In the United States, self-driving tours have long been favored by freedom-loving and adventurous travelers. Imagine traveling across a vast continent in your car, exploring the natural wonders hidden in the folds of the earth. Today, let me take you on a mystical journey from Hebei, driving to Jiuzhaigou and around western Sichuan. This is not only a pursuit of natural beauty, but also a baptism of the soul.
The starting point of the journey is set in a small town in Hebei Province. When the morning light breaks through the dawn, we drive on the road to the fairyland full of expectations of the unknown. Our goal: Jiuzhaigou, known as the “Fairyland on Earth”, and the mysterious land in western Sichuan.
On the first day, we sped along the Beijing-Harbin and Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressways, crossing the border between the bustling city and the quiet countryside, and finally arriving in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. This one-day trip, about 700 kilometers, was the first test of will and patience. But the scenery along the way, from hustle and bustle to serenity, from modernity to simplicity, seemed like a prelude prepared by nature for us.
The next day, we continued westward, passing through the Jingkun Expressway and Lianhuo Expressway, arriving at Chencang District, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. This day's journey was even longer, about 741 kilometers, but the mountains and rivers along the way unfolded slowly like a picture scroll, making people forget their fatigue and become intoxicated.
On the third day, we had the most exciting part of the journey. Starting from Baoji, we passed through Yinkun highway and many provincial and county roads, and finally arrived at the mouth of Jiuzhaigou Valley. It was a 547-kilometer trip, but all the fatigue dissipated when the picturesque scenery of Jiuzhaigou came into view. We chose to stay at a hotel near the entrance to the scenic area to save up for the next day's adventure.
On the fourth day, the day trip to Jiuzhaigou officially began. Every spot here seems to be a carefully carved work of art by nature, from the Sea of Five Flowers to the Changhai Sea, from the Pearl Beach Waterfall to the Nuorilang Waterfall, every spot is unforgettable. We walked slowly along the trestle path, recording this fairyland-like picture with our cameras, as if we wanted to freeze this moment for eternity.
On the fifth day, we left Jiuzhaigou and drove to Huanglong scenic spot. Passing through the Xueshanliang Tunnel and driving on the winding mountain road, we seemed to be in a flowing landscape painting. The colorful pools of Huanglong Scenic Area are even more breathtaking. The challenge of high altitude added a bit of excitement and adventure to the trip.
In the following days, we circled around western Sichuan and visited such attractions as Songpan Ancient City, Ruoerge Flower Lake, and the First Bay of the Nine Curves of the Yellow River. Every place was mesmerizing, and every place made people feel the nature's ingenious workmanship. In Gurgou Town, we enjoyed the soothing hot springs; in Bibanggou, we looked up to the magnificence of the Four Girls Mountains; in Taoping Qiangzhai, we savored the charm of the ancient Qiang culture.
When we drove through the China Panda Avenue, through the Xinduqiao that picturesque scenery, over the folded mountain pass, came to Luding Bridge, this trip seems to have reached a climax. Standing on the bridge, looking back at the way we came, our hearts were filled with emotion and awe. The next attractions such as Dujiangyan, Mount Qingcheng and Sanxingdui Museum gave us a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese history and culture.
On the last few days of our trip, we drove to Xi'an and visited the Great Tang Nocturnal City and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square Musical Fountain. These two attractions seemed to bring us back to the glorious Tang Dynasty and made us feel the profoundness of Chinese civilization.
At the end of the journey, when we crossed the highway in Hebei Province and returned to the starting point, our hearts were full of satisfaction and gratitude. This magnificent journey of self-driving Jiuzhaigou and the Western Sichuan Mini-Circuit from Hebei not only let us appreciate the magic and beauty of nature, but also let us have a deeper understanding and thinking about life, history and culture. This is not only a trip, but also a spiritual baptism and sublimation.
