Date: Saturday 14th August 2010

Kumbum Monastery is a series of seven bright and variable buildings.

It is a working monastery where the monks study astrology, debating and medicine.

It is a very touristy spot and we are constantly dodging Chinese tourists trying for a ‘clean’ picture devoid of people.

The images are ornate

And set with precious stones.

At one of the many antique dealers we were attracted to an old bone carving of a horse and typical Chinese cart, bargained down from Y850 to Y350.

The signs in the complex and all over China give us a constant laugh. ChinEnglish I think it is called.

On the G6 expressway towards Lanzou, and in Gansu province where we have lots of roadside stalls selling peaches, nectarines, plums, apples etc. 5kg for Y12 (US$2 as a mixed lot)

The carrying capacity of the trucks continues to amaze.

Lanzou – population 3.2M on the Yellow River, one of the most polluted cities in China. Visibility on the highway about 2kms!

At Jingning, home of Chinese apples we camped in the parking lot of Andy’s guest house.

Camp 69: Camp 111 (Andy’s Room No) - 1,600 meters

Distance Today:  498 KmsTotal Distance: 13,522 Kms

Date: Sunday 15th August 2010

This province has not got the money for expressways hence we are back onto national roads. It is slow going fighting you way around and past continuous lines of trucks. Many of them overloaded.

The road side is planted with flowers but the pollution!

After Pingliang expressway again. Really do not now mind paying the toll fees. We have all had enough of truck and car fighting.

Thank goodness for the Novi Chinese chip roadmap.

Arrived at the end of the day at the terracotta Warriors car park and camped here for Y20/vehicle.

Camp 70: Camp TerraCotta Warriors

Distance Today:  441 Kms

Total Distance: 13,963 Kms

N34* 23.424 E109* 16.796

Date: Monday 16th August 2010

Up early to beat the oncoming crowds for the Terracotta Warriors.

Yes it is up there with the Egyptian Pyramids, the Roman Coliseum etc.

Every one of the 7,000 plus faces is different.

Only last week they found another general in this pit. This will be No 8.

This one is a field marshal as he has a one pieces head gear.

Driving into Xi’an, we see the city is growing rapidly but it must be chocking on its own smog.

The evening we spent exploring Muslim Street. Far too many tourists for our liking. Get me back to the country roads.

Camp was great, a hotel private car park right next to the Big Goose Pagoda, and no tourists checking out our campers.

Camp 71:  Xi’an Big Goose Pagoda Camp

Distance Today: 15 Kms      

Total Distance: 13,978 Kms

N34*13.109 E108* 57.950

Date: Tuesday 17th August 2010

Restocked the supplies then all drove by the airport to drop Sarah off so she could return home.

The tomb of Emperor Jindi was built to duplicate his after-life the same as his life on earth. It took 35 years to construct and when he was buried he left with hundreds of pottery replicas of his subjects, sheep, horses, food, and all the necessary items of life.

Each of his subject pottery models were dressed in colourful silk robes and had movable arms.

The display was all underground and one walked above the excavations on glass platforms looking down into what was buried.

Back on the road heading north.

This is the lowest paid Policeman I have seen.

I am sure there are no lions to press on the road here but will keep an eye out for some!

Camped in Yijin behind the Power Supply company office.

Camp 72: Yijun Guest/Power House Camp

Distance Today: 281 Kms    

Total Distance: 14244 Kms

N35* 24.673 E109* 07.372

Date: Wednesday 18th August 2010

A highway travelling day – 430kms on the toll way – fees Y165 (US$25)

Both the size and mythology of caring the loads continues to impress.

22 cars on this transporter.

Then the Chinglish signs –

“SCARED LAND OF  YA’AN”

What is a DOWNSLOP ?

And PLEASE VISIT THE SITE OF THE GREAT WALI

At Yulin we departed the expressway to buy some new shocks for Bill’s truck.

A pair of heavy duty truck shocks set him back Y100 (US$15).

