Preamble:
From July to October 2021, I participated in a self-driving activity of "The 3rd Dream Tour of China's Border Line". What is circumnavigating China's borders? To briefly describe it: driving from Shanghai, along the highway along China's land border, driving in an anticlockwise direction back to Shanghai, it takes 100 days, a journey of 35,000 kilometers, and completes the circumnavigation of China's border in one go. It's no exaggeration to say that this was an epic road trip, an unforgettable road trip that left me excited and memorable. Participants who completed the whole journey around the Chinese border were named "Driving Warriors" by the organizers and presented with certificates, which I thought was well deserved.
After the circumnavigation of the Chinese border, the team members returned to their daily lives, and everything was calm again. It's been three years, and I'm still looking back and chewing on the experience and insights that this extraordinary self-driving journey has brought me, and the countless scenes in the journey along the Chinese border often linger in my mind as if it was just yesterday. Three years ago, when I said goodbye to my teammates, I said that this 100-day journey of driving on the Chinese border will take hundreds of days, years, or even a lifetime to look back!
My time is my way
I'll do my hobby
Life is a child, and he is still a teenager when he returns. In October 2020, I turned 60 years old, ending my 40-year career and entering retirement.
Before my retirement, I worked professionally for 28 years in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the first company to open in New China, witnessed many important moments in the development of New China's capital market, and participated in the establishment of the China Securities Museum, which has done some useful things to preserve and popularize the history and culture of China's capital market. After retirement, I decide my time and my hobbies. Therefore, it is my best choice to spend the limited time after retirement on what I want to do and can do.
In 2021, when I learned about the self-driving activity of "The 3rd Dream Tour Around China's Border" on Goba.com, I signed up for it. Interestingly: the purpose of this self-driving activity is to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the party, pay tribute to the great motherland, measure the border line with wheels, and show the true style with action!
July 1, 2021 is the centenary of the birth of the Communist Party of China, the starting and ending points of the Chinese border are located in Shanghai, the self-driving team from the Shanghai First National Congress of the Communist Party of China Memorial Hall, will take 100 days, travel 35,000 kilometers, along the G228, G331, G219 national highway around the motherland border and then return to Shanghai, in one go. I call such a challenging road drive activity "an epic road trip and a self-drive journey that pushes the limits". At the departure ceremony on the same day, more than a dozen off-road vehicles were neatly arranged, the engines roared and majestic, and more than 30 members were ready to go.
Circumnavigating China's borders
Pay tribute to the magnificent rivers and mountains of the motherland
As long as we can remember, we have slowly and ignorantly known what China is and what Chinese are, seen a map of China, and learned that in the land of 9.6 million square kilometers, there is the Chinese nation with black hair and yellow skin. Later, I knew what a national highway is, what a highway is, and I know that the most beautiful natural landscape avenue in China is called G318 National Highway (zero kilometers are in Shanghai). But it wasn't until I participated in the circumambulation of the Chinese border this time that I learned that the three national highways that surround the Chinese border are G228, G331, and G219.
On July 1, 2021, on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of the Communist Party of China, a group of 36 people and 18 vehicles gathered on the memorial hall square of the first congress of the Communist Party of China in Xintiandi, Shanghai, and started an epic journey of 35,000 kilometers around the Chinese border in 100 days!
I vividly remember that when our motorcade set off, the car radio was broadcasting live the grand rally held in Beijing's Tianmen Square to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. One hundred years ago, the Communist Party of China (CPC) made brilliant achievements over the past century, from small to large, from weak to strong. Today, a hundred years later, my team and I have embarked on a journey around China's borders, measuring the borders of the motherland with wheels, paying tribute to the great motherland with deep affection, and praising the great party with faith, which is a once-in-a-lifetime moment! Ah, I caught up! Great luck and happiness will accompany me around the border of China. I have silently made up my mind to accept any hardships and hardships during the journey, and strive to complete this challenging journey around China's borders.
From childhood to adulthood, I have been to many places of interest in various parts of the country, such as scenic spots, city scenery, and tourist attractions, but I have no idea what kind of magnificent scenery the border of the motherland has, and it seems very unfamiliar.
