A northwest journey

Xining,red and white
西宁子，红与白。

Xining,which is a  national multi-cultural blend of the city.As a tourist who first come here ,when walk in the street that his or her attention has been attracted by two colors ,red and white.The two colors  mark out the two nationalities who live in the city,tibetans and huis.

西宁是一个民族多元，文化交融的城市。一个初到西宁的人，走在大街上，目光很容易会被两种颜色所吸引：红与白。这两种颜色标识出，生活在城市中两个的民族：藏民和回民。

Those A’ka who  belong to tibetan buddhism the wear ted robes ,mingle with the crowd that are consipicuous.When they find something interesting that will stop and ask about price.Apart from them,there are many old tibetan women who hold small prayer wheel ,or the beads.To those who can from other place,feel they are the focus of attention.However,we look more like be curious side,because they are really the host of the  city.

身着红色僧袍的阿卡，夹杂在拥挤的人流中，十分醒目，时不时会看到自己感兴趣的东西，就停下来问问价格。除了他们，还有手持小转经筒或是佛珠的藏族阿妈，刚从从内地的上来的人，很难不被他们所吸引。然而，我们更像是被好奇的对象，他们才是这个城市的主人。

Moreover,  the  imposing mosque can be seen everywhere ,the characteristic plateau islamic restaurant,and the beautiful girl who wear on her head a kerchief.It tell us that those huis and others  muslim have the important influence on the city for culture , economy and life.

另外，在这个城市中随处可见的，肃静宏伟的清真寺，高原特色的清真饭店，以及头带漂亮丝巾的尕妹妹，告诉我们，以回民为主的穆斯林，对这个城市的文化，经济和生活，具有着重要的影响力。

Take the day for one week ,with Ma,and Li,our three people boarded the train to Xining.
自己给自己放假一星期，跟随着马哥，还有李恒，我们仨踏上了西行的火车。

It was a long journey that we had spent 26 hours on the way ,but the landscape outside were  constantly changing,plains ,hills and mountain range.the railway linked the different cities and villages,ultimately, we had success reach the goal,Xining railway station.When got off  the train,each one feel excited,Ma went back home again,Li was the first time to travel,to me, my had go more far than before in the northwest.

二十六个小时硬座，窗外的景色不断变化，平原，丘陵和山脉，城市和乡村交替着，最终我们到达了终点：西宁火车站。踏出火车的那刻，每个人疲惫的脸上露出了笑容：马哥又回家了，李恒第一次出远门，我的西北地图又往前推进了一步。

The weather of Xining wasn’t too bad,dry and cold,with large temperature difference day and night.Especially,I’m a southerner and don’t do be used to sleep with radiater.On the third day after arrived,Li and me boarded the bus and headed the Qinghai Lake,the morning we went out with a bit cold ,when arrived there  by soon, the temperature was going up,so we had to take off our coat.

西宁的天气不算太坏，干冷，早晚温差大，特别是，我一个南方人，并不是特别习惯睡在暖气房。到达后的第三天早上，李恒和我直奔青海湖，出门时，气温还比较低，大概只有零度左右，到中午到了青海湖时，又觉得热，只好把外套脱掉。

All people said,the view of Qinghai Lake in July-September were best,the lakeside was covered with a grass and rape flower ,I had look some similar photos.As far as I’m concerned,the autumn scenery has its unique charm,quite and leisure.

人们都说，看青海湖以夏季七、八、九三个月最好，满地的青草和油菜花，类似的景象之前已经看过了图片。个人感觉，这时的景色也独具韵味，安静，悠闲。

On the way to the Qinghai Lake, we had climbed  the Riyue Mountain,which  is an elevation of 3500 metres.Most tourists like to take some photographs  with  Tangfangudao monument and Princess Wencheng statue at the foot of the mountain,we also do it.

在前往青海湖的路上，还爬了趟日月山，海拔3500米，立在山脚的唐蕃古道石碑和文成公主像，是游人喜欢照相留念的地方，我们也不例外。

Except for Qinghai Lake,the other one to attract is the delicious food. People prefer  to have mutton,there are a variety of ways to eat,roast,finger mutton etc.those are similar to Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles which make our never be forgotten experience.

除了青海湖，西宁吸引我们的另一方面，就是这的美食。羊肉，是这主要的肉类，各种围绕着羊肉的吃法，花样繁多，烤，手抓等等。另外同根于兰州拉面的青海拉面等面食，也令我们回味无穷。

Thanks to warm reception by Ma,make we have a happy journey at Xining,the more important is that we have the chance to be in touch with the life of huis.Of course,just like I always insist that it’s the first,but not be the last.Next time,I will try to understand the city by a new slant.

有了马哥的热情接待，使得我们在此次西行的路上，日子过的十分滋润，更为重要的是，能够近距离的接触，这个城市回民的日常生活。当然，正如我一直所说，这是第一次，并不会是最后一次，下次上来时，对于这个城市，将会尝试以一个新的切入点,再来接触和了解。