86 days, 28,300 kilometers, an unforgettable dream-chasing journey
On the first day of the New Year in 2022, some friends met in the group to travel early in the morning. However, now that the epidemic is serious, no one dares to travel far. Looking back on my 2021, I actually traveled for 86 days and covered 28,300 kilometers amidst the repeated epidemics.
In January, a 10-day trip to Guangxi, Changsha-Guilin-Liuzhou-Hechi-Guigang-Hezhou-Changsha, a journey of 2,750 kilometers.
This is my seventh trip to Guangxi. Instead of going to the well-known popular attractions, I chose some niche attractions with few people.
Dongli Ancient Village, like a paradise, presents a return to nature where "you can see the mountains, see the water, and remember the nostalgia." Although the ancient town of Dawei is no longer as prosperous as it once was, it still has a charm and determination accumulated over the long years and rich history. Walking through Hongxi, known as the most colorful stream in China, you feel like you are in a landscape painting. Visit Li Zongren's former residence and experience his ups and downs in his historical career and his legendary life of "a soldier in youth and a yellow flower in his later years".
In Guilin, listen carefully to the stories of ancient villages, ancient towns, landscapes and celebrities. The story of Guilin lingers in my heart.
Luzhai Xiangqiao Karst National Geopark, selected as "China's Most Beautiful Geopark", is famous for its "Four Fragrances" of Xiangqiao, Xiangyan, Xiangtan and Xiangquan. With a long history of nearly 2,000 years, Zhongdu Ancient Town is an important military and economic town in Lingnan. Yufeng Mountain is the place where Liu Sanjie sang folk songs. In Liuzhou, it is so beautiful to see the beautiful landscapes, visit the pure ancient towns, and listen to the beautiful folk songs! Beautiful!
Heshan, the coal capital of Guangxi, is a city born from coal. Heshan National Mining Park records the tortuous process of the rise of China's modern industry. The century-old mines have experienced transformation and nirvana, solidifying into an epic history. moment.
In Guangxi, there is a magical and beautiful place, which is Bama, the hometown of longevity in the world and the holy land of Chinese people. This hidden town has been endowed with magical power by nature. It has the highest proportion of centenarians in the world and is known as "a piece of pure land left by God on earth."
Guiping Ancient County, with the Tropic of Cancer running through its territory, is home to one of the seven famous Western Mountains in my country and the Tropic of Cancer Marker Park. Sunlight is the most abundant gift given by nature.
Hezhou is a place that even gods miss. Here is the first national forest park in Guangxi - Daguishan Forest Park. Linhe Ancient City is a famous historical city with Qin bricks and Han tiles. It is the source of Hezhou and the root of memory. Jade Forest is the only white marble geopark in my country and is called a geological miracle by geological experts. .
Due to the rebound of the epidemic, the trip in Guangxi ended early, but those beautiful days during the trip have not gone far. It is like a book. After reading, close it and store it in the bookshelf. When someone When I take it out and open it one day, joy and joy will be scattered all over the floor.
In April, a 40-day border tour, Changsha - Fangchenggang, Guangxi - Chongzuo - Baise - Wenshan, Yunnan - Red River - Pu'er - Nujiang - Linzhi, Tibet - Shannan - Shigatse - Ngari - Hotan, Xinjiang - Kashgar - Ke Prefecture-Kashgar-Bayingol-Qinghai Haixi-Yushu-Goluo-Gansu-Shaanxi-Hubei-Changsha, the journey is 16,300 kilometers.
I have always had a dream, hoping to travel around the Chinese border in one go. There are three national highways in our country. Walking along them is equivalent to traveling around the contours of China's land. They are National Highways 219, 331 and 228. On April 20, 2021, we embarked on a self-driving trip around the Chinese border. At that time, we never imagined that this would be an unfinished trip.
The landmark square connecting the mountains and the sea in Dongxing, Guangxi is the intersection of my country’s land border and coastline. We start from the zero kilometer along the border road and go from the sea to the mountains. The Guangxi-China-Vietnam border highway, code-named S325, has a total length of 725 kilometers and has been merged into the new national highway 219. Most places are separated from Vietnam by mountains and rivers. The closest place to the national border is less than 100 meters. It is known as the "Great Wall of China-Vietnam Border".
On the road along the road, you can admire the unique karst landforms, see green bamboos lining the shore, farmhouses dotting the shore, single-plank bridges, swaying rice ears, farmers hoeing, shepherd boys playing in the water, and feel the beautiful scenery and handsomeness of the mountains and rivers. The tranquil pastoral scenery has a unique flavor. Even in the dry season, the Detian Transnational Waterfall, the largest in Asia and the second largest in the world, is still beautiful and charming.
