Took the K (slow) train from Urumqi to Jiuquan. Departed Urumqi at 1700 and arrived at Jiuquan at 0900 (16 hours). We got sleeper beds so did not need a hotel for the evening and arrived at a good time.

Jiuquan is a small city with old buildings. There are 2 train stations now, one for regular (JQ Zhan) trains the other for high speed D (JQ South) trains. Buses from both stations will get you downtown for 1 or 2 RMB.

Not much to see other than Zhong Gu Lou and the JQ Park.

On to Zhangye tomorrow via high speed train (1 hour).

Younger with older - what age difference are we talking about?

5 years - very hard to tell them apart.
10 years - no obvious difference with young looking man.
15 years - visible difference.
20 years - very obvious.
25+ years - Is that your grand-daughter?

Countries with Arranged Marriages are usually older male with younger female. Their divorce rate is much lower and age diff is between 10-15 years.

Personally, anything more than 20 years is a generation or cohort apart - more like an incestual father/daughter relationship.

Comments was also evident when black and white relationships first started - this changes with time.

I hear and see unpleasant comments and actions by third parties when they just walk down the street - Can you give some examples of the comments you hear?

Are the comments directed toward the female or the male? Examples please.

One of the obstacles was the difficulty finding hotels that accept foreigners, this is the first time I experienced this in my time in China. This takes some time and requires some phone calls in advance. This happend in both Gansu and Xinjiang.

Did not see many foreign tourists here. Of the few I did see they were the 50+ clean cut type, none of the nasty ganga smoking backpackers.

Sunrise and sunset are much later then Kunming.

Officially, Xinjiang is on the same time zone as the rest of China, Beijing Time (UTC+8). However, being roughly two time zones west of the capital, some residents, local organization and local government follow their own unofficial Xinjiang Time (UTC+6). The division follows ethnic lines, with Han tending to use Beijing Time and Uighurs tending to use Xinjiang Time; this is seen as a form of resistance to the central government. Regardless of the ethnicity of their proprietors, most businesses and schools open and close according to Xinjiang time, two hours later than their equivalents in other regions of China.

Phrases that repeat -

- you are so angry, negative, and resentful about China. It is obvious from your posts. I ask again: why not choose another country to live in?

- In all seriousness, do you have a job?

Regardless of how many aliases are used, they all end up being deleted by GK team as they eventually find out who they are (same person with MPD). They also can not help themselves to begin the same type of Master Baiter Threads they love so much.

The other pattern is to appear calm and apologetic but in the end they resort to attacks and name calling just before being deleted.

Marcuschen, Realdeal, Gordwalsh, SaraB, Haribo. The list goes on and on. Then they have the nerve to ask - Do you have a job? when their job is to create multiple accounts day after day.

Summary of Xinjiang - People here are friendly, willing to help. As people approach the rear of the bus to exit, they ask if you are getting out rather than just pushing you aside like they do in Kunming.

It is good to hear people speaking in another language using consonants other than J, S, X and Z.

Taxi drivers use the meter and there is no debate about this part of their job. They readily give information when asked and do not seem bothered to answer a few questions as in Kunming.

The security checks may seem excessive to a newcomer but understandable. Armed police just about in every public space. Some bus and train stations have redundant security screenings, as many as 3 in one train station. ID card and passport must be kept handy as you will be asked to show it many times during the day depending on where you go. Must show passport to buy all tickets.

Taxis are not so easy to get but not impossible if you wait a while. The BRT bus system is really great and can take you long distances very quickly. BRT are not as crowded as regular buses so we really made use of BRT here in Urumqi.

Food is great if you are a lamb lover, its not so easy to find some noodles shops as lamb is everywhere. Reminds me of when I visited Korea, after a few days I smelled like Kimchee, even though I never ate it because the smell is everywhere, same here with the smell of lamb. The Nan Bread is great when it just comes out of the hot ovens, we never bought it after they cooled.

I wish I had stayed a few more days in Turpan. Beautiful place with wonderful people.

The D high speed trains are really great, especially for such a large country. Tickets can get pricey but they are well worth the time saved.

We are heading back to Gansu tonight on a K (slow) train as we got a sleeper and can sleep all night while the train inches toward our destination.