I want to know more about Xin Jiang. Can you organise a tour for us from Guangzhou for 4 people? How much in CNY? 3 star hotel is ok. Tips and other costs inclusive? Thank you
Can you check all the photography permits for all the places we will be visiting? I will take the tours of Beijing - Urumqi - Turpan - Dunhuang - Xian - Lhisa - Gyingtse - Shigitse - Lhasa - Shanghai
Jul. 21,2009 00:50 Ms.Abbey replied:
Taking photos in the Mogao Grottoes and Potola Palace are absolutely forbidden. And if you want to take photos or videos in other sightseeing spots in Lhasa, you need to pay a lot of money to the Lamas.
As the Hongfu Lake Kanas Resort is concerned, is this hotel situated directly at the lake or how far is it from the lake? And how far ist the hotel from the Kanas airport?
Jul. 20,2009 01:42 Mr.Liana replied:
The Hongfu Lake Kanas Resort is situated 30 kilometers from the lake. It will take you about one hour by car from the hotel to the lake. From the Kanas airport to the hotel, you will cost about three hours by car.
If accidentally, there is no flight between Kanas and Urumqi, you can fly to Altai first and then take car the hotel in Kanas. It will take you about 5 hours from Altai to the hotel in Kanas.
In general, April, May, early June, September, October and early November are the best time to visit Urumqi and other cities in China. The winter in Urumqi is very cold, but it is a good place for ski.
Do a search on the website, and you will get enough information about the hotel.
Jul. 14,2009 03:56 Ms.Ruby replied:
Dunhuang Hotel was opened to business in as early as 1978. It was assessed as a 4 star-rated hotel in Dunhuang in 2001. There are four buildings in total to suit different needs of different tourists or different budget, that is South Building, North Building, the VIP Guest houses and Building No. 8.
For the tour itinerary of Dunhuang, I read all the tours scheduling cameral ride from the Echoing sand dune to the crescent lake. I can not do the camel ride. Is there any other means for me to reach the lake?
Jul. 13,2009 21:06 Ms.Melissa replied:
Hi, in fact, the camel ride is very funny and safe. But if that not ok for you, you can take the sightseeing car to get to the Crescent Lake instead of the camel-riding.
Is it hot along the silk road? Is it possible to get sunburned without sunscreen?
Jul. 13,2009 00:53 Ms.Maggie Y replied:
It’s very important to take your sun block oil with you. It’s not very hot, but the ultraviolet radiation is very strong in Xinjiang, especially exposed in the sun.
I want to visit Nalati Grassland and Bayinbuluke. Do you recommend and is there any good suggestions?
Jul. 13,2009 00:46 Ms.Nicole replied:
Nalati Grassland and Bayinbuluke are attractive with charming natural scenery. Well, it is a little bit troublesome for visiting. First a Permit is required to be with foreign visitors when visiting these places and the surrounding area. Second,the road between Bayinbuluke and Kuqa have been under construction for a long time ever since last year. The road is in bad condition and very bumpy. Then also the facilities of the Guest Houses in Grassland and Bayinbuluke can not be compared with the hotels in other cities. Neither the meals can be compared in the cities. I think you may need take these factors into consideration.
By time the Tang fell in 907 AD, trade along the Silk Road had diminished and Dunhuang began to slip into isolation until the late nineteenth century when Central Asia's strategic importance spurred international political intrigue. Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Japan played their parts in the "Great Game," and Dunhuang had its role, too. In 1906, Aurel Stein, a Hungarian in the service of the British, learned that a Chinese monk, Wang Yuanlu, was excavating and restoring a complex of long-lost caves full of amazing treasures. In no time, Stein purchased a stack of priceless Buddhist manuscripts and Tang paintings and was off to peddle them to the British Museum. Not long after, the Frenchman Paul Piellot did the same for the Louvre. Today, despite Chinese attempts to recover these treasures, they remain in Europe. Intervening years, however, have led to further discoveries and the Caves themselves remain as testaments to Dunhuang's glory days. Climate: Located in arid Gansu Province, Dunhuang experiences lots of sunshine, little rainfall and four distinct seasons. Winter brings freezing temperatures, averaging -2C (29 F), while summer days peak around 32C (90 F) on average. Throughout the year, winds whip up occasional sand storms. Always carry sunglasses, a hat, extra water and handkerchiefs, just in case. The best time to visit Dunhuang and the Silk Road region is from May through October when the weather warms.