From Guangxi to Yunnan, walking on the southwest border, I always feel moved in my heart by the heroes who shed their youthful blood to protect their homeland and country. So I went to Faka Mountain, Jiangzhi Martyrs Cemetery, Malipo Martyrs Cemetery, and Laoshan to pay my respects to the martyrs who died in the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam.
Although I encountered the tension in Yunnan when border guards loaded guns and live ammunition to stop vehicles for inspection, I was anxious about being blocked when receiving overseas text messages on my mobile phone and the itinerary code turned yellow, and I had no choice but to be persuaded to return due to epidemic prevention and control. Temporarily adjust the itinerary. But I still visited Bingzhongluo again, and made up for the Laomudeng Village and Zhiziluo that I didn’t go to last time, as well as the long-awaited Bingchacha.
The simple road from Bingzhongluo in Yunnan to Chayu via Chawalong in Tibet, commonly known as Bingchacha, is the recognized eighth route into Tibet. Among all the routes into Tibet, it is the most dangerous and the scenery is the most primitive and beautiful.
It combines two extreme adjectives: the most beautiful and the most sadistic. It can be said that you are in heaven with your eyes and in hell.
I went to Medog, which is dear to my heart. In the eyes of the Tibetan people, Medog is the "Lotus Holy Land" where religious believers make pilgrimages. It is not easy to get to Medog. This is the last county in China with access to roads. The Zhamo Highway, which is only 117 kilometers long, is the most difficult road to repair in the world. It has been built for nearly 40 years and has gone through five major repairs and countless minor repairs. , it is often repaired and repaired... This road with the most complex geological structure in the world, a rain or snow may cause people to be trapped in the mountains for several days to several months. Nowadays, "double entry and single exit" traffic measures are adopted in and out of Medog.
Walking 318 again, the road conditions are better and there are more cars. It is no longer as thrilling and thrilling as when I walked ten years ago.
In Samye Monastery, which is known as "Tibet's first temple", I saw the pagoda in four colors: red, green, black and white for the first time. Goodbye Yanghu Lake, blue and pure, too beautiful to be described in words. Puma Yumcuo, known as the "Girl's Lake", half of the lake is blue and clear, and half of the ice and snow have not melted. It is so beautiful and peaceful that it feels very satisfying to enjoy this pure world to yourself. Among the many lakes in Tibet, Pekutso is not well-known, but you can see the reflection of Shishapangma Peak in this gourd-shaped lake, which gives people a reason to stop.
It is said that the real Tibet is to the west of Tibet. There is the secret land of Tibet, Ali in the sky. If you have not visited Ali, you have not really been to Tibet. Here are the sacred Mount Kailash, the center of the world, Manasarovar Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, the "Ghost Lake" Laangtso, and the Zhada Earth Forest, known as "the only one in China and the model in the world", which remains to this day. They are all the ruins of the mysterious Guge Kingdom, and the international lake Bangong Lake is thin in the east and salty in the west...
Walking in Ali, you can see the vast wilderness, snow-capped mountains and lakes, and every snow-capped mountain. , has its own legend; every lake has its own story.
In Tibet, we encountered all kinds of weather: bright sunshine, howling wind, swirling sand and dust, lightning and thunder, torrential rain, heavy snow and hail, and we also got lost in the primeval forest of the Grand Canyon. , affected by the epidemic, all ports in Guangxi and Yunnan are closed, but you can still check in at the door and take photos. However, in Tibet, you are stopped far away from the port, and there is no hope of checking in. Even so, we kept going.
Arrival at Yecheng, Xinjiang marks the completion of the Xinjiang-Tibet Line. The Xinjiang-Tibet Line is one of the most difficult and dangerous roads in the world. This road of death, which once wiped out an entire team, has changed the mood of many people upon hearing its name. Most of the area it passes through is uninhabited land. With an average altitude of over 4,500 meters, it is the plateau highway with the highest altitude, the most dangerous roads, extremely poor road conditions and the harshest environment in the world. Difficulties such as climate change, high cold and hypoxia, avalanches and landslides, altitude sickness, and sleeping in the open have exceeded the normal tolerance limits of many people. This road is extremely desolate and beautiful.
If you don’t reach Kashgar, you don’t count as a visit to Xinjiang; if you don’t reach the ancient city, you don’t count as a visit to Kashgar. The ancient city of Gar is my favorite place. It is full of exotic customs and has a strong smell of fireworks. The singing and dancing men and women, the old people basking in the sun, and the chasing and playing children all made me feel kind and warm. Although it was my second time here, it still made me linger.
On the way to Wuqia, China's West Pole, we were stopped again and asked to return. In view of the seriousness of the epidemic, all border areas and ports are inaccessible. The itinerary around the border is no longer complete, and it is different from ours. The original intention was far different and it lost its meaning, so I had to reluctantly stop this trip around the border.