Whilst Bill was out with Andy we sat in the trucks and watched the crazies on the road in front and the passing workmen watched us.

Just 5kms north of Yulin is the first tower of the Great Wall

This part of the wall was built in the 15th Century.

Camp was a quiet. In the car park below the Great Wall and overlooking the city of Yulin.

Camp 73: First Post on Great Wall Camp

Distance Today: 441 Kms     

Total Distance: 14,684 Kms

N38* 20.001 E109* 43.621

Date: Thursday 19th August 2010

As soon as the busses started to arrive this morning the 4 Ozzie trucks were the centre of attention – NOT the Great Wall of China!

Our trip through the city was stressful ( for Lyn), and the line up for the tollgate was like a Grand Prix start with vehicles constantly pushing in.

Anyway we are away on G65 the major road through the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia. I expected rolling plains of grassland and sand dunes, grazing herds of sheep, goats, etc.

Not correct.

This is a wealthy industrial powerhouse, construction everywhere and that smog.

These solar panels and wind generators continued for 35kms!

Every week a new coal powered power plant is finished in China.

Every month an nuclear one !

This country is BOOMING

There are sand dunes – this is a tourist park. Y65 per entry then Y15 for a slide down the sand AND you have to walk all the way up. Hundreds of camels for rides.

Very busy but not for us.

Hohhot is an influence of Russian, Chinese and Mongolian architecture.

Tomorrow we visit the Inner Mongolian Museum, so camp in the car park below the magnificent and modern structure.

Camp 74: Inner Mongolian Museum Camp- Hohhot

Distance Today: 460 Kms     Total Distance: 15,141 Kms

N40* 50.233  E111* 43.970

Date: Friday 20th August 2010

The Inner Mongolian Museum is housed in a most impressive building. The displays range from the dinosaurs to China’s achievements in space craft travel.

The Chinglish narrative where it existed was very imperialistic in approach.

Travelling on S101 a National road north of Hohhot the road leaves the Yellow River valley and gracefully climbs up onto the Inner Mongolia Grassland Plateau. Finally we have left the expressways and the rush of traffic.

At Siziwanggi we stopped to get John’s air con looked at because it was leaking fluid. Within moments he had 32 people looking under the front of his vehicle.

It was a quick fix, thankfully.

Camp was out of town amongst the sunflowers, watermelon grove and a few trees. John had the movie ‘Australia’ and it was an appropriate time to share that with Andy. The weather was cold but we all sat around the trucks and saw it through.

Camp 75: The movie ‘Australia’ Camp- Siziwanggi

N41* 33.593  E111* 44.260

Distance Today: 111 Kms     Total Distance: 15,256 Kms

Date: Saturday 21st August 2010

Across wide open spaces reminding us of the open plains on central Australia.

Our final direction change as we head towards the border town of Erenhot.

Wow!

As we get close to Erenhot, Dinosaurs are in the grassland.

For the next 5km all varieties of Dinosaurs are close by the road and out feeding on the grasses.

The main town entrance.

The town is impressive and growing rapidly. I think to make an impression on its northern neighbour!

Camp is outside town in the desert. Very quiet

Camp 76: Border Desert Camp- Erenhot

Distance Today: 287 Kms    

Total Distance: 15,542 Kms

N43* 36.752  E111* 57.321

Date: Sunday 22st August 2010

A day to service the vehicles and a general clean up in readiness for our border crossing tomorrow into Mongolia.

Andy had been more than a guide; he has been a good travelling companion and has made our China experience wonderful.

Tonight we had a BBQ of lamb chops in the desert and a farewell evening to say thank you.

Thank You ANDY.

Our calculations indicate that China cost us US$5.50/person/day. That includes all meals, road tolls, and the hotel accommodation and meals for Andy. We travelled 7,700kms through China and Tibet, used 1235Lts of fuel at a cost of US$1160 (A$1235) Ave price/lt Y6.40. (approx US$1/Lt)

Average consumption over the 15,000kms to date = 15lt/100km or 19MPG.

Tomorrow into Mongolia....