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Southern Silk Road Part 04: GPS Coordinates for Filling Stations

Rouqiang is the last town in Xinjiang before heading into the Qinghai Province. Still feeling utterly terrible, I decide to drive the three or so hours from Qiemo and have the afternoon off. There’s nothing much going on in Rouqiang. It’s a fairly empty place and you can saunter across the roads with no sign of traffic. The river is bone dry and full of rubbish. I film a guy fly tipping which he doesn’t like much.

The river bed at Ruoqiang

For most trucks, this is the last decent stopping point before Qinghai

None of my GPS maps showed any sign of a petrol station from Hotan to Ruoqiang. Something that stressed me out big time. I did however, record all of the coordinates myself so please find them listed below. There are a couple of big stretches where there’s no petrol anywhere so sometimes you have to fill up even if you did so an hour back. I’ll be doing the same for Qinghai. I hope it’s useful to someone who’s heading that way and having similar anxiety attacks.

GPS Coordinates South Silk Road & Qinghai
Hotan to Ruoqiang

PDF Download here: GPS Coordinates for Filling Stations on the South Silk Road

1: Qira 36°59′59.23″N 80°48′05.51″E
36.999786 80.80153
2: Xianbai Bazha 36°53′11″N 81°30′34″E
36.886389 81.509721
3: Street 36°49′37.48″N 81°54′32.89″E
36.827078 81.909135
4: 37°03′54.36″N 82°41′27.78″E
37.065099 82.691049
5: 37°45′21″N 84°09′44.84″E
37.75611 84.162456
6: 38°14′24.46″N 85°19′18.24″E
38.240128 85.321734
7: Qiemo 38°08′36.86″N 85°31′29.68″E
38.143572 85.524911
8: 38°42′12.27″N 87°09′07.24″E
38.703408 87.152012
9: 38°41′39.98″N 87°23′32.45″E
38.694439 87.392348
10: 38°58′06.86″N 88°01′36.38″E
38.968571 88.026772
11: Ruoqiang 39°00′37.8″N 88°10′01.87″E
39.0105 88.167186

There are a number of gas stations just east of Ruoqiang
39°00′50.67″N 88°14′43.67″E
39.014074 88.245465
39°00′29.23″N 88°18′22.64″E
39.008119 88.306289

 

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Categories: China, Chinese Provinces, Cross China Road Trip

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39 replies ›

      • Hiya Suan > Thanks for that. I read a blog about by a biker couple who argued the whole time they were on the South Silk Road, especially when the guy ran out of gas. His gf went nuts as they had just driven past a petrol station earlier. I hope my GPS helps someone else out sometime and thanks for your kind words mate.

        Liked by 2 people

    • Oh wow > Xinjiang next year. If you happen to come over to Beijing then drop by for some tea. No no no dont drive ha ha. Definitely go straight to Kashgar and go early before the mountain roads close

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      • Hiya Singledust. No Easter over here but I never really knew much about it. I do love the occasional Easter egg though. Can you get them over your side of the world? Holiday here again. X

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      • love chocolates in whatever form and yes we do get some imports! Missing you and your posts Andy! But life is horrid here, so much to do at work and I have let my writing backslide I must get on top of things again! I had a good holiday last weekend though and feel a little better to face the weeks ahead, life can get like that can’t it. If you are not too busy would like to know what else you are up to, drop me an email if you have the chance, gallyot_gina@yahoo.com. Holiday again?! well Malaysia is full of them, we have another long weekend this week too!! Best wishes to your continued travels!!

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      • Hiya Singledust. Time is a killer, rather time and work is a killer. Three days of work and doing anything but writing here in Beijing AAAAAGH Its so frustrating. I just wish I had 6 months free. Oh what we’d accomplish with that amount of time. I’ll try and e-mail but I just dont have much time to do anything at the moment AAAAAAGH :LOLOL

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      • no worries! when you need help just give a shout out – you need a vacation – Malaysia is lovely and warm! Been very busy here too. But its nice to keep in touch and catch up. Always find your travels and posts very interesting.

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    • Never did. I did by chance suddenly find myself right outside her flat one day a few years back when I got lost. One of life’s lessons I reckon. Just walk away. Keep life simple and square with the house.

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      Reply

      • Hahaha! You? Keeping life simple?! You gorra be having a larf! 😀 Technically, I agree with you – life is easier when it’s simple, but there’s gotta be some spice on those noodles, otherwise they taste like … well, they just taste like noodles, right? 😉

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      • I wanted your book to end when you met your wife. That would have been a killer conclusion: “I travelled 50,000 mile just to find my way home – in the heart of … (sorry, is her name Suzy? I forget. But anyways – you get the idea, right?).”

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      • Yes a few people wanted the cycle to be completed at the end but I continued the story in the second book that I never wrote. It was for the Cross China Road Trip but it wasnt bookworthy.

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      • Maybe some day – when you’ve finished your Great Chinese Novel and made your money with the Smart textbooks. Maybe they you’ll bow to the pressure from your fans. 😉

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  7. Are you still on the road? I just came across your twitter and see the fly tipping you filmed. I could not finish it. I thought my country has made so many progress and now I have to see this 😦 It is definitely something I need to get used to.

    Thanks for posting GPS Coordinates for the gas stations. It would be useful for fellow travelers who plan a road trip on the Silk Road With the vast and empty landscape, I dont think anyone want to skip the gas station even some of them is merely an hour away.

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    Reply

    • Hiya Julie > I’m in Beijing mate. If your near this way then let us know for sure. Would be amazing meeting up. How is China to you after all these years? Any culture shock? How’s the Chinese language? Yes pls fwd the GPS post as I know it’ll be useful for someone out there. I got lucky and didnt run out of gas. Mind you I did fill up every gas station even if it was for 100RMB. FLY TIPPING > every country has it I guess though. I made sure I just called the vid fly tipping and not Chinese fly tipping.

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  8. I love that video fly tipping. I just shared your post on Twitter. China is nice I am having a wonderful time with family and friends, but also have a bit reserve culture shock. I am nowhere near Beijing but would love to meet you if I am coming to visit Beijing in the future.

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  9. Sure Andy. I dont know you were sick while doing CELTA, but you succeed! Now I am following your path. I am not in Shanghai, I am in my hometown Ma’anshan that is two-hour away from Shanghai.

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