Monday, August 13, 2007
Traveler's Tips.
What to Bring
Even during May and October, topography and climate along the Silk Road vary greatly. Some stretches of the road are high and cold, others low and dry. Take clothing for a wide range of temperatures. Comfortable shoes are a must. Personal items such as dental floss and feminine hygiene supplies must be taken. Such items cannot be bought along the route. Particularly at higher elevations, the sun's ultraviolet radiation can be very strong. Carry sun block and suntan oil to prevent sunburn. Also carry basic medical supplies, perhaps a small first aid kit plus medicines for ordinary ailments. Such medicines cannot be bought along the route.
However, do not burden your trip with more baggage than you can easily carry. It is best to travel fairly light but well prepared.
When to Go
The months of May and October are the best time to travel the Silk Road. The summer can be searingly hot. The winter is freezing. During May, the average temperature along the route is around 15C. The scenery is most beautiful during May. The accumulated winter snow on the tableland is melting. The grass is turning green. Visitors can enjoy this enchanting scenery without suffering extreme temperatures.
Time
The Beijing standard time, which is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (London) and 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (New York), is the standard time used in China.
The visitor must know though that in Xinjiang, locals often use the Xinjiang time, which is two hours behind the standard Beijing time
Medicines
It is suggested that you take some travel pill or anti-nausea medicine with you to make you feel comfortable from mountain sickness. Medicines for preventing sunstroke are essentials for summer travel. Medicines for colds, diarrhea, nausea, fever and carsickness are all necessary. Some nasal ointment and throat-moistening pills will greatly be of help for those who are sensitive to dry weather conditions. If you are going to remote places, anti-mosquito spray, cream or lotion is also necessary. Please consult your doctor prior to your travel. One tip: do not drink tea after eating lots of fruits, otherwise you will easily get diarrhea.
Accommodations
The Silk Road spans most of China, from modern cities in the central China to isolated villages and towns in the remote west. Accordingly accommodations along the route range from high standard luxurious hotels to simple guesthouse.
In cities like Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar, Urumqi, Lanzhou, the visitor can enjoy high standard hotels named "Jiudian". They all provide excellent conditions, all-round services and they are quite safe. But this kind of hotels is also the most expensive. Visitors on a tight budget may consider the cheaper "Zhaodaisuo" (Guesthouse). With simpler facilities and basic service, these guesthouses are used by most Chinese travelers. In the remote villages only simple and rough lodgings are available. These locations offer nothing but a quite simple room.
History Recorded at... 5:59 PM
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