Xiahe and Lanzhou
Day 6...
Travel Expenses
*** Total: 160RMB ***
Bus from Lanzhou to Xiahe: 45RMB (280km/6hrs)
Entry to Labrang Monastery: 40RMB
Accomodation @ Tara Guesthouse: 40RMB
Local Transport, Food and Others: 35RMB
*Overland Distance Covered So Far: 2,122km
Took an overnight train from Xi'an to Lanzhou, and from there i took an early bus to the Tibetan town of Xiahe, located at an altitude of 3,000m above sea level
Tibetan style room at my hostel
View of section of the pilgrim circuit from my room
Living conditions in the suburb
Streets packed with Tibetans and monks
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
Followed the footsteps of Tibetan pilgrims and took on the 3km long pilgrim circuit
The whole circuit consists of more than 1,200 prayer wheels of different style and size, and my right wrist was screaming with pain after spinning almost all of them! haha
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
Even kids do their part to keep the prayer wheels constantly spinning
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
And me too, hoping to gain some good karma! haha
Tibetan pilgrims
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
Beautiful golden prayer wheels
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
And it was really amazing to see many of the pilgrims prostrating the full pilgrim circuit, it is a wonder how one's faith can make one so determined
One of the giant prayer wheels where u have to walk 3 rounds around them, spinning them at the same time
They are even taller than me!
We also walked past a couple of stupas where u have to walk 3 rounds around them
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
Numerous small sacred temple built on the hill and are out of bounds to foreigners
We were also trying to interact with the pilgrims and monks along the way, trying to learn about them and their unique Tibetan culture
After the circuit, we went to the holy Labrang Monastery
Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, and home to the largest number of monks outside of Tibet Autonomous Region
Very beautiful temples and buildings
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
View of the town from above
Colorful decorations
A couple of lions guarding the entrance, Chinese influence?
Roof of the temples are usually topped with a golden stupa
Many different temples for different usages
Tibetan monks were practising their music and dance
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
Floor laid with rows and rows of carpets inside one of the temples
And many interesting decorations hanging from the ceiling
Brightly colored walls on the rooftop of one of the temples
We also saw various items that Tibetans used during their festivals and ceremonies
These sculptures are entirely made of yak butter, can u believe it?
And they are so detailed!
~ View Picture on Flickr ~
Cute Tibetan boy
One of the small hill overlooking the town, where u can see the large platform on the right where Tibetans will lay their huge Thangka during festivals
Thangka platform
Aerial view of the town
Modernisation has certainly caught up, and there is a internet cafe here too
And today is the day I officially graduate! =p
Dinner in one of the Tibetan restaurants
Win and me toasting with our yak milk tea. Win is from Myanmmar and I met him at Xiahe bus station, after which we have travelled together for the day
Tibetan buns
Cute boy who was running around the restaurant
Day 7...
Travel Expenses
*** Total: 319RMB ***
Bike Rental from Tara Guesthouse: 15RMB for 1 Day
Entry to Sanka Grassland: 5RMB
Bus from Xiahe to Lanzhou: 45RMB (280km/6hrs)
Local Transport, Food and Others: 75RMB
Overnight Train from Lanzhou to Jiayuguan: 179RMB
>>> Click for more trains details <<<
~ Train Code: T927
~ Type: Hardsleeper Upper Berth (Aircon)
~ Departure: 2200
~ Arrival: 0639
~ Travel Time: 08Hrs 19Mins (770km)
*Overland Distance Covered So Far: 3,172km
Tibetan streets early in the morning
Sunrise over farmlands
Roaming yaks
Rented a bike and cycled to scenic and vast Sangke Grassland
Welcome to Sangke Grassland!
Sheeps out for grazing
Local school still in construction
View of the grassland
On my way back, i saw a Tibetan pilgrim who was intending to prostrate himself all the way to Labrang Monastery, and in fact he had already been on the road for 2 weeks, and maybe 1 more week to go to reach Labrang Monastery, simply amazing determination!
Tibetan food with yak milk tea (much better than yak butter tea lol) for lunch
Took a minibus back to Lanzhou via small Muslim town of Lingxia, and people were loading vegetables, stocks and bike(!) on the top of the minibus
Drunk or just taking a nap? lol
Zhongshan Bridge built across the almighty Yellow River in Lanzhou
Vast Yellow River tamed by humans
Temples across the river
Many activities by the river bank, including some beach soccer actions
Statues of characters from the popular epic "Journey To the West"
Sunset over the Yellow River
Lanzhou train station at night
My upper deck hard sleeper bed for my overnight train from Lanzhou to Jiayuguan
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