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Backpacker Ben and Cat arrive in Jiayuguan after a long sleeper train ride and set out to find the westernmost point of the Great Wall. Confusing directions and taxi rides complicate the search, and they discover that some structures described as the wall are reconstructions or unrelated remains. They climb a windy ridge for a view in the desert heat, then continue by train to Turpan. There, the heat lingers into the evening as they visit a night market and try local bread, mints and pasti. The trip also includes payment problems with WeChat and Alipay and conversations with local vendors. They then head to Turpan and visit its night market, where they try local bread, mints and pasti. In Jiayuguan, the travelers climb a windy ridge in the desert heat after sorting through misleading directions and taxi journeys. They explain that some remains presented as the Great Wall are reconstructions, while other structures are unrelated to the wall. After their viewpoint visit, they take a train to Turpan, where evening market stalls offer bread, mints and pasti. Their account includes conversations with vendors and the difficulty of paying when WeChat or Alipay does not work. Carrying cash and checking the route with local people become practical parts of the journey.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2026-04-19)
Searching for the western end of the wall
Backpacker Ben and Cat arrive in Jiayuguan after a 20-hour sleeper train journey. They want to see the westernmost point of the Great Wall, linking it to their earlier visit to the eastern extreme at Dandong. The search is less straightforward than expected: directions are confusing, taxi rides take them through misidentified sites, and some structures turn out to be a castle or tourist reconstruction rather than the wall itself. They climb a steep, windy ridge to reach a viewpoint, with the desert heat making the effort harder. Their visit gives them a reality check about what is historic wall and what has been rebuilt for tourists.
On to Turpan
The travelers continue by train to Turpan, also referred to in the source as Tarban. Heat persists into the evening, when they explore a night market and try local bread, mints and pasti. They talk with vendors and see the practical side of paying for everyday purchases, including the need for cash when digital options fail. In Jiayuguan, WeChat and Alipay payments create difficulties, and taxi directions are another challenge. The pair keep a humorous tone as plans change. Their trip shows that finding a landmark may involve verifying directions with local people, and that a visit can be less polished than the familiar images of China suggest.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Where do Ben and Cat begin their trip?
- A: They arrive in Jiayuguan after a 20-hour sleeper train journey.
- Q: What made finding the Great Wall difficult?
- A: They encountered confusing directions, taxi problems and sites that turned out to be reconstructions or unrelated structures.
- Q: What did they try in Turpan?
- A: They visit a night market and sample local bread, mints and pasti.
