Road Trip in Northwest China | A Slice of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop

Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop: A Road Trip to Desolation and Wonder Driving along the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop is like entering a dream. The highway stretches endlessly through vast, uninhabited lands, with only the roar of the engine and the whisper of the wind between heaven and earth. This is a journey into the unknown, where every stretch of road holds a different story. Driving to the "Alien Site": Mystery in Desolation In Delingha, the road cuts straight through the desert, like a black ribbon spread across the yellow earth. On the way to the "Alien Site," there are almost no signs of life, only the wind whipping sand and gravel against the car windows, adding a touch of mystery. Standing in front of the mysterious site, you can almost hear the wind telling legends of extraterrestrial civilizations, and the desolation reveals an unknown temptation. Empty Highways: Driving Towards Freedom Continuing onward, I was greeted by the kind of scene that road trippers dream of—a straight road stretching to the horizon, flanked by endless deserts and bizarre hills. It feels like you're the only one in the world. Stepping on the gas, the wheels spin, as if breaking free from the shackles of reality and driving towards boundless freedom. Delingha: Loneliness and Poetry Delingha, a city romanticized by the poems of Hai Zi, has a melancholic poetry amidst the desolation. Standing here, I recall the line, "Sister, tonight I don't care about humanity, I only want you." The setting sun dyes the whole world golden red, like a letter written to a distant place. Water Yadan: Dreamlike and Stunning Entering the Water Yadan is like stepping onto another planet. Yadan landforms stand in the azure lake, like floating islands. The lake ripples in the wind, reflecting the strangely shaped rocks, blurring the line between reality and illusion. Standing here, you can feel the magic of nature, and the magnificence of the world is breathtaking. Emerald Lake: A Gem Lost in the World The end of the journey is Dachaidan Emerald Lake. The lake water is as clear as jade, and the sunlight sprinkles on the lake surface, creating shimmering waves, like gems scattered across the earth. Walking along the lake, the gentle breeze carries the unique scent of the saline-alkali land, making you feel the purity and tranquility of this place. As the wheels turn towards home, looking back at the scenery along the way, I realize that this is not just a road trip, but also a journey of the soul, a release and rediscovery. In this desolate land, every road is an adventure, every stop is a shock, and every moment of loneliness is a sincere dialogue with heaven and earth.