Travel Period: Departed on June 19th and safely returned home on August 13th, completing the entire journey.
Travel Mode: Two people, one vehicle, embarking on an epic cross-country journey across China’s diverse landscapes.
Total Mileage: 18,000 kilometers
Territories Covered: Traversed 10 provinces, 2 municipalities, and 2 autonomous regions, covering a total of 60 cities.
▪ 10 Provinces: Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan
▪ 2 Municipalities: Shanghai, Chongqing
▪ 2 Autonomous Regions: Xizang Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Landforms & Wilderness Crossings: Crossed 5 uninhabited wilderness areas, experiencing an extremely rich variety of landforms across northern and southern China. The route includes plains, tidal flats, streams, wetlands, saline-alkali lands, mountains, canyons, Danxia landforms, Gobi deserts, grasslands, high-altitude plateaus, snow-capped mountains, and sandy deserts. Traveling from the mild plains of southern China to the remote wilderness of western China, the journey featured constantly changing scenery and the full diversity of China’s natural landscapes.
Road Conditions: 70% paved roads and 30% challenging off-road sections, consisting of gravel tracks, potholed terrain, and wild rural roads, bringing continuous driving challenges throughout the expedition.
Altitude Distribution: High-altitude sections ran through the whole journey, accompanied by harsh terrain and hypoxic conditions. 35% of the route lies above 3,000 meters, 50% stretches across high-altitude plateaus above 4,500 meters, and 2% reaches extreme altitudes above 6,000 meters, presenting severe high-altitude environmental challenges.
Vehicle Preparation & Maintenance: To cope with the harsh and complex road conditions of western China, comprehensive full-vehicle maintenance and performance upgrades were completed before departure. Pre-trip preparations included replacing front and rear shock absorbers, full brake discs, brake pads, brake hoses, brake fluid, tensioner wheels and belts, four brand-new tires, full-vehicle rubber bushings, spark plugs, and the vehicle battery. Furthermore, an underbody protective skid plate and a pair of front four-spot headlights were installed, greatly improving vehicle protection and off-road capability.
Two full vehicle maintenances were performed during the journey. Affected by harsh wilderness road conditions, continuous intense vibration, and extreme high-altitude environments, the vehicle suffered multiple mechanical failures. All faults were repaired on-site, allowing safe and continuous travel. In-trip repairs included the replacement of the exhaust gas valve, front and rear crankshaft oil seals, water pump, air conditioning compressor, throttle body, and front buffer rubber sleeves, as well as maintenance for a loose torsion beam. Enduring extreme long-distance wear and tear, the vehicle successfully completed the full 18,000-kilometer expedition.
Total Travel Cost: The total cost of this cross-country expedition amounted to 65,000 RMB. Cost breakdown: 10,000 RMB for vehicle maintenance and repairs, approximately 20,000 RMB for fuel, and around 35,000 RMB for catering and accommodation, recording every real investment of this grand journey.
High-Altitude Physical Status & On-Road Mutual Assistance: Spending long periods in high-altitude zones, the body endured severe hypoxic pressure with dramatic blood oxygen fluctuations. The lowest recorded blood oxygen level was 58%, the highest 93%, with daily stable levels ranging from 86% to 88%, reflecting strong physical adaptability to extreme plateau environments. Warmth accompanied this grand journey: we actively rescued stranded fellow travelers three times and received rescue once when encountering difficulties, experiencing mutual help and warmth in the remote wilderness.
Two people, one vehicle, 18,000 kilometers, two months of traversing magnificent landscapes. Starting from the water towns of southern China and traveling all the way to the western frontier, we crossed 10 provinces, 2 municipalities, 2 autonomous regions, 60 cities, and 5 uninhabited wilderness zones. We climbed snow-capped plateaus and traveled through Gobi deserts and rugged canyons. With thorough pre-trip vehicle upgrades, two in-journey maintenances, and multiple wilderness repairs, we overcame altitude hypoxia, harsh road conditions, and extreme long-distance vehicle fatigue. Witnessing the most breathtaking natural scenery and persevering through the desolation of remote wilderness, we conquered every unexpected obstacle on the road. This long-distance cross-country journey is not only a pilgrimage across great rivers and mountains but also a profound experience of self-reflection, perseverance, and growth.
