Preface: An Opportunity
My first impression of Tibet came from Feng Xiaoning’s “Red River Valley”. In addition to her serene acting and the purest Tibetan culture, the most shocking thing is the beautiful scenery of Tibet and the Yatung Defence War, which was separated from us by a century. Later on, my impression of Tibet stayed only in the place where people talked about it as a “pure land” and a place to “cleanse the soul”. Many people say that after visiting Tibet, their souls will stay there for a long time. So I have always had an inexplicable affection for Tibet. It is magnificent and sacred. Over the years, I have neither been indifferent nor yearned for Tibet. I know that I have always been waiting for a perfect opportunity.
On a day in early March, when I saw the recruitment information for hitFM’s (FM88.7) self-driving tour to Tibet, I decided to embark on a journey to Tibet. One reason is that I know they will bring me an exciting journey. And most importantly, the vehicles for this trip are all ideal ONEs. For someone like me who is entering Tibet for the first time, driving a car that is familiar to me in my daily life on the plateau is an additional easy-to-control aspect. Therefore, that day, I paid without hesitation and fortunately invited one of the two most famous female car owners in the community: Baby and Beibei.
About the Car: Accommodate Your World
There were a total of 6 ideal ONEs on this trip. Car No. 1 was driven by Han Lu and crossed the north of Ali. Han Lu had modified three cars with @Runliang Off-Road, and two of them accompanied him through the north of Ali (one of them was later converted into a snow-track vehicle and placed in a skiing field in Beijing). This car was the third one and had been in Emma’s hands, accompanying her through most parts of the motherland.
The remaining five cars were all original and unmodified: original ground clearance and original tires. For the vast majority of self-driving users, as long as they don’t travel on extremely unpaved roads, 90% of the original factory cars can handle the terrain very well, so everyone does not need to worry too much. If you encounter a difficult road, slow passing is the only true solution.
Actually, when it comes to self-driving trips, a car’s capability is one thing, but the capacity of the trunk is the key point. This time, we had four people in each car, with three girls other than me. Unlike myself who can manage with a 20-inch suitcase no matter how far I go, 24-inch suitcases are the basic equipment for girls going out to play. So the trunk must be spacious enough to ensure a comfortable journey.
About Linzhi: The Land of Tibetan Flowers
Linzhi is our first stop. We gathered here from all over the country, and most people can adapt to the altitude here since it’s not very high. The crucial point is that Linzhi is in the peach blossom season in April, when warm currents from the Indian Ocean pass through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, and finally arrive in Linzhi after many twists and turns, nourishing the peach blossoms all over the mountains.
Within a 200 km range around Linzhi, there are many places to see peach blossoms. The closest one is Gala Peach Blossom Village. I would suggest that friends who arrive at Linzhi for the first time come directly to see the peach blossoms here. If you stay at the Hilton in Linzhi, you can drive for dozens of kilometers to get there, which is very convenient.
Every girl cannot resist the charm of flowers, and among the endless peach blossom forests here, the girls feel the happiest. However, luck is necessary to appreciate the peach blossoms all over the mountains. The time when the peach blossoms bloom each year will be different. Usually, it will be between the 4th and 15th of April, but each year, it may vary due to changes in temperature.
Baby and Beibei who traveled together with us are probably familiar to everyone by now. Actually, I haven’t met Beibei before this trip, and Baby has only met her once, but I think the car friends of Ideal Auto are all very friendly, and no matter where you meet, there is no sense of strangeness. This kind of friendship is very rare in the world of adults.
About Snow Mountains: The Closest Place to the Sky# Every first-timer to Tibet will be amazed by the snow mountains in front of them, then forget decades of cultural vocabulary and exclaim, “wow.” In fact, snow mountains in Tibet are like street lamps by the roadside, ubiquitous. Local guide Losang says, “Don’t be so surprised, you’ll get used to it in a few days.”
Staring at the snow-capped mountains will make you feel like you are getting closer and closer. Sometimes, you will sigh why you can’t fly and see what it’s like on top of the snow mountains. This is probably one of the reasons why ancient people worshiped snow-capped mountains, awe of nature, reminding oneself of insignificance, and reminding us to follow the laws of nature.
In addition to the well-known Mount Everest, the most beautiful mountain is Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. The triangular peak is called the “spear piercing the blue sky” by Tibetans. This 7782-meter mountain is hidden in clouds and fog all year round, and can only be seen for about 5-10 days a year. It is also known as the “bashful girl peak.”
In fact, in addition to admiring those world-famous mountains, I also have great respect for those unknown electric towers standing on the mountainside along the way, stretching for thousands of miles on both sides of the road. It’s hard to imagine how those power workers/engineers erected and linked those electric towers, and how they experienced wind, sun, cold and heat.
About Luorong: Longing for a Farm Life
Luorong is the most worth visiting place outside of Linzhi. The buildings here are all white and belong to a semi-hilly terrain. Looking at the distant forests, you will feel like you are in Switzerland, hence the nickname “Tibetan Switzerland.”
In the depths of Luorong, Old Zhao from HitFM found us a farmhouse. This farmhouse is the residence of a friend of Old Zhao, and we can rest here all afternoon. The main house of the farmhouse is made entirely of solid wood, identical to what we see in any movie, with no shortage of fireplaces, books, and cats.
Drive my beloved ONE into the yard and feel that I am on the right track. I used to think that besides my lover, friends, pet and food, there was something missing. It turned out that I lacked a beloved car! I guess this is the most perfect dream for every car owner in the community, right?
For a moment, I really wanted to stay here and live like a local for a while, buying groceries and cooking by myself, and chopping wood to make a fire. I think only in this way can we truly have a profound experience. I hope that day is not too far away.
Baby and Bebe were not idle either. I heard them shouting loudly outside the house. I thought something had happened and rushed out to check. The scene I saw after opening the door was like two live treasures. I raised my hand and pressed the shutter, which was the most satisfying picture of the entire first part.
Up to this point, the content of the first part is basically here. We saw the peach blossoms all over the mountains, experienced the snow-capped mountains, and enjoyed farm life. In fact, the meaning of travel, or rather, the meaning of self-driving, to me is not where we have been, but what we have learned in the process. I hope this content can bring some courage to you in front of the screen. See you in the next part.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.