Although I was unable to continue traveling around the border, I was still surprised on the way back. In Qinghai, the "Devil's Eye" Aiken Spring gives people an indescribable sense of shock. The "mirror of the sky", the vast cliff emerald lake, is as pure and clear as Gobi jade. It feels amazing to encounter a sandstorm in an uninhabited land. Mars Highway, "the most Mars-like place on earth", the desolate scene makes people feel a lot of emotion. Xitai Jinair Lake, a magical two-color lake. Dongtai Jinair Lake, a place for new Internet celebrities, is known as the "Qinghai Split" of the Maldives.
Qarhan Salt Lake, the largest salt lake in China, has pure and transparent water. The roads on the lake are all paved with salt, and it is known as the "Ten Thousand Zhang Salt Bridge". Kunlun Mountain, the "ancestor of mountains", has a long history and culture. Yushu Jiegu Temple has a magnificent architecture; **Princess Temple is a symbol of Tibetan-Chinese unity; Gyana Mani Stone Sutra City, the world's largest Mani pile certified by Guinness, is magnificent and breathtaking.
In the Tibetan areas I passed through, there were countless monasteries. Their number, scale, and architectural beauty overturned my perception time and time again.
During the 40-day trip, the entire journey was on national highways, arriving at 14 ports, passing 201 checkpoints, and undergoing three nucleic acid tests. It was a tough trip and an unforgettable one. Although I did not complete this border tour due to the impact of the epidemic, I completed the Bingchacha, Medog, and Xinjiang Lines in one go, realizing a long-awaited dream and feeling a small sense of accomplishment.
In October, 22-day tour of Gannan and Western Sichuan, Changsha - Tianshui - Longnan - Zhouqu - Diebu - Luqu - Hehe - Lintan - Linxia - Xiahe - Maqu - Aba - Heishui - Maoxian - Wenchuan-Pixian-Chengdu-Ziyang-Chongqing-Changsha, the journey is 5550 kilometers.
Starting from September, all A-level scenic spots in Gannan will be free of charge. Take advantage of the National Day holiday to take advantage of the free highway and go straight to Gansu. The first stop is Tianshui, which is the birthplace of Fuxi, the founder of humanities. Tianshui Fuxi Temple is known as "the first temple in China". The Maijishan Grottoes are one of the four major grottoes in my country. They are famous both at home and abroad for their exquisite clay sculpture art, and are known as the "Oriental Art Sculpture Hall".
The red Hadapu in Longnan is the place where the Red Army of Chinese workers and peasants survived after going through numerous difficulties and dangers during the Long March. The green Guan'e Valley is known as the "Little Jiuzhaigou" of Gansu.
At the Memorial Hall of the Zhouqu Severe Flash Flood and Debris Flow Disaster, we laid flowers and lit candles for the compatriots who died that year; we were ecstatic when we encountered heavy snowfall in Laga Mountain.
At Lazikou, the scene of the Red Army breaking through the natural barrier is still there; in Mao Zedong’s former residence in Czhina, the order to seize Lazikou within three days seems to still be echoing; Zhagana, where Locke lived, is like a paradise; Gansu Langmusi, at the junction of Sichuan and Sichuan provinces, is known as the "Little Switzerland of the East". This is my third time here.
The famous nine-story Milarepa Pavilion in Amdo is not only the activity center of Tibetan Buddhism in the cooperation area, but its unique and superb architectural art is also a rare landscape.
The Red Cliff Valley in Yeliguan has the charm of the Red Cliffs of the Yangtze River; Yehai Tianchi is the "Holy Mother Lake" of the Tibetan people and is also the filming location of the movie "Journey to the West".
In Linxia, I visited the Three Gorges of the Yellow River and saw the Liujia Gorge Dam. The turquoise and clear water of the Yellow River made me unable to believe my eyes. The maze-like eight lanes and thirteen lanes carry forward the long history of Linxia's splendid history. traditional culture.
Xiahe Ganga Secret Land, the Bajiao Ancient City breaks the convention of a square castle and is unique among the existing ancient cities in my country. In Labrang Monastery, which is known as an institution of higher learning for Tibetan Buddhism, you can see the white snow-red walls and golden domes complementing each other. You can go to the longest prayer corridor in the world to pray. From one corner of the temple to another, you will only feel deep in your heart. Deep shock. The Sangke Wetland Park in the clearing after snow is so beautiful that you will never forget to leave.
Awancang Wetland Park is also called Gongsel Kamudao, which in Tibetan means the place where the three rivers Gongqu, Serqu and Daojiqu meet the Yellow River. This is the first of the five most beautiful grassland wetlands in China. Niangma Temple has the largest prayer wheel in the world, which is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. Here, you can join the Tibetans in turning around the mountains, rivers, and pagodas...
