Xining update 1-2/7

Replies: 10 - Last Post: 02-Sep-2007 02:02 Last Post By: ellyse

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ellyse

02-Jul-2007 06:56
Posts: 8,932

Xining update 1-2/7

I have about 5 mins left before I leave this Internet cafe in Xining, so here're just some quick notes.

Admission fees:
- Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si) now costs 80 RMB. 40 RMB if you can produce a student card (we didn't get checked to see if it was our own student cards, although they were). If you're not keen on seeing the various "halls" and just want to soak up the atmosphere (and vehicle exhausts), then sneak in by the "exit" door (to the left of the "entry" door). Some of the "halls" weren't "guarded" so you could get in for free.
- If you don't get the admission ticket, and still want to see the yak-butter sculptures, the monks guarding that hall wanted 20 RMB for that.

Transport:
- For those heading to southern Xinjiang, there's a Xining -- Huatugou sleeper bus daily at 1015. Fare is 225.3 RMB and the journey is expected to take around 20 hours. Tickets seem to be very much in demand, we could only get tickets for the day after tomorrow.
- For those heading to Urumqi, there's now a sleeper bus that takes 28-30 hours. Fare is about 320 or 330 RMB IIRC. It stops by Dunhuang and Turpan.

Misc notes:
- Taxi from Xining to Kumbum Monastery cost 25 RMB for the 4 of us. On the way back, all the taxi drivers wanted at least 30 RMB for the same -- we settled for a private car (much roomier and better ride) for 30 RMB. The bus apparently costs 6 RMB/each, not 4 RMB/each, but we didn't bother walking to check.
- The Xinhua bookstore at Da Shizi (diagonally opposite the post office) is now closed for renovations.
- The flagfall for taxi is 6 RMB, meter rate is 1.3 RMB.
- Internet costs 2 RMB/hour.

Cheers!

ZHET

02-Jul-2007 07:19
Posts: 1,328

Thanks, ellyse! I plan to go to Xining in about two weeks to watch part of a bicycle race and see the sights. Thanks for taking the time to write this up. Have a good rest of your trip!

!! Be warned that "students" who want to practice English with you may actually be scammers. In Shanghai they try the Tea Ceremony Scam. In Beijing it's the Art Student Scam. Be very wary if a stranger wants to speak English with you, especially if you are in a tourist area. !!

zhaoyun

02-Jul-2007 07:51
Posts: 733

Thanks for the info =)
I can't believe Ta'er Si costs 80 kuai now. It's the most overrated Tibetan monastery I've seen, though I did like the yak butter sculptures... but then again you can see those elsewhere.

siya

02-Jul-2007 11:13
Posts: 9

Hi Ellyse
Do you recommand some hotels or guesthouse in Xining
For the price i prefer something between 60 yuans and 150 yuans for a single (double) room
Thanks
Siya

ellyse

02-Jul-2007 16:43
Posts: 8,932

Sorry, we found a family to stay with so I don't have any accommodation recommendations. :( Losang did recommend somewhere, but I didn't stay there.
Cheers!

zhaoyun

02-Jul-2007 21:00
Posts: 733

The Post Hotel is supposed to be good.

alostghost

03-Jul-2007 00:34
Posts: 8

The Post Hotel is fine, but across the street there is another cheaper option. Across the street there is a cheaper place to stay. If you look across the street from the Post Hotel and see a little supermarket 'chaoshi' you only need to walk about 15 meters to the right of that and you'll see a metal gate with signs for a place to sleep. It's 25 to 30 for a single etc. There's a board posted on the gate. You need to walk down a set of small stairs and then make your way up to the third floor.

I'm going to stay there on my way back from Xinjiang. Ask for Mr. Li when you get upstairs. Nice fellow. He doesn't speak much English, but will work with you. W sat on the steps in front of the 'supermarket' drinking baijiu with him and my mate until the wee hours.

Good luck. Have fun. Sleep well.

He (she) owns a gifted pen, who reads tremendously.

smalle2000

03-Jul-2007 00:39
Posts: 15

Hi Ellyse,

You said you found a family to stay with. May I ask if you knew this family already before arriving? Just wondering since we will go to the Jyekundo horse festival and there will be no hotels available. I want to guess how difficult it will be to stay somewhere with a tibetan family.

Thanks,
Stijn

ellyse

04-Jul-2007 05:03
Posts: 8,932

#7, we stayed with a Paraguay/German family, not Tibetan/local. Did not know them beforehand, found them on CouchSurfing.
In any case, this was in Xining, NOTHING to do with Yushu (Jyekundo).
Cheers!

ellyse

31-Aug-2007 04:13
Posts: 8,932

2 additional notes:
- For a bird's-eye view of Kumbum, climb the hill opposite the monastery. It's not too difficult a climb, there's a newish staircase going up.
- There's a outdoor equipment store near the Shuijing Xiang market... unfortunately I no longer remember the exact address, but I think it's 25 Xi Dajie. There's a yellow sign with the words TOP SKY in red, blue and black. I'm going to put up a photo on my VirtualTourist Xining travel page... and also more photos as well.
Cheers!

ellyse

02-Sep-2007 02:02
Posts: 8,932

I just finished uploading tips and photos on my VirtualTourist Xining travel page so anyone who's interested please take a look there. :)
Cheers!

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