The Chinese Folk Dancing Troupe is here to welcome a new patch of Tourists arriving at Jiayuguan Train Station just as we arrive here – how wonderful to be able to watch it one more time before we leave beautiful Jiayuguan…………….

Every time we board the Deluxe Oriental Express Train & just before we go to bed inside our Train Cabin, we’ll be served by our most friendly Chinese Train Waitress/Attendant a Cup of HOT Water each (YES!! it’s really boiling HOT!!) - surprisingly ha since we get only very COLD freezing water in our Train Toilets! But of course we’ve Hot drinking water since we also dine inside the Train with Hot cooked food!!

Anyway, our 2 bunkmates have gone to play cards in the Train Entertainment Carriage straight after we left Jiayuguan, & my brother-in-law (Ah Hia) & I decide to sit by our Cabin Window – relax & enjoy the beautiful Train ride………….

Heheh see the “Gourd Hulu Bracelet” that I’m wearing on my right wrist below – all my Tour mates have now seen it & they all commented that I’m so smart in shopping & that I’ve such a most beautiful & unique buy!! Hahah YES it’s now my most precious Chinese jewelry!!

They all adore it & one real wealthy woman (whose family owns a Goldsmith Shop in Singapore!) loves it so much she’s now going to find one exactly same Bracelet as mine in our following Silk Road Tour!!

Aiya, if only she’d seen my Bracelet much earlier back in Jiayuguan, cos there’s actually a 2nd same piece in that Chang Cheng Hotel Shopping Arcade where I purchased it! Well, let’s wish her all the best of luck in finding the Hulu Bracelet!

It’s Lunch time now…………..

And inside Huanghe (Yellow River) Restaurant here aboard Deluxe Oriental Express Train, we see pretty Chinese Galligraphy Animal (such as this following Monkey carrying Peach fruit) Paper Cutting attached to the windows above our dining tables…………

See the following Belacan Shrimp Chilli Paste brought all the way from Singapore by our Tour mates – hahah Singaporeans love chillies alot & try to bring some whenever they travel overseas!! And lucky Chilli LOVER Me get to have some of these real delicious home-made Belacan now with my Chinese Lunch!! Yummy yummy!!

We’ll soon be arriving at Dunhuang in Jiuquan located in Gansu, China………….see the following Luggage Compartment (above my Upper Decker Bed) – it’s very small & not even good enough space for all our travelling luggages which we’ve to tuck under our Lower Deck Cabin beds………

Our Deluxe Oriental Express Train has now stopped at Liu Yuan Train Station…………….

Here’s really HAPPY Me standing beside the Deluxe Oriental Express Train at Liu Yuan Train Station - I’m most excited to see yet another Silk Road City heheh!!

Map of Dunhuang, China :

The Gobi Desert (or “Shamo” meaning “Desert” or “Hanhia” meaning “Endless Sea” in Chinese) is a Rain Shadow desert formed by the Himalaya range blocking rain-carrying clouds from reaching it – occupying an arc of land area of 1,295,000 square km.

The climate of the Gobi Desert is one of great extremes, combined with rapid temperature changes throughout the year & even within 24 hours a day.

I’m here posing with our Chinese Tour Guide Xiao Ma, who’s travelled with us this morning from Jiayuguan, standing in the vast Gobi Desert here along the Silk Road of China :

We’re now about to move on towards Dunhuang City as we bid Goodbye to the lovely Gobi Desert for the time being……………

It’s my very first time eating the famous Chinese Peking Duck in China – but to my utter disappointment, it isn’t too good at all…………….

See our huge sumptous Chinese Cuisines Lunch spread :

Cos one of the 3 Aunties (whom I went shopping with at Jiayuguan City) broke her shoes, our Jiayuguan Chinese Tour Guide Xiao Ma had to bring her to buy shoes & of course Shopaholic I tagged along with them!!

