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The Province of Qinghai is one of China"s least accessible and roughest regions to get
about in. Beyond the capital Xining, that has
fairly convenient transport, and the rail line from here on to Golmud, following the
old southern silk road, your transport options may be a little limited to the tourist
trails that head either to the massive Qinghai Lake, or on
into Tibet. By air: Although a seriously backward province, Qinghai still
boasts two airports, one in Xining,
the capital city and another in Golmud, a small
city to the west of the capital. Thanks to its growing popularity among Chinese
and foreign backpackers and adventurers, it is now possible to access the capital
from almost all the major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi"an. Golmud Airport
is far less accessible, and frequently flights here are postponed or cancelled
subject to demand. Flights from here have access to Xining
and Xi"an. By train: In the past, by far the most frequently used way to come to
the province was by rail, despite the long hours that these journeys often took. The
monotony of the long stretches are somewhat offset by the grand views of the rough plateau
scenery en route.
With the recent rise of train speed, it now takes just 33 and 44 hours to Xining from Beijing
and Shanghai, respectively. Train also remains the most comfortable way
to reach Golmud, in the far west. By bus: Although it is not recommendable to take a bus from most
provincial destinations, except possibly from nearby cities in Sichuan and Gansu, intra-province transport
still remains a popular form of transport, and is usually the cheapest. Bus is the best
way to visit the Kumbum Monastery (Ta"er
si), Qinghai Lake, and the
only way to head on from
Golmud into Tibet. |
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