Planning a trip to Linxia

Getting Away -- The West Bus Station (Xi Zhan; tel. 0930/621-2177) has buses every half-hour for Lanzhou (149km/92 miles; 3 hr.; ¥28) from 7am to 3pm; Hezuo (106km/66 miles; 2 hr.; ¥19) every half-hour from 6:30am; Xining (269km/167 miles; 6 hr.; ¥45) at 6am; Xunhua (115km/71 miles; 2 1/2 hr.; ¥19), and Tongren (183km/113 miles; 5 hr.; ¥34) at 6:30am. For now individual foreign travelers are unable to take the bus to Xia He (107km/66 miles; 2 1/2 hr.; ¥14), but as and when this changes you'll have to brave the pickpockets at the South Bus Station (Nan Zhan; tel. 0930/621-2767); a bus runs every half-hour from 7am to 4:30pm.