London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 44 – 10 October 2016
Chinese Hospitality in Mianyang and Chengdu
After another comfortable night in Guangyuan, Team Kontiki enjoyed a simple breakfast of tea, cheese sandwiches, and eggs before setting off at around 10:00 am.
The day almost began with a minor disaster.
Shortly after leaving our overnight stop and before joining the main highway, we encountered a low bridge. One glance was enough to tell us that Kontiki was not going to fit underneath it. With traffic waiting and little room to manoeuvre, we had to carefully reverse the motorhome and find an alternative route.
Fortunately, no harm was done apart from a few raised heartbeats and a reminder that travelling in a nearly seven-metre-long motorhome always requires constant attention.
Today’s first destination was Mianyang, a city around three hours away where we were due to meet a Chinese family who were friends of Ramesh.
One of the joys of travelling is meeting local people, and today proved to be another wonderful example.
We arrived shortly after 1:00 pm and were warmly welcomed by Ramesh’s friends. Despite the language barrier, their hospitality was immediate and genuine.
They insisted on taking all of us to a traditional Chinese restaurant for lunch.
The meal was a fascinating introduction to authentic local cuisine. Dish after dish arrived at the table, allowing us to sample flavours and cooking styles that were very different from those we were used to. As always, sharing food proved to be one of the easiest ways to connect with people from another culture.
After lunch, our hosts took us to visit a beautiful local temple.
Nestled amongst peaceful surroundings, it provided a welcome contrast to the busy roads and cities we had been travelling through. The intricate architecture, colourful decorations, and tranquil atmosphere offered a glimpse into China’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
Although our visit was relatively brief, it was one of those unexpected experiences that often become lasting memories.
Eventually, it was time to continue our journey.
We thanked our hosts sincerely for their kindness and generosity before saying our goodbyes and heading towards Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
The drive was straightforward, and by around 6:30 pm we arrived in the city.
For our guide Abby, this was a particularly special stop because Chengdu was her hometown.
Instead of simply taking us to a hotel, Abby invited all of us to her flat.
It was an invitation we were delighted to accept.
There we met her husband, who had prepared a delicious home-cooked Chinese meal for everyone. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience genuine Chinese family life rather than simply passing through as tourists.
The food was excellent, the company even better, and we were deeply touched by their hospitality.
By now, we had travelled thousands of miles from home, yet once again complete strangers had welcomed us into theirs.
These moments reminded us that the true highlights of overland travel are often not famous landmarks or tourist attractions, but the people you meet along the way.
Later in the evening, we drove to our overnight accommodation—the aptly named Mrs Panda Hostel.
The hostel was simple, inexpensive, and full of character. It wasn’t luxurious, but it had everything we needed and perfectly suited the spirit of our journey.
As usual, Team Kontiki booked one room primarily for access to the shower and bathroom facilities.
Dayal happily claimed the room for the night, while Ramesh and I remained loyal to our home on wheels and slept in Kontiki.
Team USA booked their own accommodation at the hostel, and before long everyone had settled down after another busy and memorable day.
From narrowly avoiding a low bridge to enjoying lunch with friends and dinner with Abby’s family, the day had been filled with warmth, kindness, and hospitality.
It was another reminder that while roads, mountains, and monuments make a journey memorable, it is the people who truly make it special.
Distance travelled: Approximately 300 km (185 miles)
Route: Guangyuan – Mianyang – Chengdu, China
Weather: Pleasant and mild
Highlights: Meeting Ramesh’s Chinese friends, visiting a beautiful temple, and enjoying a home-cooked meal with Abby’s family
Most memorable moment: Being welcomed into Abby’s home and experiencing genuine Chinese hospitality
Accommodation: Mrs Panda Hostel, Chengdu
Dinner: Traditional home-cooked Chinese meal prepared by Abby’s husband
Mood of the day: Grateful, relaxed, and touched by the kindness of friends old and new
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki explores the fascinating city of Chengdu, famous for its giant pandas, rich culture, and spicy Sichuan cuisine, on our epic road journey from London to Mumbai.