There was a whole long stretch of Shops selling mostly Sports Shoes (since Auntie wanted a pair of Sports Shoes!!), & some clothings Shops where I was hoping to get some nice Chinese clothes but found nothing pretty!!

And cos we were only given a very short shopping time, we’re now back here at Jiayuguan Chang Cheng Hotel (with a very pleased happy Auntie with her new & very cheap Sports Shoes!!), but surprisingly empty-handed Me hahaa………….

Chang Cheng Hotel is located at Jianshe West Road here at Jiayuguan in Gansu, along the Gobi Desert in China – designed in a majestic Jiayuguan Fortress looking most grand & beautiful :

Here’s the beautiful painted ceiling with Chinese Lanterns of Chang Cheng Hotel :

Actually our other Chinese Tour Guide Xiao Chen (who’s accompanied us since Day 1 from Xi’an), has brought another Tour mate Auntie of ours to the local Hospital to have a Fish Bone (from the deadly Chinese Fresh Water Fish which we ate for lunch earlier!!) removed from her throat!! 

Now, we’re just waiting for Auntie, her hubby Uncle & Xiao Chen to be back from the Hospital before our Tour group departs for our afternoon Sightseeing Trip here in Jiayuguan……………

Well, we only manage to window shop for a while in the Chang Cheng Hotel Shopping Arcade before it’s time for us to leave for our Jiayuguan Sightseeing Trip.

And following our visit to the Jiayuguan Pass Historical Relic District, we’re back here enjoying Chinese Cuisines Dinner at Hua Yuan Hotel where we had our Breakfast & Lunch today…………..

Be they long or short, these Chinese Fresh Water Fish are filled with tons of these deadly fish bones that will kill if one’s not careful when eating the Fish – so remember to be real cautious even if you really love eating Fish!!

Here’s a pic of my brother-in-law Ah Hia, 4th Aunt (whom we call Si Kor), & Me :

There’re many Chinese Camels on sales along the Silk Road here in China, but be sure to grab only the more pricy real genuine ones which are made of real smooth good quality materials – here’re pics of my 2 charming Chinese Silk Road Camels with attached Chinese Words “Luotuo” meaning “Camels” :

I’m happy that I manage to find this following Jiayuguan Souvenir T-Shirt that depicts scenery of the magnificent Jiayuguan Pass where we visited in our afternoon Jiayuguan Sightseeing Trip :

I’ve always been pretty fascinated with the Chinese Gourd (or Hulu), & am most surprised to see such a most beautiful & special Jade Hulu Bracelet!! And guess how many lovely Jade Hulu are there on my Bracelet!?!? 36 in total as the Chinese Boss & I counted them together in his Shop heheh!!  

Well, I’ve had a most beautiful day out here in Jiayuguan – sightseeing & enjoying Chinese Cuisines & shopping for so many amazing Chinese Silk Road Souvenirs bet I’ll be having real sweet dreams in tonight’s sleep, here in Jiayuguan at Chang Cheng Hotel!!

I’ve included in the following a Slideshow of Chang Cheng Hotel – See ya in the morning tomorrow!!

Having just left Jiayuguan Pass in the Jiayuguan Pass Historical Relic District………..

The Great Wall of China has thus been called the “Soul of Chinese Nation“ :

A pic of the long unified Great Wall of China :

Display of Water Gutters built into the Great Wall of China for water drainage :

We’re now looking at the Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses – Bing Ma Yong Bronze Chariot Exhibitions :

Here’s the Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses – Bing Ma Yong Wooden Horse Chariot Exhibition :

We’ve now already left Jiayuguan Museum of the Great Wall after seeing & learning much about the Economic & Cultural Exchanges between China & the West on the Ancient Trade Route – Silk Road of China, upon Construction of the magnificent Great Wall of China………………

Arriving at the Western Rouyuan Tower now :

And passing through Rouyuan Tower…………..