Although Dunhuang does not have a large selection of hotels or hostels, there are several nice Chinese and Western options in the city as well as plenty of budget accommodations to choose from.
Duhuang in the old silk road: This desert town near the old Silk Road rewards visitors with an astonishing archeological treasure carved out of bedrock and cliffs: the Mogao Caves. The caves' Buddhist paintings and artifacts are stunning and Dunhuang itself is worth a stay for its relaxed oasis atmosphere. Historically the last Chinese outpost on the Silk Road, Dunhuang has a long history of taking care of weary travelers. History:Dunhuang sits at the edge of the Gobi Desert at the juncture of the western provinces of Gansu and Qinghai and the Xinjiang autonomous region. Historically, the town prospered as a fertile agricultural oasis (it's especially famous for its melons and grapes) and as the country's westernmost military garrison during the Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Tang (618-907 AD) dynasties. Founded by Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty in 111 BC, Dunhuang served as a base for soldiers watching over Silk Road caravans. For centuries, Dunhuang was the last familiar stop for Chinese traders heading west, sometimes even going as far as the Roman Empire.
Dunhaung was a surprisingly cosmopolitan place. Persian merchants rubbed elbows with rough-and-tumble Mongolian horse traders and itinerant Tibetan and Indian Buddhist monks espoused various Buddhist teachings. In its heyday, Dunhuang became wealthy as gold, silver, fine glass, fragrances, spices, exotic animals, and fruit passed through. The combination of wealth and Buddhism led to the slow and dedicated creation of the Mogao Cave. Work began during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-581 BC), peaked during the Tang, then continued until its eventual abandonment during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368). continue
Dunhuang: caves must be viewed with the afternoon sun-with September being the last month when the sun lights the caves? At the rate of maybe 10 caves per day don't we need at least two days for the Mogao caves? how many are open to tourists?
Jul. 5,2009 20:27 Ms.Maggie replied:
One day is enough for you to visit the Mogao caves. Generally, there are 10-15 caves opening to visitors, which will cost you about 2-3 hours. And there are some special caves, if you want to visit them, the extra price is CNY150.00-CNY200.00 per cave per person.
One question about Xinjang. I know Turpan is famous for vineyards, I did not expect cold winter weather there. In fact we would like to stay mainly in Turpan valley, make some day trips from there, and on the way back visit Dunhang. Are these places may be cold in difficult to travel in December?
Jun. 28,2009 21:26 Mr.Vicent replied:
The best time to visit the vineyard is in the Summer or the Autumn, since it will be sapless if you visit there in the Winter Season. For the visit to Turpan and Dunhuang you mentioned, it is still a little cold and the road will be blocked if there is heavy snow. In this way, it is a hard journey if you go there in the winter season.
How easy is it for the connection of the flight via another city? Do we need a long time to wait?
Jun. 26,2009 01:56 Mr.Ken Kenny(USA) replied:
Take it easy. Just follow the airport announcement or ask the staff for help when connecting the flight. It is important to note that you have to leave enough time to connect the flights. Usually 2-2.5 hours for the domestic flights and 3-3.5 hours for the international flights.
Usually, the guide will pick you up at the airport holding a sign with your names on that. When you walk out of the baggage claiming area, you can always see many people waiting there, with some of them holding the meeting board. Try to find your names amony them.
We do not like travel by flight or train, can we travel with a private air conditioned car from XiAn all the way to Urumqi?
Jun. 21,2009 20:22 Mr.Jason Ty(China) replied:
OH DEAR! I don’t think that’s possible. It’s about 2568 km of train travel from Xian to Urumqi. It takes more than 3 hours for flight. I think the highway distance will be longer. Drive such a long distance? Cannot imagine.
I plan to travel to Loulan, lake lop nor and Miran in April, any advise?
Jun. 19,2009 02:19 Mr.Oscale(CN) replied:
The sandstorm or duststorm with violent winds occurs frequently in April. The tour to the desert and the ruins will very hard and dangerous at that time. Even with some mordern facilities, you may easily lost your way in the desert. You’d better postpone the tour to May.
kashgar sunday market is the biggest market in Xinjiang even central asia, it's open every day,In the bazaar there is just about everything you would expect to find, such as various special local products, handicrafts, articles of daily use,but l recommend you to visit any village market because l think village market more then interesting then kashgar sunday market,for example Monday market: Hanerik market which is about 40Kms way from Kashgar city. or Opal market which is 50Kms from kashgar city. Tuesday market: Yapchan market which is about 35 kms from Kashgar city, specialty of this market is camel. more than other markets. Wednesday market: Bulaksu market which is about 40 Kms from Kashgar city. Thursday market: Serik Buya market which is 200Kms from kashgar city, it is the largest market in Xinjiang
Lonely Planet says that flights within xinjiang are unreliable. 1) there are sand storms 2) when there aren''t enough passengers, they still tell you that there are weather problems. is June ok to fly between urumqi and kashgar, and hetian and urumqi?
