This National Day holiday was both fulfilling and complicated for me, even carrying a hint of helplessness and danger.
On the first day of the holiday, I thought it would be an ordinary day, having scheduled a TV installation. Before the technician arrived, I didn't pay much attention to the noise that the installation might cause, only thinking about how the whole family could sit down and enjoy watching TV after it was set up. However, things turned out to be far more complicated than I imagined. During the installation, holes needed to be drilled, and although there was some noise, I thought it was just a minor issue. Yet, during the drilling process, an unexpected incident occurred. The community security guard brought two aggressive elderly people to knock on the door, and upon entering, they directly confronted the technician, even grabbing his toolbox and urging him to leave quickly. My family and I were caught off guard by the sudden scene, not expecting that a simple home installation would trigger such a strong reaction from the neighbors (renovations are not allowed during holidays).
The technician remained calm, clearly having seen such scenes before, and continued to complete the installation at a leisurely pace. However, the elderly person became increasingly agitated, their words becoming more impolite, and their emotions more intense, eventually leading to a confrontation with the technician. In the scuffle, the technician accidentally bumped his head and fell to the ground, shouting that he wanted to call the police. After two hours of commotion, the police arrived and took me and the technician to the police station. At the station, the officers didn't say much, implying that they wanted the elderly person to calm down and asked us to leave first, otherwise, it could drag on indefinitely.
All this noise seemed to be a prelude to the National Day, and in the following days, unexpected events and twists followed one after another.
The next morning, our family began our planned self-driving trip. The destination was Chifeng, and the scenery along the way was nice, with sunlight streaming through the car windows onto my daughter's face. She was excitedly laughing in the back seat, seemingly having forgotten about yesterday's dispute. Upon arriving in Chifeng, we stayed overnight and chose a Mongolian restaurant with good online reviews for dinner, hoping to experience local specialties. However, the actual experience was disappointing; the food was mediocre, and even the dining environment failed to stimulate our appetites.
On the third day, we continued our journey to Yulong Shahu. Along the way, we saw many cars parked by the roadside, realizing that there were vendors selling watermelons. We stopped to buy one to quench our thirst. My daughter curiously picked a small yellow-fleshed watermelon, but accidentally dropped it while weighing it. The watermelon split open, and we had no choice but to buy it. Although it was inexpensive, at 9 yuan, we found it unripe when cut open, tasting like winter melon, lacking sweetness and moisture, which was truly disappointing.
However, upon reaching Yulong Shahu, my daughter's laughter quickly diluted the previous disappointment. She ran around in the sand, digging and rolling, completely unable to stop from excitement. Seeing her so happy made my wife and me feel uplifted as well. My daughter dug a big hole with a small shovel and then squatted down, asking us to bury her lower half in the sand, leaving her upper half exposed, smiling at us. That innocent joy made us forget all our worries in an instant.
As dusk approached, we drove to Linxi, planning to stay there for a night to rest. However, when we arrived at the hotel we had booked, we encountered yet another unexpected setback. The hotel lobby was on the second floor, resembling a shabby office, with a man and a woman lounging on the sofa, scrolling through their phones. I approached to state my intention to check in, only to be coldly informed that they were fully booked! Hearing this news made me quite angry; I had clearly reserved a room in advance, so how could there be none? The staff nonchalantly explained, "All hotels in Linxi are full during the National Day period, and prices have risen to over 500 yuan per room, but there are no rooms available. You can contact the booking platform's customer service for assistance." Faced with such an attitude, I felt frustrated but realized they couldn't solve the problem, so I had to give up.
I led my family downstairs and called the customer service of the travel platform. After some description and negotiation, the customer service finally confirmed that all hotels in the city were fully booked, and the only solution was a refund with three times the room rate as compensation. I thought, although the money was refunded, there had to be a room somewhere, right? So my wife and I started frantically searching for other available hotels on our phones. After a while, we finally found a hotel that still showed availability and quickly placed an order. However, when I called, I was told there was a problem with the software, and there were actually no rooms available.
Just when it seemed we were about to sleep on the streets, the customer service suddenly delivered good news, saying a chain budget hotel had one room left. I quickly booked it on my phone and drove to the hotel. This hotel was much better than the previous one in terms of facilities and service, and the room was clean and tidy, allowing my family to finally get a good night's rest.
However, the journey's twists were not over yet. On the morning of the third day, we checked out early, planning to take the Rehe-A and Dada lines, enjoying the journey known as the "most beautiful self-driving route." Just before departure, while checking the vehicle, I discovered that the right front tire was bulging! The new car had only been driven for over 6,000 kilometers, and I never expected to encounter such a problem. I was both anxious and hurried, especially in this unfamiliar county, where the issue couldn't be resolved quickly. I immediately contacted the dealership, and the salesperson coordinated with a dealership in Chifeng to help replace the tire, but the car needed to be towed there. This would greatly affect our upcoming itinerary, so I decided to find a local tire shop in Linxi first.