According to the counterclockwise direction: G228 National Highway, starting from Dongxing, Guangxi to Dandong, Liaoning, with a total distance of 7,800 kilometers, is known as the most beautiful seaside avenue; G331 National Highway, starting from Dandong, Liaoning Province to Kanas, Xinjiang, with a total distance of 9,300 kilometers, is known as the most beautiful Northeast Frontier Avenue; G219 National Highway, starting from Kanas, Xinjiang to Dongxing, Guangxi, with a total distance of 10,065 kilometers, is known as the highest and longest national avenue, and the border line of three national highways, so that China's land territory is tightly embraced. The team of "The 3rd Dream Tour of China's Border" started a 100-day journey around China's border along these three borders.
On July 1, 2021, the team set off from Shanghai, and after a 100-day arduous trek, all members returned to Shanghai safely on October 8, realizing the dream of driving on the Chinese border. The warriors were awarded the Medal and Certificate of Warriors Traveling Around the Chinese Border issued by the organizers, which is the honor of my life! When I returned home, I put the medals and certificates in the most prominent position, so that I could often look back on this arduous journey that I would never forget.
During the 100-day trip, in addition to the national highways G228, G331 and G219 around the Chinese border, the team also successfully challenged other self-driving roads along the way: Duku Highway, Yizhao Highway, Diandiantian Road, Tasha Ancient Road, Panlong Ancient Road, Motuo Highway, etc. When I returned to Shanghai, a teammate humorously said: Now we have no way out!
Circumnavigating China's borders
Pay tribute to the country, ports, boundary monuments, and soldiers
Most of the people in the team, including me, have never seen these landscapes, nor can they appreciate the sacred significance of these gates, ports and boundary monuments on the border line to a country.
On the way, I had a strong impression for the first time at the Yalu River Broken Bridge in Dandong, Liaoning Province, visited the historical materials of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, witnessed the tragic scene of the Yalu River Broken Bridge being blown up by the invaders, and a national feeling of worrying about the country and the people surged in our chests, and my teammates and I couldn't help but sing the song "Military Song of the Chinese People's Volunteers" on the broken bridge to remember this history.
Leaving the Dandong team and continuing northward, on the most beautiful northeast frontier avenue in G331, we checked in many national gates and ports along the way, and touched many Chinese boundary monuments: Suifenhe National Gate in Liaoning, Heihe Port and Jiayin Port in Heilongjiang, Erenhot National Gate and Murowei Port in Inner Mongolia, Ulastai Port and Hongjerapu Port in Xinjiang, Bal Military Station on the Xin-Tibet Line, and the well-preserved "Qinzhou Boundary Monument of the Great Qing Dynasty" in Dongxing, Guangxi Province for hundreds of years and the geographical coordinates connecting mountains and seas, etc.
Whenever we arrive at the check-in points and see these landscapes with our own eyes, as a Chinese, you will definitely rise from the depths of your heart full of patriotic enthusiasm. Every time we go to a country, port, and boundary monument, all the members of the team must wave the team's large and small flags in the wind, call slogans excitedly, and take a group photo together, solemn, sacred, and warm, written on the faces of every team member.
We arrived at Zhenbao Island at the confluence of the Ussuri River in Heilongjiang Province, witnessed the battlefield relics of the "Zhenbao Island Self-Defense Counterattack", stood on the sacred territory of the motherland, and faced the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to defend the country, and our mood could not be calm for a long time.
Similarly, in the Ali area of the Xin-Tibet Line of the G219 National Highway, we visited the "Bar Military Station" at an altitude of 4,800 meters. In the station, we saw one oath after another, one by one: to fulfill the mission with loyalty and to serve the motherland with youth. There is a soul and an essence, and there is a blood and a character. Seeing these lovely officers and soldiers, their young faces covered with wind and frost, you once again realized: In the world, what time is quiet, just because someone is carrying the weight for you! In times of peace, when the people of the country enjoy a peaceful, peaceful, and prosperous life in the big and small cities, villages and towns of the motherland, we must not forget those officers and soldiers who fought the border areas for the country.
