Azerbaijan Baku: A Niche but Stunning Treasure Destination
Baozi sells sincerely recommended guaranteed mini-programs. If you want to travel, or are thinking about traveling in May or June, you can try this city. I personally think it's not bad. Let me introduce you to a few places I've been that I think are good and worth visiting.
Azerbaijan Travel Guide: An Adventure in the Caucasian "Land of Fire" ✅
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### **✅ Must-Visit Attractions**
1. **Baku — Magical "Little Dubai"**
- **Flame Towers**: The light show at night looks like three giant "burning matchsticks." Azerbaijanis proudly say, "Look! Our national flag (with its own flame effects)!"
- **Old City (Icherisheher)**: A UNESCO World Heritage Site. The maze-like alleys hide thousand-year-old mosques and the popular "Maiden Tower" (legend says a princess jumped from the tower to escape marriage, but the tower said, "I'll catch you, don't panic").
- **Palace of the Shirvanshahs**: The medieval king's mansion is perfect for taking photos pretending to be the protagonist of "Caucasian Game of Thrones."
2. **Gobustan — Prehistoric Humans' "Circle of Friends"**
- There are three treasures here: **mud volcanoes** (half of the world's volcanoes are here; stepping on them is like bouncing on a "space mud" bed), **rock paintings** (ancient people's "I was here" graffiti), and a bubbling **asphalt lake** (natural foot spa, but don't really step in!).
3. **Sheki — Silk Road's Dessert Stop**
- **Khansaray (Khan's Palace)**: The walls are full of colored glass, like an overturned candy jar. It is recommended to wear sunglasses to prevent being blinded.
- **Sheki Halva**: A nutty layered pastry so sweet it causes tooth decay. One bite and your blood sugar screams "Help!", but your hand can't help but reach for a second piece.
4. **Ateshgah (Fire Temple)**: A Zoroastrian holy site where natural flames rise from the ground, perfect for performing a "bare-handed candle lighting" magic trick (do not imitate dangerous actions).
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### **🍴 Foodie Radar: Azerbaijan Food Attack**
- **Plov (Pilaf)**: The Azerbaijani version of "rice heaven," saffron-dyed into a nouveau riche gold, with lamb, chestnuts, and dried apricots buried underneath. It's so fragrant you'll want to lick the pot.
- **Dolma (Stuffed Grape Leaves)**: Like small green dumplings, one bite at a time. Locals say, "Not eating Dolma is like not coming here." It is recommended to eat with yogurt (to relieve greasiness and aid digestion).
- **Kebab**: Charcoal-grilled lamb skewers, simply and brutally delicious. The boss usually asks, "Spicy?" Answering "Az (a little)" may still set your mouth on fire.
- **Qutab (Thin Pancake)**: A distant relative of the spring pancake, filled with spinach or lamb. Street stalls sell them for 5 mao each, the king of value for money.
- **Attention, dessert lovers**: **Pakhlava (Nut and Honey Pastry)** and **Shekerbura (Almond-Filled Crescent)** are overloaded with sugar but have a happiness index that explodes!
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### **😴 Accommodation Money-Saving Tips**
- **Baku**: Old City B&Bs (USD 30–50/night). Some landlords will give you homemade jam and enthusiastically teach you ten Azerbaijani phrases (after learning, you may only be able to say "delicious").
- **Sheki**: Try Caravanserai (a hotel converted from an ancient post station). Sleep in a thousand-year-old stone house and dream back to the Silk Road (the Wi-Fi signal may also have traveled through time).
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### **💡 Travel Tips**
- **Language**: English is okay in Baku, but outside the city, please prepare Google Translate + body language (e.g., pointing to your stomach = "I'm hungry," touching your head = "How much is this?").
- **Transportation**: Intercity buses are cheap but slow. Ride-sharing (Yandex Taxi) is more flexible. The driver may play Azerbaijani divine songs all the way (resist the urge to shake your legs).
- **Dad joke**: When Azerbaijanis ask you, "Do you like it here?" Please answer, "More enthusiastic than my ex!" (guaranteed applause of friendship).
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✅ Summary**: Azerbaijan = flames + food + thousand-year-old brain holes. You can experience a "nouveau riche" feel even with a low budget!
(Final reminder: Don't dance "Gangnam Style" in the mud volcano, you'll get stuck.)
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