Travel Mode: Two people, one vehicle, embarking on an epic cross-country journey across China’s diverse landscapes.
Total Mileage: 18,000 kilometers
Territories Covered: Traversed 10 provinces, 2 municipalities, and 2 autonomous regions, covering a total of 60 cities.
▪ 10 Provinces: Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan
▪ 2 Municipalities: Shanghai, Chongqing
▪ 2 Autonomous Regions: Xizang Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Landforms & Wilderness Crossings: Crossed 5 uninhabited wilderness areas, experiencing an extremely rich variety of landforms across northern and southern China. The route includes plains, tidal flats, streams, wetlands, saline-alkali lands, mountains, canyons, Danxia landforms, Gobi deserts, grasslands, high-altitude plateaus, snow-capped mountains, and sandy deserts. Traveling from the mild plains of southern China to the remote wilderness of western China, the journey featured constantly changing scenery and the full diversity of China’s natural landscapes.
Road Conditions: 70% paved roads and 30% challenging off-road sections, consisting of gravel tracks, potholed terrain, and wild rural roads, bringing continuous driving challenges throughout the expedition.
Altitude Distribution: High-altitude sections ran through the whole journey, accompanied by harsh terrain and hypoxic conditions. 35% of the route lies above 3,000 meters, 50% stretches across high-altitude plateaus above 4,500 meters, and 2% reaches extreme altitudes above 6,000 meters, presenting severe high-altitude environmental challenges.
Vehicle Preparation & Maintenance: To cope with the harsh and complex road conditions of western China, comprehensive full-vehicle maintenance and performance upgrades were completed before departure. Pre-trip preparations included replacing front and rear shock absorbers, full brake discs, brake pads, brake hoses, brake fluid, tensioner wheels and belts, four brand-new tires, full-vehicle rubber bushings, spark plugs, and the vehicle battery. Furthermore, an underbody protective skid plate and a pair of front four-spot headlights were installed, greatly improving vehicle protection and off-road capability.
Two full vehicle maintenances were performed during the journey. Affected by harsh wilderness road conditions, continuous intense vibration, and extreme high-altitude environments, the vehicle suffered multiple mechanical failures. All faults were repaired on-site, allowing safe and continuous travel. In-trip repairs included the replacement of the exhaust gas valve, front and rear crankshaft oil seals, water pump, air conditioning compressor, throttle body, and front buffer rubber sleeves, as well as maintenance for a loose torsion beam. Enduring extreme long-distance wear and tear, the vehicle successfully completed the full 18,000-kilometer expedition.
Total Travel Cost: The total cost of this cross-country expedition amounted to 65,000 RMB. Cost breakdown: 10,000 RMB for vehicle maintenance and repairs, approximately 20,000 RMB for fuel, and around 35,000 RMB for catering and accommodation, recording every real investment of this grand journey.
High-Altitude Physical Status & On-Road Mutual Assistance: Spending long periods in high-altitude zones, the body endured severe hypoxic pressure with dramatic blood oxygen fluctuations. The lowest recorded blood oxygen level was 58%, the highest 93%, with daily stable levels ranging from 86% to 88%, reflecting strong physical adaptability to extreme plateau environments. Warmth accompanied this grand journey: we actively rescued stranded fellow travelers three times and received rescue once when encountering difficulties, experiencing mutual help and warmth in the remote wilderness.
Two people, one vehicle, 18,000 kilometers, two months of traversing magnificent landscapes. Starting from the water towns of southern China and traveling all the way to the western frontier, we crossed 10 provinces, 2 municipalities, 2 autonomous regions, 60 cities, and 5 uninhabited wilderness zones. We climbed snow-capped plateaus and traveled through Gobi deserts and rugged canyons. With thorough pre-trip vehicle upgrades, two in-journey maintenances, and multiple wilderness repairs, we overcame altitude hypoxia, harsh road conditions, and extreme long-distance vehicle fatigue. Witnessing the most breathtaking natural scenery and persevering through the desolation of remote wilderness, we conquered every unexpected obstacle on the road. This long-distance cross-country journey is not only a pilgrimage across great rivers and mountains but also a profound experience of self-reflection, perseverance, and growth.
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