09-Jul-2015 -- This is the third out of 17 reports of confluence visits while cycling from Kashgar (喀什) to Xī'ān (西安). I cycled through the Chinese provinces of Xīnjiāng, Qīnghǎi, Gānsù, and Shǎnxī, 3600 km in 25 days. The story starts from 39°N 76°E. The previous report is 37°N 80°E

In the morning of confluence day, I got up at 6 AM in the town Cèlè (Qira) (18 km from the confluence point) and started cycling at 7 AM. An hour later, I had reached the village Gùlāhémǎ (固拉合瑪), which is directly at the main road in about 600 m distance from the confluence point. On various, mainly unsealed village tracks I was able to reach the confluence by bicycle.

The confluence is located just 12 m from a village track and most likely within a house. Between two houses, there was a 2 m wide ally. I went into it and was able to get within 3 m distance to the CP. However, due to the narrow ally, the GPS accuracy was not better than 12 m. Before taking the pictures, I waited until some elderly people had disappeared. I tried to avoid people seeing me taking pictures. Right after the shots had been done, I left the site (ca. 2 minutes). Only a boy carrying crops saw me, but he didn’t realize that I was a stranger.

After the visit I cycled further eastwards to Yútián (于田). I had not much fun cycling in Xīnjiāng due to the restrictions (areas closed to foreigners) and police controls (long waiting time, interrogation, and searching through my luggage and camera). So I decided to take a bus that would take me further east. From Yútián, I got a bus to Qiěmò (且末) and the next day further to Ruòqiāng (若羌).

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to the road: 600 m
• Distance to a track: 12 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 12 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 10 min
• Time at the CP: 8:07 AM
• Measured height: 1389 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 3 m
• Position accuracy: 12 m
• Topography: flat
• Vegetation: pope trees, hazelnut trees
• Weather: clear sky, 25° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Cautious Village Confluence

The story continues at 39°N 88°E.