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
Categories: China, Chinese Provinces, Cross China Road Trip
Just Turn Left 
To be honest it is amazing that they have filling stations out here in the middle of literally nowhere!
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I reckon for the trucks mainly but there were vast expenses with nothing. I reckon I got lucky on a few occasions out there
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Indeed and you have done a great service for all others who may emulate you road trip. You sure have gotten Mel’s hands itchy now…
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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.
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Keep on going Andy. Whilst I am really interested in this area, and in fact intend to be in Xinxiang September 2018, your posts make me determined NOT to drive myself!
PS: I hope you feel better soon. Don’t forget to hydrate!
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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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Wow it sounds very remote… I can understand the anxiety.
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Yes and I couldnt find anyone who wanted to go there with me 😦
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Hi Andy! Saying hi and that I have been following your travels though not commenting. Your video channel.is cool!
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Yeeey Singledust. Thanks for checking out my vid channel. Its kinda mad doing that and this at the same time. Still fun though. Hugs from China
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Hugs back Andy and keep up the good work, it’s all really so magnificent!
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Thanks Singledust. The same to you 🙂 Where does all the time go?
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i know right Andy?! but you have been busy productive. and have much to show for it! keep up the momentum Andy!
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Hiya Singledust > Super busy with a hint of the flu and worry about things not so far away hmmmmm scary. Wishing you a fab Sunday mate X hugs
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hugs back friend! and hope you managed to eat some chocolate if you can get hold of some. happy Easter!
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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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Hahaha – you having a little trouble with your signal there, Andy? Seems like the Save button wasn’t working as well as it should. 🙂
Hope you’re safe and … stuff.
Robert.
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Totally off topic and nothing to do with this post but I’m reading your book at the moment and I just got to ask – did you ever figure out what was up with Pei back in 2007?
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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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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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Hmmm yes but my intuition just said to let that one go. Glad I did.
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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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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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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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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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So are you doing your TEFL here in China? What ways is the culture shock getting you?
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No I guess I will either doing TEFL online or in other countries. South Korea is a great choice. On culture shock, I cannot quite put my figure on it, but it is okay I am returning to Canada next month,
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How come your so up for South Korea? Just interested. I did my CELTA at Language Link. When I can I will do a CELTA survival guide on YouTube > I did one here on the other blog though https://smartenglishcn.wordpress.com/2017/02/11/celta-survival-guide-10-tips-to-make-your-celta-more-bearable-and-then-some/
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I can so related to this. Teacher talk time and the student talk time is also two phrases my instructor uses all the time. I was really sick during the final presentation and I could not really do it, and the same as you, I am not allowed to miss any time. Fortunately, the school allowed me to have leave absence and give me a year to catch up with the class. So I have to redo it next year. I was not taking Celta, I did TESOL with Oxford Seminar.
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Hiya Julie > You still in Shanghai then? When I did my CELTA I was so nervous on the second Monday I was sick outside the subway station. It took me weeks to get over it when it was over. Phew. Keep us posted on how you get on with it
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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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Hiya Julie. How are you these days and are you still in China?
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Hi Andy, yes I am still at home and I will leave for Canada in two weeks. Are you still teaching in the summer? There will be lots of students going overseas in summer I suppose.
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Hiya Julie > Yes summer is the busiest time here so its a bit of a slog. Hope you’ve been recording your trip back to China so I can see a few photos of what your life is like over here (wink wink) 🙂
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