The Silk Road, also known as the ancient overland trade route between China and the West, stretches across vast China and the Central Asian countries, with their diverse landscapes, cultures, and religions.
Mr. Le Tran An (36 years old, Dong Nai) had a memorable trip through 3 countries along the Asian Silk Road: India, Pakistan and China. Of which, China is the place that left him the deepest impression with a series of locations with natural landscapes that are both majestic, romantic and surreal.
According to Mr. An, China is the final destination on the 40-day journey to conquer the Silk Road.
From Pakistan, he traveled on the Karakoram Highway - known as the "8th wonder of the world". "The Karakoram Highway is the dream of many backpackers around the world. I feel excited and proud to experience this road firsthand," he shared.
It took the Pakistani and Chinese governments 20 years to complete the road, connecting areas almost isolated by rugged mountains, with the efforts of about 24,000 workers from both countries.
Mr. An enthusiastically affirmed that all the landmarks that can be seen from the Karakoram Highway such as Attabad Lake, Hussaini Suspension Bridge, Passu Cones Mountain Range and Khunjerab Pass are “natural masterpieces”. In particular, Attabad Lake - a lake created from a landslide in 2010 - can make any tourist exclaim in amazement when witnessing the emerald green water surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
However, he also noted that tourists cannot pass through the Khunjerab border gate from late November to May because of heavy snow cover during this time.
Another place that impressed Mr. An was Hemu village in Northern Xinjiang. This is known as the most beautiful village in China, hidden in the mountains and forests of the Altay region of Northern Xinjiang near the borders of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia.
“To reach this primitive village, visitors must first take a plane or train to Altay city, also known as Alatai. From Altay, continue to Burqin district, then go to the village by self-driving car or taxi,” said Mr. An.
Located isolated from the outside world, Hemu is little affected by modern life. Therefore, whether it is the scenery or the way of life, the people's way of life is slow and peaceful.
Mr. An was amazed by the fairy-tale-like scenery when he entered Hemu village: “In winter, the scenery on both sides of the road leading to the village is like a beautiful snow country. The forests, rows of trees, and high mountains are all covered in a pure white color. When getting closer, the fairy-tale village gradually appears with wooden houses with white roofs covered by a thick layer of snow. The village lies alone between the birch forest and the Hemu River, creating a peaceful and simple scene.”
After finishing his journey to explore Xinjiang, the Vietnamese male tourist decided to return to Gansu province to explore other beautiful landscapes.
Here, Mr. An was lucky to witness the beautiful autumn scenery at the poplar forest park (Kim Thap district, Jiuquan city).
“In autumn, the entire forest transforms into a surreal golden color. I and other visitors here are fascinated by the autumn scenery in the poplar forest, which has reached a state of transcendence,” said the male tourist.
Poplar is a hardy plant that can withstand the harsh climate of desert areas like Gansu, but in autumn, the tree turns yellow and loses its leaves very quickly. Therefore, visitors should arrange a suitable time to visit around mid-October.
Of the three countries he has visited, the Vietnamese male tourist said that China is one of the easiest countries to travel to, from transportation, food, and entertainment.
In addition, this is also an extremely safe country because the police are everywhere: "Police are present in every corner from bus stations, train stations, airports, markets, tourist areas, on trains... Wherever there are many people, there are police, every few kilometers there is a police station, at train stations and markets, luggage and personal belongings must be scanned, including drinking water."
To have a smooth trip to China, tourists only need to pay attention to buying an international SIM card, installing navigation apps, calling a car and making domestic payments. In particular, Mr. An affirmed that public transportation here is extremely developed, so tourists can refer to and learn to save costs for the trip.
After this journey, Mr. An has further nurtured his passion for traveling, especially traveling to China and neighboring areas. He affirmed that he has gradually prepared a detailed plan as well as the cost to continue the journey through Beijing - Inner Mongolia (China) - Mongolia - Russia.
