Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Be prepared for misdirections and a lack of clear signage when chasing the Great Wall's real spot; verify your route with locals. (0:50)
- Tip 2In many parts of China you’ll rely on WeChat or Alipay for payments; have cash as a backup and be patient with apps that crash. (12:30)
- Tip 3If riding a taxi or ride-hailing app, confirm the destination and payment method in advance to avoid stalls. (18:32)
- Tip 4In hot desert towns like Turpan, pace yourself, drink fluids, and plan visits for cooler evening hours. (20:50)
Backpacker Ben and his filming partner Cat are chasing the extremes of China with a mix of humor, fatigue, and curiosity. They hop off a 20 hour sleeper train into a mining desert city called Jiayuguan, where they discover the westernmost point of the Great Wall but quickly realize the journey is full of misunderstandings and misdirections. The duo navigates confusing taxi rides, payment woes with WeChat and Alipay, and a constant push-pull between the famous, glossy China and the rougher, less-touristy realities. The day unfolds with misidentified ruins that turn out to be a castle or something unrelated to the wall, a climb up a windy, steep ridge to a viewpoint, and a harsh desert heat that makes even simple steps feel like a challenge. Through it all, Ben keeps the camera rolling, sharing the charm and chaos of traveling in a country where plans frequently go off-script and locals offer warmth and humor despite the travel hassles. The westernmost point turns into a reminder that in
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Backpacker Ben and Cat land in Jiayuguan, a desert mining town in the middle of China, and chase the westernmost point of the Great Wall, hoping to link it to their earlier visit at Dandong at the eastern extreme. The day is chaotic, with mistaken identities of the wall, a windy ascent to a viewpoint, and a cool realization that the “real” wall is mixed with tourist reconstructions. The pair attracts friendly attention from locals as they navigate confusing taxi rides and the common travel pain point of making digital payments in China. They reflect on how travel here is often less glamorous than the perfect Instagram moments, and they juggle language, culture, and logistics while keeping a light, humorous tone. They move on to Turpan (Tarban), where the heat lingers into the night markets, sampling local bread, mints, and the iconic pasti, and sharing conversations with local vendors, while noting the practical realities of cash and card payments in daily life.
