Dunhuang - Turpan - There are NO high speed trains in or out of Dunhuang so one has to be creative on how to get out as quick as possible.

We took a bus (3 hours) from Dunhuang to LiuYuan. In Liu Yuan we took a D train to Turpan (4 hours). 180km/hr - very nice!

TURPAN - OMG! Great people. Asked many questions at the bus station and the attendant answered all without an attitude. Local people speak to me in local lingo because they think I am also local - I am always asked if I am from Xinjiang.

Taxi Fees - 7 RMB/3 km + 1.40/km - taxis give you choice, use set price or use meter.

Every scenic spot has a complete list of all 16 scenic spots with prices.

Karez Well - Bus 101 for 1 RMB or taxi for 20 RMB. Very nice with 40 RMB tickets. Walk at your own leisure, no one bothers you and take your time. Many grape vines for pictures as well as the wells and underground museum. Bus 101 also goes to Jiao He Ancient city ruins but then you must take a taxi or tuk tuk for the remaining 4 km to gate.

Jiao He Ruins - Bus 101 but I suggest a taxi from Karez Well to main gate. Now a UNESCO site so the price is 70 RMB. However, not like Gansu. Walk as long as you want and no one bothers you as long as you remain in the walkway provided. Step out of bounds and some one will let you know or take your ticket like they did some chinese tourists. I took hundreds of pics of the ruins from every angle and took as long as we wanted - Great!!!!

There are 2 paths - wooden for chinese tourists in tour groups who only stay for a short time. Or take the stone path that meanders inside the ruins. I only saw laowais doing the self tours. Great pics and no one there to obstruct pics. Just stay within the paths and no one will bother you. You can stay as long as you like. Perfect for do-it-yourselfers like me.

What a great expereince so far. People are great and prices are reasonable. Walk near the bus station and lots of food carts everywhere with friendly people. Sample a little of each of their foods. A lot to see in Turpan and not far like Dunhuang, Gansu.

Silk Road UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Routes Network of Chang'an - Tianshan Corridor.

1 - Qocho (Gaochang) City Ruins, Turpan.

2 - Yar City Site of Bashbaliq City (Jiaohe Ruins), Turpan.

3 - Beshbalik City Ruins, Jimsar County, Changji.

4 - Tian Shan Mount - Fukang County, Changji.

5 - Kizil Gaha Beacon Tower, Kuqa, Aksu.

6 - Kizil Caves, Kuqa, Aksu.

7 - Subash Buddhist Temple Ruins, Kuqa, Aksu.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road_UNESCO_World_Heritage_Sites

Geez - we purchased tickets the day prior for the first movie at 0745. Ticket sales are for every hour after that. I was the only laowai in the group of 200. When we purchased the tickets I was asked to pay 25 extra RMB for English and I refused so this is how they know who is a laowai or not so I was able to camouflage my self.

Before the movies began we were told we can not video or take pics of either movie. One video is IMAX.

We were NOT told to give up our bags. This happened in Vietnam when visiting HCM tomb so we did not go in because of this procedure.

At the visitors center people are lined up outside and tickets checked as you go in for the movie, to make sure you are there at the right time. If you arrive early or late you are asked to wait. By appointment only. I read an artice about how scenic spots will have limits as to how many visitors are allowed inside so this is the way things will eventually become, especially during peak season.

Once you get inside there are 2 lines. One for 8am show other for 0745 show. Again tickets are checked in this line to make sure u go to correct time show as there are 2 diff theaters.

After 2 movies everyone heads outside for buses to Grotto 15 km away. Again you must get inline and people are separated into 20 man groups. Groups of 20 must wait in intervals until they get inside and in their respective grottoes then next group is sent in.

I admit I am spoiled because I travel very often but never on weekends or holidays so I usually have the place to myself regardless of where we go. My travel experience is enjoyable, inexpensive anf fun. UNESCO sites are a diff beast. They are always crowded. They are NOT to be enjoyed, they must be endured and you pay through the nose for it.

