Silk Road Timelapse: Two Months Across Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunan, and China

In 2008, I spent two months traveling from Shanghai to the most northern and western areas of the remote Chinese territories. I did not plan
to make this film until I was already on the road, so my equipment wasn't the best. I didn't have a good tripod until I bought a small fake
gorilla pod in Urumqi.
I think the most interesting parts are in Xinjiang and western Sichuan (on the Tibetan plateau). There is a Tibetian sky burial, but it is filmed far
enough away so it is not graphic.


Locations: Beijing, Xi'an, Xiahe, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Tulufan, Urumqi, Kanasi, Kashgar, Chengdu, Leshan, Litang, Danba, Shangri-la
(Zhongdian), Dali


Camera: Canon SD1000 with CHDK Firmware
Editing/Grading: After Effects
Music is "Your Hand in Mine" by Explosions in the Sky

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Beijing
• Xi'an
• Xiahe
• Jiayuguan
• Dunhuang
• Tulufan
• Urumqi
• Kanasi
• Kashgar
• Chengdu
• Leshan
• Litang
• Danba
• Shangri-la (Zhongdian)
• Dali

[abramjessiah]

@rebeccatrash - 2 months was a good amount of time for western china. a ton of time was spent on trains, especially from kashgar to chengdu - i think that was a 4 or 5 day trip. i should have just spent the extra 1000rmb to fly from Urumqi. It all depends on where you want to go. Travel in the remote mountainous areas is extremely time consuming, but absolutely worth it. if it's winter, some areas may not be passable. good luck!

[Tribian]

I really liked this video. Makes me want to go to China badly. Good job!

[rebeccatrash]

hi there, your trip looks great. did you find 2 months was a good amount of time, or not long enough. i imagine a lot of time was spent on trains? im plannig on doing a similar trip at the end of the year,still deciding how long i will need.