London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 33 – 29 September 2016
Our First Full Day on the Roads of China
Before continuing with today’s journey, many readers have asked what is involved in driving a foreign vehicle through China.
Unlike most countries, independent travel by foreign vehicles is not permitted. Every vehicle must be accompanied by an authorised Chinese guide, and temporary Chinese driving licences and vehicle permits must be obtained before entering the country.
For Team Kontiki, the Chinese section of the journey was one of the most expensive parts of the entire expedition. By sharing our guide, Abby, with Team USA, our cost was approximately £3,400. Had we travelled alone, the cost would have been closer to £4,200. These fees had to be paid in advance before arriving at the border.
In addition, travellers are responsible for their guide’s accommodation and meals, which worked out at approximately £30 per day.
It was certainly not cheap, but it was the only way to experience the incredible journey across China by road.
With all the paperwork finally behind us, Team Kontiki was eager to get moving.
As planned, we left Yining at around 10:00 am and headed towards Urumqi via Kuitun, beginning our first proper day of driving through China.
The difference in road quality was immediately noticeable.
The motorway was excellent—wide, smooth, modern, and exceptionally well maintained. Driving was a pleasure. The only challenge was navigation. Most road signs were written in Chinese and Arabic scripts, reflecting the local population and culture of the region.
We were travelling through Xinjiang, home to the predominantly Muslim Uyghur people, whose culture, traditions, language, and appearance differ considerably from those found in other parts of China.
As we stopped at service areas and fuel stations throughout the day, we found people to be friendly, curious, and welcoming. Although communication was often limited by language, smiles and gestures worked remarkably well.
The scenery was also quite different from what we had expected.
Instead of endless deserts, we found ourselves travelling through fertile valleys surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountains. Large areas of farmland stretched alongside the motorway, producing vegetables, fruits, and crops in abundance. The contrast between the lush green countryside and the distant mountain peaks was spectacular.
The weather was equally kind to us.
Bright sunshine and clear skies accompanied us for most of the day, making it one of the most enjoyable drives since entering China.
As we continued eastwards, the motorway crossed numerous bridges and passed through a series of impressive tunnels cut through the mountains. Chinese infrastructure was clearly on a grand scale.
One thing that was not impressive, however, was the Wi-Fi.
Internet access was painfully slow and unreliable. Uploading photographs or keeping in touch with friends and family back home proved frustratingly difficult.
After a couple of refreshment stops along the way, we eventually arrived in Kuitun at around 5:00 pm, having covered approximately 280 miles.
As was becoming our routine, Team USA booked hotel rooms for themselves, Abby, and one additional room for Team Kontiki to use for showers and facilities.
Ramesh and I remained loyal to our motorhome and slept in Kontiki, while Dayal enjoyed the comfort of the hotel room.
At approximately £22, the room represented excellent value.
The evening then took on a familiar pattern.
Out came the cooking pots and ingredients, and before long Team Kontiki was preparing dinner for everyone. Sharing meals had become one of the highlights of the journey, bringing both teams together after long days on the road.
After dinner, accompanied by a few cold beers, we held an important planning meeting.
We had learned that China was about to enter a week-long national holiday period. This meant millions of people would be travelling, hotels would fill quickly, and accommodation could become difficult to find.
To avoid problems later, we sat down with Abby and Team USA to carefully plan the next stage of our route and reserve accommodation wherever possible.
The meeting lasted well into the evening, but it was time well spent.
As we finally settled down for the night, there was a sense that the adventure was entering a completely new phase.
We were no longer dealing with border crossings and paperwork.
We were finally driving through China.
Distance travelled: Approximately 280 miles (450 km)
Route: Yining to Kuitun, China
Weather: Sunny, warm, and clear
Highlights: Driving through the beautiful Xinjiang region and experiencing China’s impressive motorway network
Accommodation: Hotel room (£22) plus motorhome parking
Dinner: Home-cooked meal shared with Team USA and Abby
Challenge of the day: Poor Wi-Fi and planning accommodation during China’s upcoming national holiday week
Mood of the day: Relaxed, optimistic, and excited to be exploring China at last
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki continues east through the fascinating Xinjiang region towards Urumqi, experiencing more of China’s breathtaking landscapes, unique culture, and remarkable infrastructure on our epic road journey from London to Mumbai.