We’re now looking at the Western Gate of Jiayuguan Pass – which is made up of Rouyuan Tower & Jiayuguan Pass Gate – called the Western “Rouyuan Gate“ meaning “Stabilizing the Western Regions by Means of Pacification” :

As mentioned in my previous First & Greatest Pass under Heaven – Jiayuguan Pass is announced by the Chinese Government a Cultural Relic under State Protection in March 1961 :

Below are pics showing the magnificent & best preserved Military Fortress of Jiayuguan Pass connected to the Overhanging Great Wall of China on its South & North sides here in the Ancient Trade Route – Silk Road of China……………

Here’s Me standing outside the Western Rouyuan Gate of Jiayuguan Pass :

Visiting a Chinese Souvenirs Shop here……………

We’re now exploring the last parts of Jiayuguan Pass……………

And now visiting Youji Jiangjun (General) Mansion – a Jiayuguan General’s Residence located within the magnificent Jiayuguan Pass……………

Below are pics (taken from Jiayuguan Museum of the Great Wall which I shall feature in a later post entry) of Youji Jiangjun (General) Mansion as seen in the above living quarters here at Jiayuguan Pass :

We’ve now left Youji Jiangjun (General) Mansion walking towards the Eastern Gate of Jiayuguan Pass from where we first entered when we arrived this afternoon………….

We soon meet up with the rest of our Tour Mates who’d been resting throughout most of our Tour here at Jiayuguan Pass, head for the local Toilets & are now ready to leave this lovely place…………

Here’s a Chinese Pavilion with the Chinese Words “Jiayuguan” near the Eastern Entry/Exit of Jiayuguan Pass where we were this afternoon in the begining of our Tour………….

We’re now back outside Jiayuguan Pass waiting for our Buggy Ride to Jiayuguan Museum of the Great Wall…………

See you later at the Musuem!!

After listening to the Sparrow & Stone Legend from our Jiayuguan Chinese Tour Guide Xiao Ma, we’re proceeding to the top of the most magnificent & most intact Ancient Military Fortress of Jiayuguan Pass……………..

WHOA it’s really beautiful up here I immediately feel a great sense of tranquility………….

Here’s the Eastern Guang Hua Gate of Jiayuguan Pass - made up of the Chaozong Gate & Guang Hua Tower :

This Procession depicts the Ancient Merchants & Travellers passing through the magnificent Jiayuguan Pass along the Ancient Trade Route - the Ancient Silk Road of China……………..

Here’s Guang Hua Tower :

There’s even an Arrows Shooting Area up here at the Arrow Tower at the top of the Ancient Military Fortress where Tourits can try their hands on the ancient War Weapons just like what & how the ancient Chinese Soldiers used to defend their Fortress & City here along the Ancient Silk Road……………

The below pics show the ancient Military Training Grounds of the ancient Chinese Army……….

Even the original Ancient Wooden Doors of the Fortress can be seen here today :

We’re now walking around the Ancient Fortress exploring more of the magnificent Jiayuguan Pass…………….

This below pic shows the nicks for lamps with the lower slanting hole opening on the Fortress Walls used for shooting……………

Notice that straight Line on the Jiayuguan Pass Fortress wall…………..

Our Tour group stops to listen to our Chinese Tour Guide Xiao Ma telling us more about this most magnificent & most intact Military Fortress of Jiayuguan Pass – well, not all our Tour mates are here with us cos severals of them are exhausted of walking & are resting at the bottom of the Fortress………….

Here’s a pic of the beautiful Pagoda style roof top of the best preserved Military Fortress here in the Silk Road of China :

And there’re also Chinese Knight Suits of Armour available for Tourists rental for photography……………..

We’re now moving down from the top of Jiayuguan Pass after visiting the Most Magnificent & Most Intact Ancient Military Fortress & having wonderful sceneries of the Overhanging Great Wall of China located here in the Gobi Desert in the Silk Road………………