial... ;-)

ellyse

21-Jun-2007 04:17
Posts: 8,932

#10, how did your trip go? My friend and I would be going on that route soon.
Cheers!

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