I heard an interesting market on the Silk Road, do we need to be in a particular town or city, say, on a Sunday to enjoy the market? Or are they available everyday.
Jun. 2,2009 08:28 Iris replied:
Johnson, I guess the famous Sunday Market in Kashgar is just what you refer above. They do have local market everyday, but the one on Sunday is the busiest and flourishing one. If your time is flexible, you’d better enjoy that on Sunday.
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Questions & Reviews
11.
Jul. 21,2009 21:13Reply
Mr.Yacobus(Indonesia)said:
Hello,
I want to know more about Xin Jiang. Can you organise a tour for us from Guangzhou for 4 people? How much in CNY? 3 star hotel is ok. Tips and other costs inclusive? Thank you
12.
Jul. 19,2009 19:49Reply
Mr.Russell(USA)said:
Can you check all the photography permits for all the places we will be visiting? I will take the tours of Beijing - Urumqi - Turpan - Dunhuang - Xian - Lhisa - Gyingtse - Shigitse - Lhasa - Shanghai
Jul. 21,2009 00:50
Ms.Abbey replied:
Taking photos in the Mogao Grottoes and Potola Palace are absolutely forbidden. And if you want to take photos or videos in other sightseeing spots in Lhasa, you need to pay a lot of money to the Lamas.
13.
Jul. 16,2009 21:09Reply
Ms.Paulina Grillssaid:
As the Hongfu Lake Kanas Resort is concerned, is this hotel situated directly at the lake or how far is it from the lake? And how far ist the hotel from the Kanas airport?
Jul. 20,2009 01:42
Mr.Liana replied:
The Hongfu Lake Kanas Resort is situated 30 kilometers from the lake. It will take you about one hour by car from the hotel to the lake. From the Kanas airport to the hotel, you will cost about three hours by car.
If accidentally, there is no flight between Kanas and Urumqi, you can fly to Altai first and then take car the hotel in Kanas. It will take you about 5 hours from Altai to the hotel in Kanas.
14.
Jul. 16,2009 19:25Reply
Mr.SIDNEY (USA)said:
unsure if it is worth visiting Urumqi during the winter period.
Jul. 20,2009 00:55
Ms.Rebecca Tepas (Holland) replied:
In general, April, May, early June, September, October and early November are the best time to visit Urumqi and other cities in China. The winter in Urumqi is very cold, but it is a good place for ski.
15.
Jul. 15,2009 21:37Reply
Ms.Carol Ballsaid:
I heard that there is "paragliding" over the sand dunes. This sounds exciting. Is that interesting?
Jul. 17,2009 02:05
Ms.Maria replied:
Yes, I have done that in Dunhuang, really exciting. Don’t miss it if you go there.
16.
Jun. 19,2009 02:29Reply
Mr.Tom(GB)said:
What is Dunhuang Hotel like?
Jun. 21,2009 20:34
Mr.bear replied:
Do a search on the website, and you will get enough information about the hotel.
Jul. 14,2009 03:56
Ms.Ruby replied:
Dunhuang Hotel was opened to business in as early as 1978. It was assessed as a 4 star-rated hotel in Dunhuang in 2001. There are four buildings in total to suit different needs of different tourists or different budget, that is South Building, North Building, the VIP Guest houses and Building No. 8.
17.
Jul. 12,2009 21:06Reply
Mr.Tom Kwan(Singapore)said:
For the tour itinerary of Dunhuang, I read all the tours scheduling cameral ride from the Echoing sand dune to the crescent lake. I can not do the camel ride. Is there any other means for me to reach the lake?
Jul. 13,2009 21:06
Ms.Melissa replied:
Hi, in fact, the camel ride is very funny and safe. But if that not ok for you, you can take the sightseeing car to get to the Crescent Lake instead of the camel-riding.
18.
Jul. 9,2009 21:06Reply
Ms.Emma Marcetsaid:
Is it hot along the silk road? Is it possible to get sunburned without sunscreen?
