The Liujia Gorge is full of rippling waves, there are bandits in the Gangjia Secret Realm, and it is the 111th day of self-driving around China.

July 3, 2023, the 111th day of the self-driving tour around China, Lanzhou, Gansu - Liujiaxia Reservoir - Gangjia Secret Land - Xiahe, Gansu, 300 kilometers, passing through: G1816 Wuma Expressway and National Highway 316. Crossing the vast plateau grasslands and rolling hills, the scenery on this section of the road is full of Tibetan style. Along the way, you will see yaks grazing leisurely, Tibetan villages built on the mountains, and colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Xiahe has a relatively flat terrain and good road quality, but some sections may have construction or speed bumps, so you need to slow down appropriately. Finally we arrived in Xiahe. The golden roof of Labrang Monastery sparkled in the sun, and the whole city exuded peace and mystery under the blue sky and white clouds.

Starting from Lanzhou, the weather along the way is changeable, sometimes it drizzles, sometimes the clouds and fog dissipate, adding a bit of mystery and expectation to the journey. The original scenery was dominated by plateau loess and winding rivers. When you enter the Liujiaxia Reservoir, you will be shocked by the steep cliffs and blue water on both sides of the dam. The lake is dotted with small boats, and occasionally you can see fishermen fishing on the lake. The mountains on both sides of the reservoir are reflected on the lake, like a tranquil landscape painting.

Liujiaxia Reservoir is located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River and was completed in 1974. The reservoir is located in a plateau canyon and is known as the "Pearl of the Plateau". It completely overturned my impression of the Yellow River. Drive up the mountain and you will arrive at the Huangtao intersection viewing platform. Here, the Yellow River and Tao River meet in a "Y" shape, forming a magnificent scene of one clear and one turbid, one blue and one yellow. Where the two waters meet, the boundary is clear; they meet but do not intersect.

Leaving Liujiaxia Reservoir and continuing forward, the magnificent scenery of Gangga Grassland begins to unfold. Transitioning from the Loess Plateau to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, green vegetation becomes increasingly abundant, prayer flags flutter gently in the wind, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of earth and flowers. In the sunshine, the grassland is like a huge green velvet carpet, gently spread between the blue sky and the earth. The layers upon layers seem to be nature's most exquisite palette. In the distance, the towering snow-capped mountains, covered in silver, form a sharp contrast with the green of the grassland, adding a bit of sacredness and magnificence. "Gangjia Secret Realm" is located in Gangjia Town, Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and was originally in my travel plan. When we were 5 kilometers away from the secret place, we saw "bandits blocking the road and robbing", so we just gave up.

Every scene on this self-driving trip is unforgettable. Although the road conditions were occasionally challenging, the beautiful scenery and experiences along the way more than made up for it all. This is not just a physical journey, but also a baptism and sublimation of the soul.

Post by AlexanderGriffi | Oct 3, 2024