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By plane: The most convenient way to access Gansu Province is by
plane, for, small as it is, travelers may land in three cities here, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Lanzhou. There are
daily flights to Lanzhou from most major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Xi"an. So long as one does
not care too much about price, flying intraprovince is also a good choice. By train: For budget travelers, train is by far the best option for
visiting almost all of the main sights in Gansu. The Liangyuguang-Urumqi
train line, the backbone of China"s east-west rail links, traverses the entire province
and links all but one of the provinces highlights: Xiahe. Raillinks to
the northwest from Lanzhou, will take you through Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Liuyuan
(near Dunhuang), and
then onwards into Xinjiang.
Those coming into Gansu from Shaanxi
to the east, will also pass through Tianshui on their way
towards Lanzhou. By bus:* Bus is the best way for travelers to reach the less
accessible areas of the province, and is especially good for those heading southward
towards Sichuan. Buses will
take you to the wonders of the small Tibetan monastery town Xiahe, and from here
bus is the way on to the quaint Langmusi
and then on towards Sichuan"s Songpan. Bus is also the best way to travel
to Yinchuan (Ningxia
Province) and Golmud (in
Qinghai Province) from either Lanzhou or Zhangye. *Special Note: For traveling on long-distance buses throughout this
province and the northern section of Sichuan, foreigners are required
to purchase a travel insurance policy from the state company PICC. You
are not always asked to show this, but some areas are strictly regulated. PICC offices can
be found in major cities, and the policies can be bought here and in many bus stations, in
hotels, in CITS offices, and frequently from "principled" officials for varying
prices. Normally the cost is around RMB40 for a ticket valid for two weeks, and around
RMB20 for one week"s validity. |
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