Facing the first ray of light in the morning, we started a new day's journey. This desolate Gobi has been a restricted area for life since ancient times, a barren land in the true sense. Nowadays, it is prosperous because of the undiscovered rich mineral deposits underground, which really proves the saying that no piece of land is without value.
It is a long Gobi road from Mangya to Oboliang, with undulating Yadan landforms on both sides. The Yadan forest here has a total area of ??about 21,000 square kilometers and was formed 200 million years ago. The uplift of the former Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the continuous wind erosion after the seabed dried up 700,000 to 1 million years ago are the largest wind-eroded soil forest group found in China so far. Driving all the way there, there was not a single tree, and everything was covered with yellow sand, which was very desolate. But the amazing thing is that the small pebbles half hidden in the soil have been polished very smooth by the sand, and they sparkle under the reflection of the sun, as if this vast land is inlaid with countless diamonds. Although there are no lush trees here, this vast Gobi desert attracts countless eyes with its own unique charm.
When you see the following photos, please don’t doubt your eyes. Yes, we drove a Ford Explorer to Mars. Just kidding, this is actually the most Mars-like landform on earth, Qinghai Oboliang. After more than ten kilometers of bumpy washboard roads, we finally arrived at the Mars camp, the filming location for The Martian. Driving on this section of unpaved road, it feels like you are really traveling on the surface of Mars. The scenery along the way is violent and arrogant, poignant and ruthless, and has an absolute visual impact. The rolling mountains and desolate Yadan landform are mysterious and remote, containing the strength of life and the determination of will.
Looking from a distance from the Mars Camp, we can see the most important destination of our trip - Oboliang. The Yadan landform here is completely different from the surrounding area. Due to the long-term strong winds here, the nearby wind-eroded piles have long been turned into round and plump mounds by the strong winds. However, the wind-eroded piles in Oboliang have still maintained their character after thousands of years, with intertwined canine teeth, which look like the fangs of wild beasts from a distance. Stretching towards the sky as well.
The road into Oboliang is definitely a test of a driver’s driving ability and vehicle. However, a real man is never afraid of any challenge, and I believe the Ford Explorer is the same. Here we have a profound understanding of what it means that there is no road in the world, but when there are more people walking, it becomes a road. No one has even built the washboard road here.
And because it is the off-season for tourism and the scenic spot is under development, the ruts originally made by off-road enthusiasts have become unrecognizable, making it impossible to identify the road into the mountain. We asked the workers, but after taking the wrong path several times, we finally found a path up the mountain.
I have to praise the four-wheel drive system of the Ford Explorer here. In the driving mode on gravel roads, the electronic limited slip intervention is relatively timely, and the cross-axle can smoothly pass through the ups and downs along the way. Such harsh conditions The road conditions are no problem, as long as you control the accelerator, you can easily cross the whole journey.
Coupled with the Explorer's high-strength cage body, good body strength can be ensured even on bumpy off-road roads. After more than 7 hours of bumpy crossing route, we were not uncomfortable with the bumps. It can be said that while the Explorer provides good off-road performance, its comfort is by no means what hardcore off-road vehicles can achieve. I climbed steep slopes close to 90 degrees several times and everything went very smoothly.
After all the hardships, I finally entered Oboliang! The first time I entered Oboliang, I was stunned by the hot springs gushing out in front of me! It was an unexpected surprise that there was such a gushing spring in a place where there was so little water that no grass could grow.
Eboliang, looking at the strange-shaped Yadan forest, is like walking into a huge enchantment array. Various Yadans of huge size and different shapes are intricately piled around. It feels like you are at any time. Will get lost. There is no grass growing here, there is no human habitation, the boundless wind-blown sand, the boundless Gobi desert where life is forbidden, the unfathomable Yadan group, the only way out and no end in sight.
Below the 100-meter steep slope is the vast sea-like Yadan hilly landform under Oboliang. Above the steep slope is a group of majestic and towering Yadan soil forests. There is a large empty field in front of the earth forest, and there is a high platform on the opposite side near the steep slope, like a reviewing stand in the square.
Although the sunset in Qinghai is late, when I think about the way down the mountain, the ditch is deep and the slope is steep. We only had one car, and the wind, cold, and dew in Erboliang at night was indeed a bit dangerous, so we decided to abandon our original plan of camping to shoot the stars, and headed to the not-so-distant Lenghu Town with a Toyota we met on the road.
As the saying goes, it is easier to go up the mountain than to go down. Originally, the road in Oboliang was covered with sand crust, the tires were very easy to slip, and the ruts on the ground were scattered and difficult to identify. Even though we carefully confirmed repeatedly, the car still did not Carefully fell into the mud. Our Ford Explorer once again took on the important task of rescue. At this time, the Ford Explorer fully demonstrated the strength of a classic American muscle car! A kick of the accelerator can perfectly save your partner from fire and water. With the explorer's strong passability, the journey down the mountain is smooth and hassle-free.
Before leaving, we always look back at Oboliang, who is standing in the wind like a castle. We always have the illusion of being stared at by God. In front of that profound gaze, we always feel that we are so small, ignorant and powerless. The universe as large as tens of billions of light years, as small as hundreds of kilometers of Gobi wilderness and Yadan landforms, can be seen with just a snap of the finger. We are both amazed at the wonder of the Creator and more in awe of nature. Thank nature for giving people endless courage, conquer nature and obey nature.
Although exploring the distance is like what the poet Haizi said: "In the distance, there is nothing but distance... The farther away, the more lonely. The distance, there is nothing but distance."
At this point, the dream-seeking journey in the Northwest has come to a successful end. Although there are still some regrets, regrets are an integral part of life. However, everything always follows the cycle of heaven, and no matter how difficult the bumps are, you will eventually usher in the most comfortable and smooth road. I look forward to a more exciting journey with the Ford Explorer next time.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.