Silkroad D4: Lanzhou City
December 29, 2008
My decent bowl of Lanzhou beef noodle
I reached the hostel at close to 8am and guess what, the doors were still not opened for business. But it was indeed true, sunrise timing was also much later. The sky was still dark. and i was told by the owner that most of the shops will start business only from 9am or 9:30am onwards.
The hostel was a far cry from the one I had in Xi'an. Though the environment was greeny & clean, there was no lockers nor bed light for me this time.
Youth Hostel in Lanzhou which focus on Eco
Nevertheless, my immediate plan was to consider going to Dunhuang from Lanzhou. And also to make more enquiries regarding Lhasa tour package. Thus i hit the streets early hoping to get hold of some good Dunhuang or Lhasa local tour starting from Lanzhou. To my alarm, there were no local tours going due to the impending cold weather. And tour demands to Lhasa - zilch.
Worst, it seemed that most of the tour agencies were unfamiliar or well-versed in the Tibet entry permit procedures for foreigners.
Lanzhou train station in the evening
Alright, I have also decided to make my call and head Dunhuang myself. It's the offpeak season and I was told by another tour agency i can just go on my own and get few other tourists to combine a jeep journey! Entrance fees and hotels are at its year lowest! A good draw for me isn't it?
Armed with Dunhuang train tickets, I'm all ready for my new destination again and awaiting more winter surprises ! My Tibet arrangement has also finally materialized with my money bankwired to the staff of Hantang.
My train tivket to Dunhuang finally
Cost of the Day:
1. Hostel Room for 12hrs - 20rmb
2. Bus 6 Bus rides & Cab Rides - 3rmb + 30rmb
3. Lanzhou Beef Noodle Set - 6.8rmb
4. Overnight Hard-bed Train Tickets to Dunhuang & Back - 254rmb (upper deck) + 263rmb (middle deck)
Highlights of the Day in Lanzhou:
1. Admittedly, nothing except busy with my future trip preps.
2. Sprained my ankle in the morning, which nearly hampered my walks in Dunhuang! argh.
3. Ubiquitous spittings, an unprecedented high level i have ever encountered during my 4 years in China. goodness.
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A Simple Foot-rest in Lanzhou only Youth Hostel ,amidst its eco-friendly atmosphere.
Please bear in mind the ratings given are based on hostel stays and luxury hotels or even budget hotels do not fall in my range for considerations.
Being the only youth hostel in Lanzhou, I guess this is still a good place to rest your feet at a cheap cost. Do not expect this to be the usual backpackers congregation place, nor expect standards equivalent of that of big cities hostels.
It has a very relaxing eco-friednly atmosphere when you stepped in, where you can see nearby residents booking tables for their usual tea chats & card playing sessions.
The staffs have been very accomodating to arrange bathing in their twin beds suite. Though i strongly thought it would have been better if they have a proper common bathroom area for travellers staying in dormitories.
Yes,locker shelves were critical too, but were non existent in their domitories too. They were also flexible in charging me for both my half days restover in Lanzhou
Internet access was also absent,was told that the network was down entirely during my stay period. 10mins down the road, there's a local internet cafe. To the left of hostel man entrance, there's a mini supermart. And aplenty of buses to various places at the main street.
Being the only youth hostel in Lanzhou, I guess this is still a good place to rest your feet at a cheap cost. Do not expect this to be the usual backpackers congregation place, nor expect standards equivalent of that of big cities hostels.
It has a very relaxing eco-friednly atmosphere when you stepped in, where you can see nearby residents booking tables for their usual tea chats & card playing sessions.
The staffs have been very accomodating to arrange bathing in their twin beds suite. Though i strongly thought it would have been better if they have a proper common bathroom area for travellers staying in dormitories.
Yes,locker shelves were critical too, but were non existent in their domitories too. They were also flexible in charging me for both my half days restover in Lanzhou
Internet access was also absent,was told that the network was down entirely during my stay period. 10mins down the road, there's a local internet cafe. To the left of hostel man entrance, there's a mini supermart. And aplenty of buses to various places at the main street.
Wide view of the entrance as you…
Brief Introduction of the hostel
Clean & tidy 8-bed dormitory. Bu…