Jul. 13,2009 00:53
Ms.Maggie Y replied:
It’s very important to take your sun block oil with you. It’s not very hot, but the ultraviolet radiation is very strong in Xinjiang, especially exposed in the sun.
19.
Jul. 9,2009 20:49Reply
Mr.Elizabeth Graham(GB)said:
I want to visit Nalati Grassland and Bayinbuluke. Do you recommend and is there any good suggestions?
Jul. 13,2009 00:46
Ms.Nicole replied:
Nalati Grassland and Bayinbuluke are attractive with charming natural scenery. Well, it is a little bit troublesome for visiting. First a Permit is required to be with foreign visitors when visiting these places and the surrounding area. Second,the road between Bayinbuluke and Kuqa have been under construction for a long time ever since last year. The road is in bad condition and very bumpy. Then also the facilities of the Guest Houses in Grassland and Bayinbuluke can not be compared with the hotels in other cities. Neither the meals can be compared in the cities. I think you may need take these factors into consideration.
20.
Jul. 9,2009 07:16Reply
Ms.ANNACHAN(China)said:
By time the Tang fell in 907 AD, trade along the Silk Road had diminished and Dunhuang began to slip into isolation until the late nineteenth century when Central Asia's strategic importance spurred international political intrigue. Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Japan played their parts in the "Great Game," and Dunhuang had its role, too. In 1906, Aurel Stein, a Hungarian in the service of the British, learned that a Chinese monk, Wang Yuanlu, was excavating and restoring a complex of long-lost caves full of amazing treasures. In no time, Stein purchased a stack of priceless Buddhist manuscripts and Tang paintings and was off to peddle them to the British Museum. Not long after, the Frenchman Paul Piellot did the same for the Louvre. Today, despite Chinese attempts to recover these treasures, they remain in Europe. Intervening years, however, have led to further discoveries and the Caves themselves remain as testaments to Dunhuang's glory days.
Climate:
Located in arid Gansu Province, Dunhuang experiences lots of sunshine, little rainfall and four distinct seasons. Winter brings freezing temperatures, averaging -2C (29 F), while summer days peak around 32C (90 F) on average. Throughout the year, winds whip up occasional sand storms. Always carry sunglasses, a hat, extra water and handkerchiefs, just in case. The best time to visit Dunhuang and the Silk Road region is from May through October when the weather warms.
Although Dunhuang does not have a large selection of hotels or hostels, there are several nice Chinese and Western options in the city as well as plenty of budget accommodations to choose from.
21.
Jul. 9,2009 07:09Reply
Ms.ANNACHAN(China)said:
Duhuang in the old silk road:
This desert town near the old Silk Road rewards visitors with an astonishing archeological treasure carved out of bedrock and cliffs: the Mogao Caves. The caves' Buddhist paintings and artifacts are stunning and Dunhuang itself is worth a stay for its relaxed oasis atmosphere. Historically the last Chinese outpost on the Silk Road, Dunhuang has a long history of taking care of weary travelers.
History:Dunhuang sits at the edge of the Gobi Desert at the juncture of the western provinces of Gansu and Qinghai and the Xinjiang autonomous region. Historically, the town prospered as a fertile agricultural oasis (it's especially famous for its melons and grapes) and as the country's westernmost military garrison during the Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Tang (618-907 AD) dynasties. Founded by Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty in 111 BC, Dunhuang served as a base for soldiers watching over Silk Road caravans. For centuries, Dunhuang was the last familiar stop for Chinese traders heading west, sometimes even going as far as the Roman Empire.
Dunhaung was a surprisingly cosmopolitan place. Persian merchants rubbed elbows with rough-and-tumble Mongolian horse traders and itinerant Tibetan and Indian Buddhist monks espoused various Buddhist teachings. In its heyday, Dunhuang became wealthy as gold, silver, fine glass, fragrances, spices, exotic animals, and fruit passed through. The combination of wealth and Buddhism led to the slow and dedicated creation of the Mogao Cave. Work began during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-581 BC), peaked during the Tang, then continued until its eventual abandonment during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368).
continue
22.
Jul. 2,2009 00:59Reply
Mr.Daniel Frenando(GB)said:
Dunhuang: caves must be viewed with the afternoon sun-with September being the last month when the sun lights the caves? At the rate of maybe 10 caves per day don't we need at least two days for the Mogao caves? how many are open to tourists?
