700km from Xining. We travelled north of Qinhai lake via Delingha.
Stopped for noodles and beef for lunch. The weather was quite variable
with rain and sleet during the middle of the day and low cloud for
most of the journey.
The temperature ranged from 1 degree to 23. The land was rolling and
absolutely barren the whole way. Very little farming since the area is
semi arid.
All the way there were huge road and rail construction projects
underway with billions being spent on road, rail and new high voltage
power lines.
Our new travel colleague is very funny, with lots of ideas about what
the government should do to improve the regional economy.
We arrived into Da Qaidam about 6.00pm and booked into the hotel used
by the local security services. They promptly turned up in force (4 of
them) and told us the town was closed to foreigners, but informed us
we could stay if we took no photos and left first thing in the
morning. Apparently there is a gold mine nearby controlled by the army
which is a sensitive issue, pitched gun battles having been fought in
the streets between police and locals in the past over ownership. I
guess the army won.
Dinner was local chow in the hotel restaurant.
Tomorrow we head for Qiemo or Qarqan on the southern side of the
Taklimakan desert.
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