In addition, the Khunjerapu port on the border of Xinjiang, with an altitude of 4,600 meters above sea level, is the highest border port in the world, with a harsh natural environment and extremely poor living conditions. On the G219 Qinghai-Tibet Line next to Pangong Lake, we also heard the heroic deeds of the PLA soldiers defending their homes and defending the country, swearing to fight to the death against the invaders! Living in a modern city, we are so happy and peaceful with no worries about food and clothing.
From G331 National Highway to G219 National Highway, accounting for two-thirds of the whole process around China's border, the journey around China's border line along the way to the mountains and valleys, snow-capped mountains and meadows, ravines and dangerous shoals are endless, the road conditions are also ever-changing, and the difficulties and dangers are everywhere, but the national gates, ports, boundary monuments seen along the way, and the heroic deeds of the PLA officers and soldiers who have heard can sing and cry, give us strength and courage, and inspire the team to move forward.
Circumnavigating China's borders
Check in to China's land poles
In addition to checking in the country, ports and boundary monuments, the team will also go to the east, north, west and south of China's land map to check in at the four poles of China's land map to achieve the ideals and goals in their hearts.
China's East Pole Square in Fuyuan County, Heilongjiang Province, has a huge metal sculpture with the word "Dong" on the square, where China's earliest sun rises on the skyline in the distance.
China's North Pole is the Ussuri Shoal of the Mohe River in Heilongjiang, where there is a boulder engraved with the words "China's Northernmost Point" in fiery red, indicating that this is China's North Pole.
China's West Pole is in Muji Township, Wuqia County, Xinjiang, when the team found it after a lot of hard work, there was no obvious marker, only a small mountain bag, some people say that this was once a volcanic crater, and some people say that they have to go 100 kilometers to really reach the West Pole of China, and then saw a photo showing that there is a landmark stone tablet at the West Pole, only to know that this is the West Pole.
The South Pole of Chinese mainland is in Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong, and there is also a huge stone monument with the words "Chinese Mainland Antarctic Village" on the beach by the sea.
Similarly, during the trip around the border, we also saw the highest point of China's geographical location, Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters above sea level), and the lowest point, the "People's Republic of China Level Zero" (zero altitude reference point) in Dalian.
Circumnavigating China's borders
The most beautiful scenery is on the road
Travel and travel, although the difference between one word is very different.
Tourism is a way of going out with a destination, a clear itinerary, clear scenic spots, beautiful scenery, visiting places of interest, staying in comfortable or luxury hotels, tasting local food, shopping, etc., relaxing and leisurely; Travel, on the other hand, is an uncertain itinerary that does not focus on beautiful scenery, food, shopping, etc., but focuses on the travel process, experiencing the customs and feelings, and feeling the way of going out.
This is the case with my 100-day, 35,000-kilometer trip around China's borders. There is an iconic advertising slogan on Goba.com, which is also a concept respected by self-driving enthusiasts: the most beautiful scenery is on the road. Indeed, the purpose of driving around China's border is not to see the scenery, but the beautiful scenery is on the road, the scenery along the way is unique, all kinds of scenery are intoxicating, amazing, shocking, rugged mountain roads, blue sky and white clouds, snow-capped mountains and meadows, rivers, lakes and seas, historical sites, cultural landscapes, etc., it is really dazzling, dizzying.
This time around the Chinese border, we really enjoyed the great rivers and mountains of the motherland, and the beautiful scenery is countless. Unforgettable rivers, rivers, lakes and seas include: Yangtze River, Yellow River, Yalu River, Songhua River, Ussuri River, Heilongjiang River, Nu River, Brahmaputra River, various measures (lakes), South China Sea, etc.; The grasslands are: Hulunbuir Grassland in Inner Mongolia, Nalati Air and River Valley Grassland in Xinjiang, Karajun Grassland, Bayinbrook Grassland, etc.; Snow mountain glaciers include: Mount Everest (the highest peak in the world), Xisha Bangma Peak (a snow-capped mountain above 8,000 meters in China), Muztag Peak (known as the father of the world's icebergs), Mount Kailash (known as the center of the universe), Midui Glacier, Laigu Glacier and so on; Xinjiang "Duku Highway", which has been praised as the most beautiful highway in China by China National Geographic magazine, and "G219 National Avenue", the most beautiful and longest highway on the roof of the world, etc.
