London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 41 – 7 October 2016
Through Mountains and Tunnels to Ancient Xi’an
The weather this morning was rather dull and overcast, although thankfully it was not particularly cold. After another excellent hotel breakfast, Team Kontiki was ready for yet another long day on the road.
At around 8:45 am, we left Lanzhou and began our journey towards Xi’an, one of China’s most historic cities and one of the highlights of our route through the country.
The distance ahead of us was approximately 415 miles, so we knew we would be spending most of the day behind the wheel.
Before leaving, we took one last look at Lanzhou. The city is beautifully situated in a narrow valley along the banks of the famous Yellow River, surrounded by mountains on either side. As we followed the motorway out of the city, the scenery became increasingly impressive.
The terrain throughout the day was predominantly hilly and mountainous.
China’s engineering continued to amaze us. Once again, we passed through dozens of long tunnels and crossed countless bridges spanning deep valleys and gorges. Some of the structures seemed almost unbelievable in scale. Every few miles another tunnel would appear, followed by another spectacular bridge carrying the motorway effortlessly across difficult terrain.
The road itself was excellent, making what could have been a difficult journey surprisingly comfortable.
One of the pleasures of travelling overland is the people you meet along the way, and today was no exception.
During a fuel stop, we came across a group of German travellers who immediately caught our attention. They were travelling in a convoy of seven cars, making their way from Hamburg to Shanghai.
Naturally, conversations soon began.
Travellers always seem to find one another, no matter where in the world they happen to be. We exchanged stories, compared routes, discussed border crossings, and shared experiences of driving through China.
It was fascinating to hear about their adventure and equally enjoyable to tell them about our own journey from London to Mumbai.
After wishing each other safe travels, we continued eastwards.
As the day progressed, the countryside gradually became more populated and developed. The vast open spaces of western China slowly gave way to busier towns, larger cities, and more intensive agriculture.
By the time evening approached, we had covered another substantial distance.
At around 7:30 pm, Team Kontiki finally arrived in Xi’an.
For centuries, Xi’an was one of the most important cities in China. Known historically as Chang’an, it served as the capital for several Chinese dynasties and marked the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road. It was from here that traders, explorers, and pilgrims began their journeys westward towards Central Asia and beyond.
Although we had arrived too late to explore the city properly, there was already a sense that Xi’an would be a special place.
After checking into our hostel, we took some time to relax before heading out in search of dinner.
Rather than looking for anything elaborate, we chose a local restaurant and enjoyed a simple meal. Sometimes after a long day’s driving, simple food is exactly what is needed.
The dishes were modest but delicious, and accompanied by a few glasses of local beer, they provided the perfect ending to another successful day on the road.
Later, back at the hostel, we decided a little “fire water” was required to keep the evening chill away.
A few warming drinks, some conversation about the day’s journey, and a review of the plans for tomorrow soon followed.
As we settled down for the night, there was a growing sense of anticipation.
Tomorrow we would finally have the opportunity to explore Xi’an, one of China’s most famous historical cities and home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world.
For now, however, Team Kontiki was simply grateful for another safe day on the road.
Distance travelled: Approximately 415 miles (670 km)
Route: Lanzhou to Xi’an, China
Weather: Cloudy, mild, and dry
Highlights: Driving through spectacular mountain scenery and meeting German travellers on their way from Hamburg to Shanghai
Accommodation: Hostel in Xi’an
Dinner: Local Chinese meal accompanied by local beer
Most memorable moment: Exchanging travel stories with the German convoy travelling across Asia
Mood of the day: Tired but excited to explore historic Xi’an
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki discovers the wonders of Xi’an, the ancient gateway to the Silk Road and home of the world-famous Terracotta Army, on our epic road journey from London to Mumbai.
