KL & Chengdu

Start from Jakarta at 28 Nov 2015 with AirAsia to Kuala Lumpur first for one night transit before leaving to Chengdu China with AirAsia X.

The flight is in the evening and stay at Youniq Hotel at Putrajaya, near airport with transfer service 10.6 myr per person. Next flight to Chengdu is in the morning with 4.5 hours flight.

Landed in Chengdu Shuangliu Airport we take a airport shuttle bus Line 2 from in front of Gate 2 of Terminal 1 to Chengdu North Railway Station. The ticket counter is located there, cost 17 cny per person. The bus need 1.5 hours from airport to railway station with 4 stop along the way and ours is the last stop.

Arrived there we exchange ticket at train ticketing counter located right from the main train station building. We already bought the ticket online before from Ctrip and Travelchinaguide site with a small fee, around 5usd for a ticket. We exchange all the ticket segment, from Chengdu to Huaihua, Zhangjiajie to Huaihua and Huaihua to Chengdu. There will be an addition fee for the ticket exchange not from the departed station, but it’s cheap, only 5 cny per ticket.

Finish exchange we get in the train station, bought some bread and Instant Noodle for in the train while journey. The train itself also has a restaurant onboard, toilet, hot water dispenser and basin.

Our train was K588 from Chengdu North to Huaihua with 13.5 hours travel time start at 17:51 and arrive next morning at 7:24 total 8 stops. We choose hard sleeper with 261 cny ticket price per person. The configuration is 3×2 in one compartment, which mean the bed is three stacking up in two row.

Arrived next morning from Huaihua Railway station we walk nearby to Huaihua Bus Station, about 10 minute walk to catch an intercity bus to Fenghuang because there is no train station there. The bus ticket is 88 cny with 1 hours travel time with no stops. From Fenghuang bus station continue to Yinji Inn hotel for 30 cny.

Fenghuang Ancient City

The hotel located near the ancient city, we take deluxe double room for 328 cny with a balcony view to the city. After check in and drop our bag we walk straight headed to the ancient city area about 200 mtr from Yinji. The area ancient city applied entrance fee 148 cny for two days which is include 10 attraction inside area, like Former Residence of Shen Congwen, Formal Residence of Xiong XiLing, Yang Family Memorial Temple, East Gate Tower, Boat ride on Tuojiang River, Longevity Palace, Chongde Hall, Fenghuang Ancient City Museum, Hong Bridge Art Museum, Shenfeng Scenic Area of South Huashan. The place its self has many entry point but guarded with post and guards, it’s almost impossible to avoid them and entry for free. We stay there up until 6 pm and back to hotel for clean up and then back inside again for dinner.

Next morning we back again into Fenghuang Ancient Town, yesterday we did not ride the boat around the river. This local Tujia boat is quite unique and interesting, the driver while row the boat also singing local traditional song. As we have been told that miao or tujia folks like to sing.

After the boat ride, Mel bought a scarf for a souvenir and also a character doll, as for me pick a One Piece character but sadly only Luffy and Tony Tony Chopper available, others are not available. Quite cheap, 10 cny for the scarf and 3 characters doll for 20 cny. We bought total 7 scarf and 9 character dolls.

Back to Hotel on the way in the alley we bought Wonton soup, 10 cny per serve with 7 wonton and some mushroom. Like before, we ask for “la ciau” to add more spicy in the soup, very delicious. We sat on an only single table with firebrick at the table bottom to keep us warm.

The AI sellerwoman after serve us join and have a chit chat, eventhough i can’t understand and Mel only a little bit but strangly it doesn’t feel that difficult or awkward to communicate with her. We and her smile along the talks. Finish up we paid the sellerwoman 12 cny and she said thank you very much and also don’t forget if back again to the alley please come by, she said it in chinese and with a lot of smile. I guess that moment is not happen occasionally.

Back at hostel we inform the lady in receiption to call a cab at 1:30pm, the taxi fare is 20 cny from hotel to Fenghuang North Bus Station. We bought the ticket from her 80cny per person. Our bus to Wulingyuan will depart at 2:30pm. While waiting for the time being we get our stuff down from the room and stay at livingroom watching television.

At 1:30pm car honking alarm us and the lady front came to us informing that the cab has arrive and wait at the front. We quick grab our stuff and also being help by lady front to the taxi. Only 10-15 minute to bus station. Arrived there I exchange the receipt note we get earlier from hotel into ticket and get to the second floor where the place for the bus to depart. Not long after the bus is arrive and we put our bag in the stuff compartment below the bus. The bus is very good, clean and new. Spacious and comfy too.

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