In addition to the natural landscape, some of the historical and cultural landscapes and places along the border are also unforgettable. For example, the Lushun Port in Dalian, the Yalu River Broken Bridge in Dandong, Liaoning, the Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River in Heilongjiang, the Dongning Fortress (known as the place where the Second World War ended), the Hulin Fortress, the Aihui History Museum in Heihe City, Heilongjiang (the exhibition of historical materials on the signing of the Treaty of Aihui), the Educated Youth Museum, the Murowei Port in Inner Mongolia, the Hongjerapu Port in Xinjiang, the Bal Military Station and the ruins of the Guge Dynasty in Tibet, the "Tengchong Battle" in the border city of Tengchong in Yunnan, the "Qinzhou Boundary Monument of the Great Qing Kingdom" in Dongxing, Guangxi, and the sovereign island of the Xisha Islands, Yinyu Island, Jiangxi Ruijin, "Cradle of the Chinese Revolution", etc., there are really too many, all of them are unforgettable scenes!
Circumnavigating China's borders
There is no ego, only us
"Let's go the third (2021) dream trip around China's border" self-driving activity, members from all over the world, although we have never met, but together we suddenly feel familiar, because of the common aspirations and choices, we are a group of like-minded fellow travelers, needless to say, everyone immediately as brothers and sisters. Starting from the starting point Shanghai and returning to the ending point Shanghai, all the mental journeys of 100 days and 35,000 kilometers are condensed into each other's unforgettable brothers and sisters, and any wind and rain are unstoppable.
100 days and 35,000 kilometers around China's border, for everyone involved in it is a great test, we are a united and warm team, along the way touching and unforgettable examples are numerous, these in the itinerary of clothing, food, housing, transportation and other aspects are reflected. Whenever someone is unwell, seeking medical advice to ward off cold and warmth can be seen everywhere; During the drive, the teammates in the same car will bring tea and water to the driver to feed him to relieve the fatigue of long-distance driving; Every afternoon when everyone is drowsy on the way, someone will launch a talent show invitation, through the car radio or walkie-talkie to start a variety of talent sharing, singing, recitation, jokes, human geography introduction, life perception exchange, photography and video shooting production, etc., of course, there are some elegant and vulgar appreciation of meat and yellow jokes, everyone is also happy.
Our team travels, dozens of people and more than 10 cars, all the way is a beautiful scenery. When the assembly and departure every day, when the engines of more than ten cars roared at the same time, it attracted people's attention; On the road, when more than a dozen cars lined up in a column and flashed their lights, they were majestic; At the gas stations along the way, when more than a dozen cars entered the station to refuel, the staff were very busy, saying that they had never seen such a convoy! When staying at a destination hotel, more than a dozen cars immediately crowded the hotel entrance or parking lot, causing chaos; Along the way, the team was also "chased and intercepted" by local TV and radio stations to do special interviews and radio and online live broadcasts; On the road, whenever the vehicle breaks down and the tire bursts, everyone is tightly together, and someone makes a strong contribution to help each other overcome the difficulties together.
There is also a vivid scene: when the team arrives at the parking lot at an altitude of 5,200 meters, they need to get off the car and walk to the top of the mountain to reach the top of the mountain to see this holy lake (regarded by the Tibetan people as this holy lake: whoever can see the lake can see their past and present lives), in order to see their "past and present lives", teammates all carry oxygen tanks to support each other and encourage each other to climb to the top of the slope with difficulty. The altitude of more than 5,000 meters above sea level is the ultimate test of life for everyone, and every step must pay the difficulties and difficulties that ordinary people can hardly experience. A female teammate, crying all the way up the hill, and crying again when she reached the top of the mountain, why? She said that this climb brought extreme discomfort to her body, and only crying seemed to relieve this painful emotion, and finally she succeeded in reaching the top with the encouragement of her teammates and her perseverance, and finally saw her "past and present life" and realized the good wish in her heart.
