Hi FT,
I am looking to visit Zhaoxing (Guizhou), Zhangjiajie, and Zhangye (Gansu) starting in a couple of weeks, roughly as the Qingming Festival comes to a close. Basically, I'd like to start in Zhangye, and leave from Guiyang to Jakarta. Instead of going all the way south to Guizhou, a back-up idea is the Zhengzhou/Luoyang/Kaifeng area. History, food, and bizarrechitecture are priorities.
It would be great to hear your suggestions regarding flights vs. HSR/standard issue trains, and alternatives (e.g. somewhere closer to Guiyang). Chinese language websites will be fine.
Appreciate your help!
You did not mention how much time you have for this trip in China.
I have not been to many of the places you mentioned, except Zhangye (I assume your interest there is in Danxia Geopark & possibly Qinghe). Since you are interested in history, food and architecture and being in Zhangye, I would add Urumqi (distinctly different in every way, I thought I was in the Middle East!) and Lanzhou. Then work your way south by plane or by train. I am sort of a train buff. I did Urumqi to Zhangye and then to Lanzhou by train. Initial landscape were indeed boring (desert like) and it improved half way to Zhangye.
I went to Urumqi to witness the difference in culture, people and food. Fascinating! In this city, I saw “army tank” parked at major intersections with soldiers on board. I had no problem shooting photos (not at them) on the street, the markets, the mosques etc.
I think Danxia Geopark is worth a visit. As a photographer, I did not use Photoshop at all on my images, but I did use Lightroom. Lightroom converted my RAW images to JPG. It earns its ranking as top 5 natural geoparks in the world (by National Geographic, I think). I went there on a day trip from Zhangye.
My travel journal to Zhangye Danxia Geopark can be found below:
https://stefanofoto.smugmug.com/Trav...tional-Geopark
Images from the Geopark
https://stefanofoto.smugmug.com/Asia...ional-Geopark/
Images from Urumqi
https://stefanofoto.smugmug.com/Asia-SWP/China/Urumqi/
Images from Lanzhou
https://stefanofoto.smugmug.com/Asia-SWP/China/Lanzhou/
I also found Lanzhou interesting. The Lanzhou beef noodles lived up to its reputation.
The HSR can take you down to Xi’an, then Chongqing (foodie capital?) to Zhangjiajie; then Guiyang.
Whatever you end up doing, just enjoy and safe travel!
BmB