Longest Single-Day Road Trip Experience

This appears to be the longest single-day travel itinerary Ive done so far. It involved driving for nearly twelve hours, with approximately four and a half hours of actual sightseeing.

We started our journey from a hotel in Urumqi at 9 AM, beginning with the Qixigou (Qixigou Bridge) on S101, arriving at the Anjihe Grand Canyon after eight hours of driving by 8 PM. We then proceeded to the north via the Xianshan (Xianshan Highway), returning to Urumqi in the early hours of the next morning through a service station where we had breakfast and stayed overnight.

The first part of this trip was extremely tiring, as I hadnt slept for nearly twelve hours. On the way out, I purchased some snacks, water, and Red Bull from the (behind the steering wheel) compartment before heading out. Whenever I saw something interesting along the route, I would stop brieflyeither sitting in the car or stepping out onto the roadside to eat or enjoy a treat. Unfortunately, my appetite for real food was fairly limited during this trip.

During the entire journey, I had the opportunity to explore numerous unique spots: along the banks of the (Danshan Mountain) valley where there were piles of gravel, in fields covered with (xinai wild rose flower field), amidst vibrant red rock formations, overgrown (limingtan meadow) and even at some rock outcrops covered with debris. The drive was interspersed with moments of solitude and reflection as I traversed the winding roads and mountains. By late night, my body was getting fatigued, but I managed to make it safely back to the hotel in Urumqi.

The first substantial meal of the day was consumed at a service station along Xianshan (Xianshan Highway) heading north after approximately ten and a half hours of driving. The evening brought rain and low visibility, which didnt significantly impact my moodexcept for one moment where I felt like I had become part of the landscape itself.

By late night, I was beginning to feel extremely exhausted from such an extended drive. To cope with the monotony, I grabbed a cold bottle of ice beer from a nearby convenience store and consumed it in good faith. The rest of the evening passed in relative silence as I drove back north along the Lianhu (Anhuan Highway) towards Urumqi.

Upon arriving at the hotel in Urumqi late that night, my legs felt unusually tired. I decided to stay inside after checking out and went to a local KTV with my roommates for an evening of entertainmenta few rounds later, we all fell asleep before midnight.

Over time, I began to realize how much of myself was consumed by the journey itselfwhen I looked in the mirror that night, I felt like part of the road. That drive had truly been a profound experience: It wasnt just about where you go or what you do; its about how you handle yourself while doing it.

Xianshan

Xianshan