This site is very disappointing because you can not take any pics inside the grottoe (understandable) so all one is left with is to take some pics of the side of the cliff with doors covering each entrance. I was able to get some nice pics of the face of the cliff while evryone was inside the grottoes. Problem is that after 2 grottoes of 5 minute lectures people do not stay inside and hang around outside. You can just see the faces of the people there, completely bored and frustrated and cheated out of 200+ RMB. The following day while having dinner near our hotel we overheard a couple complaining about Mogao - funny!

Unfortunately, this is the way of all tousrist attractions in years to come. I mentioned a few locations before that act like UNESCO sites but are not.

For those who enjoy photography they know that one must get a proper angle for a good picture. When you are caged in a 1 meter wide wooden path you lose the ability to get a good angle shot or you are forced to take pics directly into the sunlight.

Yumen Pass, Dunhuang, Jiuquan - I really enjoyed this UNESCO (Silk Road) site although it is just a big pile of rocks and sand. 40 RMB - 1.5 hours from Dunhuang.

Han Dynasty Wall - just 1 km from Yu Men Pass. Also very nice and is included in the ticket to Yumen. FREE.

Yadan Geo Park - 50 RMB + 70 RMB for Green bus - beautiful landscapes. Final destination after Yumen and Han Wall. 3 hour drive and then 3 hours back to Dunhuang. Disappointed by the way people are treated in green bus. Made to wait to save on bus + driver and 10 minutes per each of the 4 stops. Can not see anything while in the bus because chinese MUST close the curtains to preserve their beautiful white skin.

Yang Guan - 60 km from Dunhuang. Also included in package tours (transport only) of Yumen and Yadan but it is NOT in the same direction. 40 RMB + 10 RMB for green golf car. Only one pile of rocks and sand so they made this fake museum with a few trinckets to make you feel good.

Xuanquanzhi Posthouse, Dunhuang, Jiuquan - nothing there yet except for the fence, ticket office and stone markers. A new UNESCO site of the Silk Road.

Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Jiuquan - Has been a UNESCO site for many years now. Very disappointing for 200 RMB. I will tell everyone who asks to skip this site and buy some postcards.

Suoyang City Ruins, Guazhou, Jiuquan - Another new Silk Road UNESCO site that has already began to mistreat the tourists by overcharging, making them wait, and restricting any movement in the area. 80 RMB + 20 for Green Golf cart.

Dunhuang Old Town - run, avoid, danger Will Robinson. A complete waste of time and money. 40 RMB plus transportation costs. Totally fake - actually made with styrofoam - not kidding. Used as a movie set for cheap chinese movies.

HOTELS - in 12 years I have never made a reservation with any hotels anywhere in China. We usually stay at Home Inn, Super 8, or 7 Days Inn. We soon found out that in Gansu it is not business as usual. Many of these places do NOT accept foreigners so we actually had to call and ask and make reservations for the first time. Same thing in Xinjiang. Unbelieveable.

Yu Lin Ku (Grottoes) - In the same direction as Suo Yang from Guazhou. These grottoes are currently under renovation. They are building a gate 5 km away so no one can get in. We drove in to the parking lot directly above the grottoes. Began taking pictures as we walked in. Can only get pictures of the outside as all the grottoes are now locked - same as Mogao. The outdoor area is very nice because one can STILL walk freely along the cliffs and see the outside of the grottoes as well as the temples. There is a river running through the Gorge and cliff on the opposite side of the grottoes is very nice.

As we approached the ticket office (55 RMB - foreigners + 40 RMB - chinese) we saw a man who directed us the ticket counter. We told him we were waiting for our party to arrive so we continued to take pictures. After we finished our pictures we left.

This can never happen at Mogao as one never gets anywhere near this place without a ticket. Our tickets at Mogao were inspected 4 different times.

I see the end of these grottoes very soon as the gate is currently under construction right now so tourists will be stopped 5 km away.

These grottoes were very nice and I would have gladly paid 55 RMB to actually see something as opposed to Mogao. Visit while you still can - for free like me or pay 55 RMB.