Backdate: Xinjiang Jun 2026 Day 1 & 2

12/6/26 Fri - 13/6/26 Sat: I booked for our Xinjiang trip in December last year with this Chinese agency. It was a 10D9N package for six of us (MIL did not go in the end due to her spinal surgery post-recovery since end March) that cost RMB 7,759 per person. Air China's return trip tickets cost about S$986, travel insurance was S$33, e-SIM from Klook was about $8 and PotaTOHs changed S$1.5k each to Chinese Yuan at rate of 5.26. In total, I think spendings came up to slightly over S$3k per person.

PotaTOHs and Fran met at Gombak MRT and we arrived at T1 at 9pm to check in on the spot to Air China. We took CA 970 red-eye flight to Beijing. PY, Fran and I went to food court because they needed to eat dinner. Potato and FIL drank at the lounge. We were supposed to fly at 11.30pm, but it was delayed till 12am. We still reached at 6am with a bit of turbulence. The chicken braised rice was okay. 

Potato didn't eat breakfast on the flight. *KNS the lady on my right elbowed me a few times for nothing during her sleep.* The seats were also quite cramped and not comfortable. For our connecting flight CA1251, they airport staffs rushed us to take the bus after the sky train. It departed on time and arrived early at Urumqi airport at 11.30am. 

Poor Fran's luggage was broken when we reached Urumqi airport. 阿力木came to fetch us at 12pm or so. He hugged the guys but skipped the ladies. According to their custom, they only greet ladies with bow and a hand across the chest.

The three ladies took the back row at the start, but we realised the seats were quite high later in the journey, hence long journeys caused my calves to swell some of the days. It was an hour of drive before we arrived at地王酒店. Had to make the payments and in the end, we decided to give in for the "local travel insurance" the agency insisted on and paid an extra RMB 100 each (which FIL generously paid for all of us).

Fran found this炸酱面place nearby our hotel for late lunch at 2.30pm. PotaTOHs and FIL had the北京炸酱面 (RMB 13 each). Then, we walked to the convenience store next to our hotel to buy beer haha!

I was too tired from lack of sleep on the flights, so was Potato, so both of us napped from 4pm till 6.30pm when the three of them went to新疆古生态园汗血马基地and visited a park. *I woke up at 6+pm to find out electricity went out... kns everything stopped charging.*  

Both of us decided to go up to the 26th floor check out the restaurant before we took didi to大巴扎美食街北门 (RMB21.77) at 7.45pm. Traffic was a bit jammed though.

It was crowded and there were so much to eat! He wanted to try the番茄抓饼 (RMB 16) and it was not bad. Then, we walked into the indoor area and he tried the沙葱牛肉饼 (RMB 10), which he thought was salty. I bought the客什一把抓 (RMB 3) but the small lamb-filled grilled bun was also salty.

While waiting for the rest to arrive, PotaTOHs also ordered the巴扎三凉 (RMB 10) which had only two types of noodles because the auntie forgot to add one more. I was also keen on阿布都羊杂汤 (RMB 30) which was filled with lamb meat and intestines. Both food did not disappoint!

After they came, we swopped seats to the central area which was more comfortable. FIL ordered grilled fish (RMB 68) but I thought it was a bit腥. PY ordered the爆炒黄面 (RMB 15) which was plain but not bad. The sour plum drink was nice too. Fran's grilled lamb meat was good. The salty milk tea was meh though.

We were so full by 10.45pm and finally "a wrap" with food that day lol! FIL, PY and Fran still wanted to walk around the nearby mall, so PotaTOHs headed back first because I was still tired. It took us 15 mins to get a didi (RMB 20.43) because there were many people waiting for private hires. Got back at 11.15pm~ *Learning point for me... avoid red-eye flights whenever possible in future!*