The tire shop owner informed me that they didn't have my tire model and would need to order it from Chifeng, which wouldn't arrive until the afternoon at the earliest. This put me in a difficult position, and I quickly contacted several nearby tire shops, but the response was the same: no stock. In desperation, I contacted the dealership again, and fortunately, they had the tire in stock, but it was significantly more expensive than the tire shop. Ultimately, I chose to have the dealership send the tire over, and luckily they found a driver who was traveling from Chifeng to Linxi and could bring the tire along.
We used the waiting time to casually stroll around the city and had a bowl of noodles, which slightly relaxed our mood. Around 1 PM, the driver contacted me, saying he was almost in Linxi, so I immediately returned to the tire shop to wait for the tire replacement. By around 2 PM, the tire was finally replaced, and the weight on my mind was finally lifted.
After resolving the tire issue in Linxi, my anxiety gradually dissipated as we got back on the road. We continued along the Rehe and Dada lines, a route renowned for its magnificent natural scenery, often praised by countless self-driving enthusiasts as a route with excellent views. At this moment, the sunlight bathed the vast grasslands and rolling mountains, and the scenery outside the car window seemed like a flowing painting, continuously revealing new vistas as the speed changed.
However, like other popular routes during the holiday, the road conditions on the Rehe line were not ideal. Shortly after we set off, we encountered a traffic jam. The convoy twisted and turned, often coming to a standstill, which made my previously relaxed mood a bit anxious again. But when we stopped and looked out the window, what greeted us was a vast expanse of wilderness and distant mountains, instantly calming my heart. Since we couldn't move forward for the time being, we decided to get out of the car, relax a bit, and enjoy this unexpected short break.
Once outside, the cool autumn breeze gently brushed against my face, seemingly taking away some of the fatigue from the journey. My daughter, as always, was full of energy, bouncing around and playing by the roadside. We watched her chase her shadow on the grass while appreciating the surrounding natural scenery. The distant mountains gradually turned a light golden color under the evening glow, and the vastness of the grassland intertwined with the boundlessness of the sky, as if the entire world was enveloped in this tranquil beauty.
Taking advantage of my daughter's enjoyment, we also took out our phones to capture the beauty of the moment. We photographed the distant scenery and my daughter's laughter on the grass, and that moment of tranquility and warmth seemed to wash away all the twists and troubles. The gentle breeze of the grassland carried a faint scent of grass, and birds occasionally flew by in the distant sky, making one marvel at the wonders of nature.
After driving for a while amidst the magnificent scenery of the Rehe line, we arrived at the Dada line. Unlike the Rehe line, the Dada line was broader, and the scenery appeared more rugged and bold. As the sky gradually darkened, the traffic on the road eased, and the wide road seemed to belong solely to us, guiding us toward a brand new world. Outside the window, the distant hills stretched endlessly, the horizon and skyline almost merging into one, as the sunset cast its glow over the land, making the entire world seem incredibly peaceful.
Along the Dada line, we discovered a grassland horse ranch. My daughter excitedly pulled our hands, insisting on riding a horse, as this was her first opportunity to interact with a real grassland horse. So, we decided to stop the car and experience an unusual grassland horseback ride.
Standing on the vast grassland, the horses beside us were tall and strong, gently lowering their heads to graze on the grass below. My daughter looked at the horses with curiosity and anticipation in her eyes. The ranch staff brought over a gentle pony, specially prepared for her. I carefully lifted her onto the horse's back; at first, she was a bit nervous, gripping the reins tightly, her expression somewhat stiff. But as the horse began to move forward slowly, she gradually relaxed and started to enjoy it. She gently patted the horse's neck and laughed, saying, "Wow, riding a horse is so much fun!" Seeing her smile filled us with a sense of satisfaction.
The grassland was vast and empty, with only the distant mountains and clouds accompanying us. The sound of hooves echoed in the quiet grassland, carrying a leisurely rhythm. We also rode the horses ourselves, experiencing this unique grassland ride. At that moment, it felt as if we had merged with nature, leaving all worries and pressures behind, with only the vastness of the grassland, the rhythm on horseback, and inner peace remaining.
As we left the ranch, my daughter reluctantly looked back at the little horse that had accompanied her through such a wonderful time, continuously mumbling that she wanted to come back to ride again. We exchanged smiles at her eager expression. The innocence and satisfaction of a child added countless beautiful memories to our journey.