Entering Aba, Sichuan from Gansu via Qinghai, in October You can also see rapeseed flowers which is an unexpected surprise during the trip. Looking up at the 37-meter-high seated Maitreya Buddha, the tallest indoor statue in China, at Gemo Temple, I feel that our Buddha is compassionate and all living beings are insignificant. Spend the whole day soaking in Lian Bao Ye Ze, known as the "Fairy's Back Garden", forget about the world of mortals, watch the clouds roll and relax, and only care about the mountains and rivers.
Although the color of the colorful forest in Naizigou has not changed much, the Luolicuo, Yangrong Hade Tibetan Village and Colorful Jiazu Tibetan Village along the way are all places worth stopping for.
There are many Qiang villages in Maoxian County. The mysterious white stone worship, ancient totem symbols, and simple folk customs all tell the vicissitudes of history of an ancient nation.
In the mottled and broken light and shadow of the ancient city of Jiangwei in Wenchuan, I saw the all-powerful life of Jiang Wei, an ancient sage and a famous general of the Shu Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms. In Shuimo Ancient Town, I quietly listened to the wind and rain; looked at flowers and water...
In Sandaoyan, known as the "Tianfu Water Town", I tasted the local specialties stone pot fish fry. ; Visit ancient times at Wangcong Temple; experience Hakka customs in Luodai Ancient Town, known as "the first Hakka town in western China".
Anyue is the "hometown of Chinese folk stone carving art". The stone carvings here are connected to Yungang and Longmen, and are connected to the Dazu Rock Carvings. Although I only saw one of the most representative Yuanjue Cave cliff statues , but also felt the characteristics of "ancient, numerous, refined and beautiful" Anyue stone carvings.
Due to the continuous spread of the epidemic in Ejina, we ended the trip in a hurry. During the 22-day trip, there were surprises of sudden heavy snowfall, regrets of the late arrival of autumn colors, joy of the beautiful scenery along the way, and worries of the coming epidemic... Fortunately, we avoided the area where the epidemic occurred and returned home safely.
In November, a 2-day tour to Xupu, Huaihua, covering a distance of 650 kilometers.
The epidemic situation outside the province is rising one after another, but the province is still relatively stable. Take advantage of the fine weather to take a short trip within the province. During Qu Yuan's exile in Xupu, he wrote the famous poem "Chu Ci: Jiuge Mountain Ghost" here. This was once the only way for my country to travel thousands of miles to Europe and Asia. It was also the red memorial site where He Long and Xiao Ke led the 26th Red Army Corps on their northward Long March.
In Xupu, you are close to mountains and rivers, and you can walk into the landscape and humanities picture that combines natural scenery with Yao customs.
In December, a 5-day tour to Shangrao, Jiangxi, covering a distance of 1,400 kilometers.
As soon as the epidemic in Shangrao subsided, I took a quick trip. Feel the strangeness of the mountain in Yiyang: the world's largest reclining Buddha. The mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain. The natural mountain shows the charm of the Buddha, which is shocking. Guifeng can be said to be "no mountain without turtles, no rocks without turtles", and is known as "the rarest turtle peaks in the world".
Sanqing Mountain, known as the "Little Huangshan Mountain", is shrouded in clouds and fog for most of the year, making it difficult to see its true appearance. Some people came here three times but failed to do so. And we were so lucky that we saw the beautiful peaks, clouds and sunset, and we were really happy.
During the trip, with the careful arrangements of my friends, my friends spent a special and warm birthday with me, which moved me very much.
In December, a 6-day trip to western Hunan, Changsha - Yongshun - Guzhang - Longshan - Jishou - Yuanling - Changsha, a journey of 1,200 kilometers.
After returning from Jiangxi, I went to Xiangxi again without stopping. From Yongshun's "thousand-year-old ancient town hanging on a waterfall" Furong Town, to the world's largest red stone forest in Guzhang; from Luota Geopark, known as the "Encyclopedia of Karst Geology", to Li, one of the four ancient towns in western Hunan Yegu Town; from Qianzhou Ancient City, which is as famous as Fenghuang Ancient City, to Yuanling, known as the "Gateway to Western Hunan"... Although it is only 1,200 kilometers, it is my first time to drive the whole journey, which is worthy of encouragement.
In December, a one-day tour of Yueyang Dongting Lake Wetland, covering a distance of 450 kilometers.
Both body and soul are always on the road. As long as there is a chance, we must fly even if it is just a day. On the banks of Dongting Lake, you can enjoy admiring reeds, watching migratory birds, and tasting the lake's fresh produce.
In 2021, my dream is in my luggage, 86 unforgettable days and 28,300 kilometers. Although several trips have been interrupted due to the epidemic, the pursuit of dreams will never stop.
In 2022, my dream is still in my bag...