Jul. 5,2009 20:27
Ms.Maggie replied:
One day is enough for you to visit the Mogao caves. Generally, there are 10-15 caves opening to visitors, which will cost you about 2-3 hours. And there are some special caves, if you want to visit them, the extra price is CNY150.00-CNY200.00 per cave per person.
23.
Jun. 25,2009 19:47Reply
Mr.Gilles(US)said:
One question about Xinjang. I know Turpan is famous for vineyards, I did not expect cold winter weather there. In fact we would like to stay mainly in Turpan valley, make some day trips from there, and on the way back visit Dunhang. Are these places may be cold in difficult to travel in December?
Jun. 28,2009 21:26
Mr.Vicent replied:
The best time to visit the vineyard is in the Summer or the Autumn, since it will be sapless if you visit there in the Winter Season. For the visit to Turpan and Dunhuang you mentioned, it is still a little cold and the road will be blocked if there is heavy snow. In this way, it is a hard journey if you go there in the winter season.
24.
Jun. 25,2009 04:10Reply
Mr.Edwin Layne(USA)said:
How easy is it for the connection of the flight via another city? Do we need a long time to wait?
Jun. 26,2009 01:56
Mr.Ken Kenny(USA) replied:
Take it easy. Just follow the airport announcement or ask the staff for help when connecting the flight. It is important to note that you have to leave enough time to connect the flights. Usually 2-2.5 hours for the domestic flights and 3-3.5 hours for the international flights.
25.
Jun. 23,2009 04:36Reply
Mr.Jaysaid:
Arrangements on arrival regarding pick up etc.
Jun. 23,2009 22:10
Mr.Albert Brady(Brady) replied:
Usually, the guide will pick you up at the airport holding a sign with your names on that. When you walk out of the baggage claiming area, you can always see many people waiting there, with some of them holding the meeting board. Try to find your names amony them.
26.
Jun. 19,2009 01:53Reply
Mr.Franz (Czechic)said:
We do not like travel by flight or train, can we travel with a private air conditioned car from XiAn all the way to Urumqi?
Jun. 21,2009 20:22
Mr.Jason Ty(China) replied:
OH DEAR! I don’t think that’s possible. It’s about 2568 km of train travel from Xian to Urumqi. It takes more than 3 hours for flight. I think the highway distance will be longer. Drive such a long distance? Cannot imagine.
27.
Jun. 18,2009 03:29Reply
Mr.miller spitz(USA)said:
I plan to travel to Loulan, lake lop nor and Miran in April, any advise?
Jun. 19,2009 02:19
Mr.Oscale(CN) replied:
The sandstorm or duststorm with violent winds occurs frequently in April. The tour to the desert and the ruins will very hard and dangerous at that time. Even with some mordern facilities, you may easily lost your way in the desert. You’d better postpone the tour to May.
28.
Jun. 16,2009 12:51Reply
Mr.KASHGARINFO(China)said:
kashgar sunday market is the biggest market in Xinjiang even central asia, it's open every day,In the bazaar there is just about everything you would expect to find, such as various special local products, handicrafts, articles of daily use,but l recommend you to visit any village market because l think village market more then interesting then kashgar sunday market,for example Monday market: Hanerik market which is about 40Kms way from Kashgar city. or Opal market which is 50Kms from kashgar city.
Tuesday market: Yapchan market which is about 35 kms from Kashgar city, specialty of this market is camel. more than other markets.
Wednesday market: Bulaksu market which is about 40 Kms from Kashgar city.
Thursday market: Serik Buya market which is 200Kms from kashgar city, it is the largest market in Xinjiang
29.
Jun. 3,2009 02:51Reply
Ms.V(United States)said:
Lonely Planet says that flights within xinjiang are unreliable. 1) there are sand storms 2) when there aren''t enough passengers, they still tell you that there are weather problems. is June ok to fly between urumqi and kashgar, and hetian and urumqi?
30.
Jun. 1,2009 17:21Reply
Mr.Eugene Johnson(Swaziland)said:
I heard an interesting market on the Silk Road, do we need to be in a particular town or city, say, on a Sunday to enjoy the market? Or are they available everyday.
Jun. 2,2009 08:28
Iris replied:
Johnson, I guess the famous Sunday Market in Kashgar is just what you refer above. They do have local market everyday, but the one on Sunday is the busiest and flourishing one. If your time is flexible, you’d better enjoy that on Sunday.