As the sun gradually set in the west, the sky darkened, and we returned to the car, continuing along the Dada line. Along the way, nightfall slowly descended, and the distant mountains gradually disappeared into the darkness, but the satisfaction and tranquility in our hearts remained. The grandeur of the Dada line and the vastness of the grassland made this segment of the journey particularly special. After experiencing so many twists and turns, it felt as if everything at this moment was a compensation.
On the evening of the 4th, we finally arrived at the Ulan Butong Scenic Area and checked into a hotel within the area. The fatigue of the journey slowly dissipated in the cool night breeze, and the tranquility and vastness of Ulan Butong allowed us to catch our breath from the disturbances of the previous days. The hotel at night, though lacking the hustle and bustle of the city, offered the simplicity and peace we craved at that moment.
The next morning, we welcomed another highlight of this journey—the self-driving tour of Ulan Butong Grassland. The vastness of the grassland unfolded before our eyes, where the skyline and horizon seemed to connect in the endless distance. However, the autumn vibe on the grassland was strong; the originally lush green grass gradually lost its vitality, presenting a yellow-brown hue, filled with signs of impending winter. Although the grass had turned yellow, lacking some of the summer's vibrancy, the grandeur of nature still captivated us.
We drove across the grassland, with the sky being a boundless blue, and the wind brought a slight chill, refreshing our spirits. Although the grassland was desolate, it possessed a unique charm, and the vastness of the world gave us an indescribable sense of freedom. My daughter excitedly shouted from the car, "Look at that mountain over there, it's so tall!" So, we decided to climb a not-too-high mountain.
As we slowly ascended the path, the scenery around us gradually unfolded, and as we gained height, the vastness of the grassland slowly came into view.
Upon reaching the top of the mountain, we paused to fully appreciate the scenery before us. The sunlight bathed the land, and the distant mountains rolled in waves. Although it was already late autumn, we could still feel the strength and embrace of this land. We took a few photos at the summit to capture this rare moment.
On our way down, we chose a gentler path instead of retracing our steps. The slope was not steep, and the soil beneath our feet made a rustling sound. My daughter ran and jumped in the mountains, having a great time. She occasionally picked up small stones, laughing as she said, "Daddy, Mommy, I found treasure!" Seeing her innocent smile, the fatigue of the past few days seemed to vanish in that moment. Although the Ulan Butong grassland lacked the summer's lushness, the tranquility of autumn allowed our family to experience a rare sense of peace and calm.
After enjoying ourselves, we continued on our way, driving towards Saihanba. Saihanba, which I had heard about on television, was stunning, but only by being there did I truly feel its shock and grandeur. Traveling through the Saihanba Scenic Area, the surrounding forests resembled a natural painting, with layers of trees dyed in yellow, red, and green, weaving together the beauty of autumn. The trees had a distinct layering, like waves on the earth rising and falling with the wind.
The car traveled along the forest paths; we didn't stop too long, but the sights before us were etched in our hearts. From a distance, the dense and layered woods appeared, and as the autumn wind blew, yellow leaves floated down, as if time stood still at that moment. We traversed through this beautiful sea of trees; although the itinerary was tight, the magnificence of Saihanba and the greatness of nature constantly amazed me. Compared to the clips on television, being in it was even more breathtaking.
In the evening, we arrived in Chengde and checked into the Hilton Garden Inn. The comfort and spaciousness of the hotel swept away the fatigue of the journey. For dinner, we found a nearby small restaurant specializing in sheep soup from Pingquan. This dinner had a unique flavor, especially for my daughter, who felt warm after finishing a bowl of sheep soup. She enjoyed it so much that she also ate quite a bit of the sheep offal, and her satisfied expression made us unable to stop smiling. That simple happiness was the most precious moment of our travels.
By the 6th, this self-driving journey was nearing its end. We set off early to drive back to Tianjin, originally thinking that the 3-4 hour journey would be an easy return home, but unexpectedly, we encountered a traffic jam on the Changshen Expressway. We were stuck not far from the Tangshan West rest area, unable to move. The traffic was at a standstill, and we spent nearly an hour in the car waiting. My daughter dozed off in the car, occasionally letting out soft snores, while the sunset slowly sank outside the window, casting its glow on the traffic, appearing somewhat helpless yet beautiful.
Finally, the traffic jam ended, and around 6 PM, we finally returned to our familiar home. The first thing we did was wash the car, cleaning off the dust and fatigue from the journey, as if putting a period at the end of this trip. Standing in front of our window, watching the night deepen, my heart was filled with memories of these past few days. Although the National Day holiday was full of twists and turns, it was also filled with unexpected surprises and warm moments. Whether it was the vastness of the grassland, the fresh breeze in the mountains, the autumn forest sea of Saihanba, or my daughter's carefree laughter, these will all become precious memories in my heart.
The journey has ended, but the memories remain vivid, leading us into the next unknown chapter of life.