Friday, May 25, 2007

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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