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The first stop out of Korla was Qarkilik (aka Ruoqiang). I was lucky enough to arrive during the Loulan Date Festival and was able to participate in a big Uyghur dance held in the town's central square.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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Somewhere on the road between Qarkilik (Ruoqiang) and Shimianquan, on the border between Xinjiang and Qinghai.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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A young girl plays with her pet rabbit in Shimianquan (aka Asbestosville)... the worst place I've ever been in Xinjiang.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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At the Qinghai border, suddenly the road becomes sealed. It must be because people want to drive through the barren nothingness of western Qinghai at high speed.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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Golmud, Qinghai is home to a significant population of Huis, Muslim Chinese. This is the city's main mosque.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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We boarded the train to Tibet in Golmud at 4:15 am. Most people were still sleeping. Check out the plush upholstery and carpeting... not bad for "hard seat", the lowest class on Chinese trains.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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The sun rises over the high plateau in southwest Qinghai.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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The unique shadow of the train to Lhasa is cast over Kekexili Nature Reserve near the Qinghai-Tibet border.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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Free oxygen for everybody. Hooray! It really helps when you start to get a headache from the altitude.
Last comment 02/17/2008.
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A perfect reflection of a perfect sky at Cuona Hu in northern Tibet.
Last comment 02/16/2008.
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The train to Lhasa passes through Tibetan grasslands.
Last comment 02/16/2008.
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A few hours north of Lhasa, the train stops at Nagchu. Is that a shiny brand-spankin' new train or what?
Last comment 02/16/2008.
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Now this is starting to look like Tibet. On the other side of these mountains lies scenic Namtso Lake.
Last comment 02/16/2008.
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Train stations are usually ugly, utilitarian affairs in China. Not the new train station in Lhasa!
Last comment 02/16/2008.
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When I was heading back to Korla, Xinjiang I got stuck in the small town of Miran. Thankfully, I was able to hitch a ride with these nice truckers. They brought me seven hours to Korla and wouldn't accept a dime!
Last comment 02/16/2008.
Viewed: 1101 times.
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