Sending comrades-in-arms to greet comrades-in-arms is also a touching scene that has appeared many times in the journey around China's border. This trip is divided into six sections, and at the end of each stage and the beginning of the next stage, there will be comrades leaving the team and new comrades joining. In this link, whenever everyone sang the song of "Sending Comrades-in-Arms" affectionately, the friendship that had been formed through the wind and rain and hardships all the way turned into laughter and tears intertwined, and the teammates hugged each other happily, and couldn't help but sing loudly, cherishing each other, and there will be a period later. Every time these scenes give people warmth and strength, they make all the team members unforgettable for a lifetime.
Circumnavigating China's borders
See heaven and earth, see all beings, see yourself
This 35,000-kilometre circumnavigation of China's border in 100 days is the highest record for my self-driving journey, and it may be difficult to break this record in the future. There is a statistic from Goba.com, three years ago (2021), there were less than 100 people across the country who completed the Chinese border at one time, and I was lucky to be one of them. Today, I still have a strong desire in my heart that in another 10 years, when I am 70 years old, I want to take another road trip like this again.
Reading 10,000 books and traveling 10,000 miles, it seems that it is difficult for anyone to read 10,000 books with peace of mind at the moment, but it is still possible to walk the road of 10,000 miles for a while, and this time 18 teammates have completed this feat. The fast pace of today's society and the endless emergence of new things have made people lose a lot of things in this crowded world. Circumnavigating China's border is a good opportunity to learn and exercise, and it is a painstaking process of self-experience, and there will be many new insights when you participate in it.
Along the way, you will find that in the face of the vast land and magnificent rivers and mountains of the motherland, it is pale to use any language and words to describe it, and it is incompetent to record and depict it with any photographic equipment and other technical means. I think that only by seeing, listening, touching, feeling, and embracing on the road in a down-to-earth and immersive way can we identify the truth, goodness, and beauty in the various states of life in the world. In a word: see heaven and earth, see all beings, see yourself. In the face of the magnificent rivers and mountains and the great power of nature, how small and insignificant human beings are, life in the world should be like this: abandon all illusory so-called pursuit of personal success and unrealistic material interests, abandon all the thoughts of fame and fortune, only prostrate on the earth, look up at the sky, be grateful for life, be a kind and honest person, a harmless person to the society, humble and good to praise all good things, this may be the most ideal and complete life (this is my superficial understanding).
Let's go
Circumnavigating China's borders
"If you don't go out for a walk, you'll think it's the world", I like this quote very much, and I also give it to friends who love to travel by car. Many times, people often say that they will wait for a while, wait for the time, wait for the work, wait for the money, wait for the children, etc., and eventually it will never end. If you don't do something now, you may never do it for the rest of your life. I would like to say that friends who love to travel do not need to wait, especially those who want to participate in the circumnavigation of the Chinese border (which can be achieved step by step). Let's go, let's go!
After the end of the circumnavigation of the Chinese border, I began to organize a travel sharing "100 days around the Chinese border" courseware APP, to share this unforgettable journey with interested friends, and has held 10 such meaningful sharing activities on different occasions, and I will continue to share it with you.
The 100-day self-driving project around China's border is a good idea, is a "golden idea", should have a strong vitality and a bright future, and I hope more self-driving enthusiasts will join this project to achieve a great dream and feat!
The 3rd Circumnavigation of China Warrior Li Gang in Shanghai in March 2024
Let's go to the net
2024 Journey around the Chinese Dream
On May 23, Shenzhen gathered the sentimental version that set off clockwise (the 7th)
6月16日圳深集结逆时针出的发梦想版（第八届）
(Registration)
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[Author: Let's go; Official Account: Let's Talk】